JulieVikmanis

Having found information about Justairports.com private shuttle on Fodors, I'm excited to use the service. Sounds great. I'm not sure, however, about what to tell them about pick up time both on arrival and departure. (It doesn't just ask for the flight number and projected arrival time, for example)

We are set to arrive at LHR at 11:05 on a Wednesday into LHR--T3. Roughly how much time should I add to that to provide for collection of luggage, customs, etc to provide a pick up time for my reservation?

Our return flight leaves from LHR --also T3 on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. How much time should I back up from there to allow getting to airport from near British Museum, checking in, etc to be able to project an appropriate pick-up time?

I'm just not very familiar with LHR and it's typical timeframes and could use some help from those of you who are. Thanks very much for your assistance.

jamikins

When I book for a pick-up from LHR I ask them to be there 1 hour after my landing time. They will track the flight using the flight number you provide.

For pick-up from central London I leave an hour for transit time and three hours for check-in/security for international flights.

I am pretty conservative as I don't like being rushed/late!

janisj

I'd give it 1 to 1.5 hours after arrival -- but they will monitor your flight so if you land late they will delay their arrival. If you are flying business, then you can cut that a bit since you'll get fast pass for immigration.

Your flight out being mid day means driving out to LHR at the height of the morning commute. Since you are in Bloomsbury, and hour should be OK but I'd probably give it a little more.

historytraveler

The times jamikins related are pretty much the same I use.

OReilly

janisj recommended them to me, I used several times and they have always been reliable.

They check the flight arrival times and only once did the guy try to charge me more, which annoyed me, as I had intended to give me a larger trip, as I was very badly delayed, but had called the service beforehand to keep them informed.

How much time to allow to get through customs? It can depend on how many international flights are arriving at the same time. There have been some horror stories of 2-3 hour waits, but my experience on a non-EU passport over many years is that from landing to leaving the baggage hall is about an hour. however, they will check out the situation, should know if your flight is delayed.

On the return. I am a nervous nelly flyer, so I always plan to get to the airport 2.5 hours before an international flight, even when I traveled Business Class. From BM, I would leave at least 1.5 hours. You might be there in 45 minutes, but I would never take the chance, as I am manically cautious in case anything goes wrong. You can then do Duty Free Shopping and have lunch.

Thing is, when I have left LOADS of time to catch my flight, everything works like clockwork and I have lots of time to spare. When I have cut to a minimum, everything went wrong, and I ended up printing to the boarding gate. Murphy's Law!

JulieVikmanis

Thank you all. A composite picture is developing and I feel pretty comfortable projecting an hour and a half after flight predicted arrival on entry and 4 hours prior to predicted departure (I'd sure hate to be leaving on a 6 a.m. flight rather than a 12:30 one.)

Again, thanks for your thoughtful and very complete replies.

jamikins

For a 6am flight I would stay at a hotel at the airport the night before (and do very often)!