Do I REALLY need to be at Heathrow Three Hours Beforehand?
 

Normally, I have no problem - indeed a preference - of getting to the airport at the stated three hours before an international departure.

My London Heathrow to Chicago flight is at 8:00 am. Getting there at 5:00 am poses some logistical problems. Given where I’m staying in London, and using the Tube and Heathrow Express, I could get to Heathrow as late as 6:15 am. Of course, I could use a taxi, but I’d rather avoid that large expense if it’s not necessary. I will have one bag to check, by the way.

Does any know if United has a Premier check-in at Heathrow? That will save time. Shesh, I aught to know, but I can’t remember!

Thanks!

No, there's never an requirement for a passenger to arrive at an airport 3 hours before departure.

3 hours is when the airline opens up its check-in counter for international flights, and that's when they TELL YOU to arrive.

But in fact, as long as you're checked-in and have luggage checked 60 minute before departure (60min is for most airports), you're okay.

Keep in mind that I am NOT telling you to arrive at 7am. I'm just saying you don't need to be there right at 5.

<i>Does any know if United has a Premier check-in at Heathrow? That will save time. Shesh, I aught to know, but I can’t remember!</i>

Check in at the business class counter; you ought to get priority screening too.

Why not stay at LHR night before flight

Since Premier is one of their elite levels, call the Desk and ask them for options. I would imagine they do but best ask them.

United has three checkin lines at LHR: first class (in a separate area), business class and frequent fliers (on the left), and everybody else (on the right). I don't remember if Premier is high enough on the pecking order to get in the business line (it might be just Premier Exec and above).

<b>you ought to get priority screening too</b>

Not at LHR T3: you have to be ticketed in a premium cabin to go through the fast lane at departures.


I never take the morning flights, so I don't know how busy the airport is at that time.

It varies by airport, but I believe you don't get to use Fasttrack (i.e. priority) screening at Heathrow unless you are travelling on a premium (business class or above) ticket. It's not sufficient to have elite status with a frequent flyer programme if you're only travelling economy or economy plus. (You can, however, use priority lines for check-in.)

Yes, I stand corrected - another brain fizz. Priority check-in, not priority screening unless seated in a premium cabin.

(After working mightily to avoid LHR this summer it now turns out that I will be transiting the %#@ place <i>four times.</i> Arrgh.)

I feel for you <b>Gardyloo</b>....:-(

Last year I took an 8am flight from Heathrow. I took the HEX around 5:20 and I arrived at LHR around 5:35ish. The lines were longer than I expected at that hour, but there was still ample time to get through security and have a coffee and pastry before boarding.

Even on the worst days at Heathrow (August 12th 2006 comes to mind) I've always (just) been able to get from queuing at checkin to the flight's gate in under 2 hours

Gardyloo put these 2 links in another post (LGW better than LHR):

These were filmed at Heathrow - the first link was in Terminal 3 (I recgonised the surroundings) but I'm not sure where the second one was in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4xba_YFHj8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwB4G7XxyRI


Last October (end of) we went to Heathrow at 7:30am to check in for our noon AA flight to JFK and experienced the extra long queue as shown (those bl**dy queues got worse after the Aug 10 2006 scare). It gets worse at peak holiday times.

So be there more than 3 1/2-4 hours beforehand - and take a TAXI from city!! I know it costs more but it's early! Otherwise you'd spend more staying in a LHR hotel the night before.

Also, if you do not have business class tickets, you're out of luck.

Wow, BlueSea, I wonder if that queue was typical or something out of the ordinary!

Kate has it exactly right - I remember now. I will be able to check in prioity due to Premier status, but not Fasttrack security as I am not flying business.

As it turns out, I will be able to take the 5:25 HEX from Paddington, getting to LHR at 5:40, the one PM successfully took.