Heathrow to Stansted
Feb 19th, 2006, 06:15 AM
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Heathrow to Stansted
Thanks to this forum, we've just gotten a fantastic deal to London. But we have to connect between Heathrow and Stansted. Our flight times were changed slightly, so we now have just over 4 hrs from the time we land at LHR til we depart from Stansted.
Looking at National Express schedule, there is a bus that leaves 50 minutes after we arrive at LHR Terminal 1, arriving at Stansted just under 2 hrs before our flight. Is this doable? We have to go thru immigrations and collect luggage. We will be traveling on an intra-Europe non-holiday Sunday early AM flight.
Looking at National Express schedule, there is a bus that leaves 50 minutes after we arrive at LHR Terminal 1, arriving at Stansted just under 2 hrs before our flight. Is this doable? We have to go thru immigrations and collect luggage. We will be traveling on an intra-Europe non-holiday Sunday early AM flight.
Feb 19th, 2006, 06:36 AM
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That's pretty tight. Getting out of Heathrow in 50 minutes isn't impossible, but it's towards the low end of the average.
If you miss the bus you mentioned, you could take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and the Stansted Express out of Liverpool Street. The actual enroute time is the same (about 1:30), but since the trains run more frequently you wouldn't lose time waiting for the next bus.
Then your only problem is getting across town, which takes a minimum of 25 minutes (and that's on the Tube, which could be an ordeal with luggage.)
Is there <u>any</u> other way you can get where you're going? This sounds pretty iffy.
If you miss the bus you mentioned, you could take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and the Stansted Express out of Liverpool Street. The actual enroute time is the same (about 1:30), but since the trains run more frequently you wouldn't lose time waiting for the next bus.
Then your only problem is getting across town, which takes a minimum of 25 minutes (and that's on the Tube, which could be an ordeal with luggage.)
Is there <u>any</u> other way you can get where you're going? This sounds pretty iffy.
Feb 19th, 2006, 06:54 AM
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Thanks Robespierre.
Tickets are already bought so no change there. Our intra-Europe flight times were changed after we bought the US to Stansted tickets. We had originally had 70 minutes to get to the Stanted bus.
I can travel with carry-on only. I'm not sure the others can. I can try to convince them to do that. That way we can get out of LHR faster.
The train actually takes a longer time (already researched this). HEX takes 20 minutes to Padington, getting to Liverpool station takes 20-25 minutes, then the Stansted Express takes another 45 minutes.
But this does not take into account the waiting for the trains. Stan Ex runs every 30 minutes. So if we miss that particular train, add another 30 minutes. In reality, getting from LHR to Stansted via train will take 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours from the tie we get out of immigration and baggage claim.
I guess we can always take a taxi. Anyone know how much to negotiate for the fare?
Tickets are already bought so no change there. Our intra-Europe flight times were changed after we bought the US to Stansted tickets. We had originally had 70 minutes to get to the Stanted bus.
I can travel with carry-on only. I'm not sure the others can. I can try to convince them to do that. That way we can get out of LHR faster.
The train actually takes a longer time (already researched this). HEX takes 20 minutes to Padington, getting to Liverpool station takes 20-25 minutes, then the Stansted Express takes another 45 minutes.
But this does not take into account the waiting for the trains. Stan Ex runs every 30 minutes. So if we miss that particular train, add another 30 minutes. In reality, getting from LHR to Stansted via train will take 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours from the tie we get out of immigration and baggage claim.
I guess we can always take a taxi. Anyone know how much to negotiate for the fare?
Feb 19th, 2006, 07:11 AM
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Type heathrow to stansted into Google, and you will get lots of hits. One, http://www.silver-fleet.com/My_Homep...FQ_7PgodRgKYbA, is asking £80, and I found another for £94. If you book ahead these services will meet you at arrivals and take you straight to Stansted, so that would be your quickest alternative. Whether you could get a better deal by negotiating when you get to Heathrow, I don't know.
Feb 19th, 2006, 07:33 AM
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Where did you get those numbers? According to their web sites, HX and SX both run every 15 minutes, and the journey time totals 1 hour (15+45).
So if you add the wait time (0 - ½ hour) and the cross-London (½ hour) and the 1 hour enroute, you get 1½ - 2 hours total.
The corresponding bus timings are a little longer in the worst case.
BTW, I don't think it matters at Heathrow whether luggage is checked or carried on - the big wait there is immigration, and our bags are always waiting when we get to reclaim.
So if you add the wait time (0 - ½ hour) and the cross-London (½ hour) and the 1 hour enroute, you get 1½ - 2 hours total.
The corresponding bus timings are a little longer in the worst case.
BTW, I don't think it matters at Heathrow whether luggage is checked or carried on - the big wait there is immigration, and our bags are always waiting when we get to reclaim.
Feb 19th, 2006, 09:02 AM
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T4 to Paddington is 20 mins.
This weekend and for a number of upcoming weekends, neither the STEX nor the Paddington-Liverpool St line is running. These are recurrent weekend problems, and I wouldn't plan anything on the basis of these services being available the weekend niblette's travelling.
Summer Sundays, early am, most non-Europeans arriving at T3 or T4 will inevitably have a long immigration queue. A car is niblette's only realistic option
You cannot negotiate fares from the rank at Heathrow. Only black cabs are allowed to ply for hire, they can't ply at STN so they're going to be looking for remuneration for at least 3 hours out of action - and niblette's going to have no option (or time) but to accept what they demand. I doubt you'll get much change out of £200.
