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-   -   Check in time for Heathrow? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/check-in-time-for-heathrow-72226/)

Stewart Garcia May 16th, 2000 05:36 AM

Check in time for Heathrow?
 
My flight LEAVES Heathrow to Miami at 1050am. The last leg of my trip is Glasgow. I was planning on taking the night train down to Euston which arrives at 7am. Will I have enough time to get to Paddington (rush hour and 3 suit cases), catch the train to Heathrow and check in with enough time? <BR> <BR>Is it preferable to come down the night before and find a hotel near the airport. (I´m on a 30 day ticket, if I miss the flight I will have to pay out the nose)

Lori May 16th, 2000 07:20 AM

On international flights you need to check in at least 2 hours before flight time - Heathrow is a very busy airport and very crowded most of the time so bear that in mind, the lines can be long and take forever. Security is tight as well - it can take time to get through that too. Personally, I would not even attempt this, least of all with 3 pieces of luggage. I'd come down the night before, relax a bit, get an airport hotel and not worry about missing connections. Rush hour is no time to be on the tube with luggage (actually my theory is no time is good to be on the tube with luggage). The Paddington Express is fast but you have to get there from Euston - not terribly far but ..... again, I would not do it. Probably people will say it's OK but if you are worried about missing the flight and paying a penalty I would not risk it.

JMM May 16th, 2000 08:06 AM

I agree with the above reply - you are really pushing it if you think you can get to Heathrow on time - it is a very big airport, you will be travelling in rush hour - what if any of your connections are delayed - even for a short period of time. Come down the night before.

elvira May 16th, 2000 08:19 AM

Under normal circumstances (as Lori pointed out), you must be at the airport 2 hours before departure. If there are unusual events, the airline/airport will up it to THREE hours. If you are in Glasgow that night when you find out they've upped it to 3 hours, you're dead in the water. <BR>If the train is delayed.... <BR> <BR>I recommend you take the train into the night before and stay at a hotel near the airport. No need to end your U.K. vacation scrambling to make a flight. <BR>

Stewart Garcia May 16th, 2000 01:13 PM

Thank you for the valuable advise. Now, give me the name of hotels in Heathrow! <BR>thankyou again.

Lori May 16th, 2000 01:26 PM

Just do a searth "Hotels Heathrow Airport" and a list will pop up. They have the usual familiar ones - Sheraton, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, etc. as well as Novatel, Forte, etc. ..... you get the picture, many hotels! You might try IBIS, they are lower priced (decent enough, large hotel but not luxury). There is also a Travel Inn fairly close to Heathrow as well. I'm glad you decided to come down the night before, it just makes more sense.


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