We arrive Heathrow at 9:05am on a Wednesday and have reserved a national express coach for 10:15 into Victoria. This gives us an hour for customs, immigration, baggage claim and getting to the coach. Should I change the reservation to give us more time? I'm worried that today's tragic events may cause more delays than we anticipated...
heathrow - landing to coach in an hour?
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Well an hour is optimistic - i've often found long LONG lines at Customs at Heathrow - even before this and planes are often not exactly on time. Put another hour in and if goes quickly have that first cup of tea (or pint) whilst waiting.
I think it is a very short time in any case. As PalQ says, put an hour more and take a drink if you have time to spare
If you have checked luggage to pick up you will probably not make it.
If your plane is late you will probably not make it (you can check this flight's on-time record - and be sure to check by day of the week if you can).
If several jumbos land at once - or one plane lands from a "questionsable" area (in which many of the passengers have papers that have to be examined in detail) you probably will not make it.
The above is just normal summer activity.
Based on today's events I think there is very little chance you will make it.
We arrived at Heathrow a little over 2 weeks ago and it took about 2 hours to get thru customs. Apparently other jumbo jets landed at about the same time causing the backup. When we finally got up to the agents we asked and he said it was typical.
I'd reschedule for more time.
Travelatte
Hi sbc,
There is no way that you will get out of LHR 1:10 hr after scheduled arrival if you have luggage.
Last summer landing at Heathrow & we sat on the tarmac for over 1/2 hour waiting for a gate to be available so we could deplane.
You will NOT make it. Many, often full, planes from the US are arriving at the same time then and the immigration lines will be immense. It will take an hour just to disembark and get thru immigration. On the other hand, your luggage is usually waiting for you by the time you get to the carousel.
Also don't forget that Heathrow is not in London. If you plan to take Heathrow Express (15 min to Paddington then to 2 tube lines to get to Victoria - another 15-20 min), you have to add on the travel time. Travel by regular Underground will take over about an hour to ge to Victoria Station. You have to go the 2 blocks to the coach station once you get to Victoria station. Car travel will be over an hour.
So recommend a later coach. You WILL NOT make the 10:15 even if there were no delays on the Underground/bus routes.
Thanks for your help. I'll change the reservation to 11:00 or 11:15. Our connecting coach from Victoria doesn't leave until 13:00 so we should be OK on both sides if we make reservations an hour later.