Niblette will have to surf for the best pre-booked deal she can find.
This weekend and for a number of upcoming weekends, neither the STEX nor the Paddington-Liverpool St line is running. These are recurrent weekend problems, and I wouldn't plan anything on the basis of these services being available the weekend niblette's travelling.
Summer Sundays, early am, most non-Europeans arriving at T3 or T4 will inevitably have a long immigration queue. A car is niblette's only realistic option
You cannot negotiate fares from the rank at Heathrow. Only black cabs are allowed to ply for hire, they can't ply at STN so they're going to be looking for remuneration for at least 3 hours out of action - and niblette's going to have no option (or time) but to accept what they demand. I doubt you'll get much change out of £200.
Niblette will have to surf for the best pre-booked deal she can find.
Feb 19th, 2006, 09:21 AM
#7
Last time we took a private cab from LHR to STN we got a rate of £85. I thought it was high until we got on the M25 and saw the traffic. Took right around 90 min., leaving LHR around 11 am on a weekday, so a Sunday morning <i>ought</i> to be better.
You don't say how many are traveling, but if 3+ persons £100 or so for a transfer will be price-competitive with the 2-trains option, plus a lot faster.
You don't say how many are traveling, but if 3+ persons £100 or so for a transfer will be price-competitive with the 2-trains option, plus a lot faster.
Feb 19th, 2006, 09:27 AM
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T1 to Paddington is 15 minutes.
If you have the choice, get a changeable ticket out of Stansted so the transfer isn't either a) so expensive, or b) such a gamble.
Then rejoice and take the cheapest ride that can possibly get you there on time. If it doesn't, so what?
If you have the choice, get a changeable ticket out of Stansted so the transfer isn't either a) so expensive, or b) such a gamble.
Then rejoice and take the cheapest ride that can possibly get you there on time. If it doesn't, so what?
Feb 19th, 2006, 11:20 AM
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Thanks all. Looks like we'll have to contract a car.
Will arriving in T1 early Sunday morning make a difference in speed of immigration lines? I'd imagine the non-UK/non-Euro lines would be shorter since T1 primarily services intra-Europe flights.
I recall going thru fast (done by 30 min from time of landing) before but then I had more than 5 hrs to wait for my next flight from t4 of LHR (of course!).
Robespierre, unfortunately changing tickets is not an option. The downside of getting a great airfare.
The train route to Stansted is not reliable. Looking at reports of prior travelers, avg time from LHR to Stansted is 2 1/4 hrs, not including delays for the track work that Cotswold mentioned.
Will arriving in T1 early Sunday morning make a difference in speed of immigration lines? I'd imagine the non-UK/non-Euro lines would be shorter since T1 primarily services intra-Europe flights.
I recall going thru fast (done by 30 min from time of landing) before but then I had more than 5 hrs to wait for my next flight from t4 of LHR (of course!).
Robespierre, unfortunately changing tickets is not an option. The downside of getting a great airfare.
The train route to Stansted is not reliable. Looking at reports of prior travelers, avg time from LHR to Stansted is 2 1/4 hrs, not including delays for the track work that Cotswold mentioned.
Feb 19th, 2006, 11:41 AM
#10
Since you are using Stansted I assume you are using a budget carrier. You have even more problems than just the logistics:
Which transatlantic airline are you using? If BA or Virgin you can only take 6 kilo on board. If another carrier than you probably can do just carry on
But -- some of the low cost carriers have even stricter carry on allowances.
And - they also have <b>very</b> strict check in rules. Being in line at the check in desk in time is not enough - you must actually be checked in before the cut off.
Sunday a.m. should be OK traffic wise - but that is the least of your worries. All in all you have a hassle ahead of you.
Which transatlantic airline are you using? If BA or Virgin you can only take 6 kilo on board. If another carrier than you probably can do just carry on
But -- some of the low cost carriers have even stricter carry on allowances.
And - they also have <b>very</b> strict check in rules. Being in line at the check in desk in time is not enough - you must actually be checked in before the cut off.
Sunday a.m. should be OK traffic wise - but that is the least of your worries. All in all you have a hassle ahead of you.
Feb 19th, 2006, 11:45 AM
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You should be okay with a private car from Heathrow to Stansted, and Sun morning traffic is usually light on the M25 (aka the world's largest car park) and on the M11.
These days UK and EU passport holders are pretty much waved through immigration, so the only lines are for the "all others" passports. Your 30 minutes from landing sounds about right, though.
Sometimes aircraft are put in a holding pattern while waiting for a landing slot, and that often involves another 30 minutes orbiting over London. My experience is that flights to Heathrow rarely land on time, so factor that into your equation.
These days UK and EU passport holders are pretty much waved through immigration, so the only lines are for the "all others" passports. Your 30 minutes from landing sounds about right, though.
Sometimes aircraft are put in a holding pattern while waiting for a landing slot, and that often involves another 30 minutes orbiting over London. My experience is that flights to Heathrow rarely land on time, so factor that into your equation.
Feb 19th, 2006, 11:55 AM
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Wow, this is starting to get negative. You can always put some of your carry-on into checked luggage before you get to Stansted. Janisj is right about the budget airlines, though, especially when it happens to be Ryanair. They are among the most reliable in the business, but cut no slack when you turn up late or exceed your weight allowance.
