Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Transferring from LCY to LHR . PLEASE HELP

Transferring from LCY to LHR . PLEASE HELP

Old Apr 26th, 2017, 05:29 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Transferring from LCY to LHR . PLEASE HELP

Hi,
I really need your help. My boyfriend and I have booked a journey to the Philippines on May 5.th 2017.
Our connections are as follow:
Bill: Departing at: 08:35
LCY: Arriving at: 09:15
LHR: Departing at: 12:25 (From Terminal 3)
This means our connected flight is from Heathrow Airport and we will be lading in London City Airport.
I know the situation is really bad, but we cannot change our flight tickets or get our money back.
Cathy Pacific says that it is possible to do this travel and make it in time. Even though we have to check in our baggage ourselves and go through security once, we reach Heathrow Airport. I have to say I have bough these flight tickets as a package, I haven't booked the tickets individually.

I need to know, how do we from A-B in the best and fastest way?
When I use Goggle it suggests me to do this trip: LCY –Canning Town. From Canning Town we must catch the Jubilee line to Barker Street Station then catch the Bakerloo Line to Paddington Station and then go with the HEX (Heathrow Express). Travel time says 1 hour and 9 min.

Has anyone done this trip?
We are not well known in London, so we really appreciate any help we can get
Thanks a lot.
BR// Rikke
Rikke is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 05:35 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,600
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
You situation is not "really bad" and you have several options. Are you willing to PAY for a taxi or a car service? If not it still isn't "really bad." You just need money.
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 05:53 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
check out TFL.gov.uk . Estimate is about 90 minutes via trains. Getting a taxi doesn't help much as the journey, even on a good day can take 70-90 minutes.

It will take you about 30-45 minutes to get through passport control at LCY (10 am by the time you get to the train). add 90 , minute for travel to T3 - 1130. That gives you less than an hour to check in for an international flight.

Frankly I would not do it. Either take a flight from somewhere else to Heathrow that morning or fly the evening before would be my advice.
OReilly is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 05:55 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Actually - your situation is pretty bad. A taxi could take close to 2 hours - so throwing money at it won't help much.

Any road route would take MUCH longer than public transport.

That Docklands light rail to Canning Town, Jubilee tube line to Baker Street, Bakerloo Line to Paddington, Heathrow Express to LHR is by far the fastest route. But it is pretty complicated and quite a slog w/ steps and long walks.

But - that is still cutting it very close.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:00 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Was posting the same time: I've only gone through immigration at LCY once and it wasn't bad, but O'Reilly lives there and would know better - so if she says 30-45 minutes she is probably right.

You have a HUGE problem IMO.

You really need to change your incoming flight to the evening before -- otherwise you could very well lose the long haul flight to the Philippines. Even IF it means losing some money, that is likely better than losing many hundreds, possibly thousands.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:08 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It can be bad at immigration Janis as he/she is coming through on a Friday morning at a time when there will be business flights arriving or he/she could get lucky. I have had both

I have also had the schlep from SE London to LHR many times any taxi and have barely made flights even when leaving 90 minutes. Its one of the worst time to travel.
OReilly is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:11 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
I didn't look at the date -- since it is a Friday all bets are off. I'd think you absolutely need to change your flight.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:25 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Definitely try to get your flight changed to the night before - international flights suggest/require 3 hour check-in generally. I would allow 2 hours to get across London just in case.

I don't think a taxi will help here as road traffic can take a lot longer than trains.
jamikins is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:48 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,600
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Traffic IN THE MORNING is all going toward Heathrow. I guess I should have known, huh?
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:54 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Problem Dukey is that the route from the LCY area to LHR generally goes through the city - via Knightsbridge, Kensington etc. At that time of the morning, the traffic is very bad.

Other problem is that the business travellers are arriving at LCY to get to Canary Wharf and the City, therefore crowded airport and queues at immigration.
OReilly is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:54 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Traffic in the morning is going every direction. The route would either cross the center of all of greater London (ergo some taffic in towards London and some out of London so), or go around on the M25 which can be a parking lot on Friday mornings.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 07:31 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The traffic from the west of the city out to Heathrow could/should be light. But travelling from the far east where London City Airport is ACROSS London at that time of day could take a long time.
jamikins is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:01 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yep, used to to that route almost every week for about a year - not fun!

I think we are all warning you not to do this. Basically, for an international flight, you should be arriving AT Heathrow for your planned arrival time at City.

Also, I notice "Even though we have to check in our baggage ourselves ... ' , so you also have baggage, so you will have to pick that up at City. Trust me, schleping luggage on public transportation in London can be a bloody nightmare. Please do NOT assume there are elevators at stations when you are transferring from one line to another and don't even assume that the escalators are working and there are no staircases involved.

Case in point: a few weeks ago, I returned from Birmingham to King's Cross with a small roll-on. Switched from Train station to underground to take the Northern Line to Charring Cross. Escalator down to the platform was not working - NO explanation! I had to carry roll-on and computer bag down the motionless escalator. Got to Charring Cross where they are doing renovations - no escalator at all. Followed the signs to Charring Cross Station for main-line train to Blackheath. Had to carry my luggage UP the stairs and ended up facing Trafalgar Square. Dragged luggage from there to Charring Cross Station to find out there was a switch problem in Dartford, which meant all trains delayed by 40 minutes.

I have not even mentioned when City Airport decides to take a day off, closes the airport down, because of fog or winds. Maybe not likely in May, but you can never tell.

PLEASE: consider ditching the first ticket, arriving the night before and arriving into Heathrow at about three hours ahead of your flight. That is what I would do. If you don't want to stay overnight in London, then take a VERY early flight from a major airport in (Holland?) and go directly to LHR.

Best of luck to you.
OReilly is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:21 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
You say Cathay Pacific booked this mess for you -- right? That does mean you are protected for the next available flight -- but the next available flight might be the next day or even longer. I am amazed they call this a legal connection.

Get on the phone to Cathay now and have them change the incoming flight.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:22 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As long as this isn't all booked as one ticket because not showing up for the first flight could get the second flight cancelled...
jamikins is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:23 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was responding to the comment: consider ditching the first ticket

Definitely call Cathay!
jamikins is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:41 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I assumed that the OP booked the two legs separately, and therefore not Cathay's problem, as it would be an odd routing!

If it is Cathay's booking, and end-to-end routing, then just get them to change the ticket from BLL and no cost to you, as it is an impossible connection.

If you are coming from Bilund, you are flying BA. There is an evening flight on Thursday at 1750.
OReilly is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:54 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The OP booked this as a package which would suggest it is on one booking, one ticket. It is not an odd routing nor an odd combination of airlines.

If you can't change the BLL-LCY flight (there is one at 1935 but it is on BA and your flight at 0835 is operated by Sun Air), I would book a taxi transfer from LCY to LHR and not use public transport. It is bank holiday on the 1st May so people are on holiday that week which might make the traffic a bit lighter.
Odin is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 08:55 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Per the OP >>I have to say I have bough these flight tickets as a package, I haven't booked the tickets individually.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 09:12 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
> would book a taxi transfer from LCY to LHR and not use public transport. It is bank holiday on the 1st May so people are on holiday that week which might make the traffic a bit lighter. <

I would not assume lighter traffic at all through London and certainly would not depend on it. The fact is OP SHOULD be IN Heathrow 2.5 - 3 hours before the flight, which means being there no later than 10 am, and that IS impossible.

Per the OP >>I have to say I have bough these flight tickets as a package, I haven't booked the tickets individually.
OReilly is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -