People really are being preposterously polite here.

We've told you there are buses. You didn't need to ask us: five seconds on the Heathrow website would have told your daughter (who presumably is just as capable of using a computer as you are) that:
a) there aren't any planes, but
b) there are loads of buses


Yet now you're seriously suggesting (and what's it got to do with you anyway? The woman's old enough to sort these things out for herself) your daughter goes from London to Birmingham via Brussels.

Quite simply, if this is a serious thread (and it beggars belief it can be: this really must be a troll), you're barmy.

Tell her to take responsibility for her life. And that, if she even thinks for a nanosecond about the Brussels nonsense, she's even barmier than you are.

Did I misread the posts, or did OP say the travel originate in Brussels? If so, why not just take Eurostar from Brussels to St Pancras, transfer to Euston (15min walk) and take the train to Birmingham?

W9London, yes, you did misread the post. Morgiesmom's daughter will be arriving at Heathrow, and needs to get from there to Birmingham, a distance of about 100 miles. To avoid doing the two hour journey by bus, morgiesmom's idea was to take a flight from Heathrow to Brussels, and then another flight from Brussels to Birmingham. :-D

Right, thanks for correction Heimdall. The possibilities are down to National Express or Train (there may be direct or non-direct services between Marylebone and Birmingham).

How about hiring a private plane? Helicopter? Or hijack the plane to LHR and force it to land in BHX?

;)

I have to say that flying from Heathrow to BRUSSELS of all places in order to assure an air landing at Birmingham is the funniest idea I've ever heard.

It's going to cost ten times as much and take three times as long as the bus, plus the additional baggage, security and immigration hassle.

Maybe she thinks the bus is going to be nasty and dangerous or something. I doubt it.

OK Fodorites. You guys are a tough group! Yes, this thread is real! That's the bad part about asking questions on this board, you allow people to glimpse your ignorance on a subject and then they castigate you for it! I live in the USA! I wasn't aware of how far things were or what ALL the modes of transportation are available.

Before you say I should have done more checking, maybe I should have. But I thought the point of this board was also to help people avoid HOURS of research.

I only thought of her flying because BF flies here from BHM to Ord with a layover in Amsterdam.

Doing an expedia check I saw that the expedia flights (some) were going thru Brussels. I checked Brussels airlines and saw one leg of the flight was 9 GBP! I thought I'd save time and ask people with knowledge what the options are. I didn't think to mapquest it (I know, I know) and didn't realize they were 100 miles apart!

I agree she should be able to do this - and she can, I have no doubt. This is not her first time alone out of the country. She's going to school full time, working part time, she has ADD (no excuses, just a fact)and she spends a tremendous amount of time studying. She also had a 6 MONTH old kitten that was ill for the last two months. She's been extremely worried her kitten as she had a large amount of non-reversible, life debilitating health problems and she had to put her to sleep today.

I tell you this only because it seems that some have the opinion that she's not functioning as fully as one thinks she should be. Under normal circumstances I would agree, but judgements are being made without realizing what the whole picture is here.

She's on overload and having a tough time right now. I was just trying to help her out. That's what MOM'S DO.

I wish the BF was picking her up, but SHE made the arrangements, NOT him and I wouldn't expect him to blow off a huge exam in his final year because she's nervous. Don't confuse SCARED with nervous. I fully expect her to pull up her big girl panties and be just fine. I was simply looking for a little advice.

And as far as the helicoper bit goes? Not a bad idea. I'll keep that in mind just in case that lottery ticket ever hits.

I printed out all the replies and gave them to her yesterday to decide what she wants to do.

Those who didn't rake me over the coals, Thank you. Those who did, Oh well. It was the only time I laughed today.

So thank you too.

I think I'm good on the advice now.
Morgiesmom

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's kitten. I know how difficult it is to lose a pet. She must be heartbroken.

I was serious with my suggestion that she spend a few days in London first. It would give her some time to unwind from the flight and recover from jet lag. She could enjoy herself sightseeing and shopping, and she'd be fresh and rested and caught up on her beauty sleep before seeing her boyfriend :)

Sorry about your daughter's kitten. It is hard losing a much loved pet.

The 9GBP ticket from Brussels would have been without taxes, surcharges etc, so not such a bargain. Airlines in the EU are not allowed to list their prices so, but still persist - Ryanair being especially bad at it. The EU have issued warnings, and serious fines will follow if they don't list all inclusive prices on their sites.
It is a pity your daughter didn't ask her BF about the route he takes before booking. She could then have flown to Amsterdam and onto Birmingham, instead of having to negotiate the bus.
But the bus is fine. It is safe and fairly quick. It doesn't leave her in some grungy part of town either, like so many Greyhound routes do.
I hope she enjoys her trip, amd gets to relax a bit.

I agree with those who say that the best way to get from Heathrow to Birmingham is by National Express.

However, is it actually Birmingham that she wants to go to, or is some other town near Birmingham? If she has to get to Wolverhampton, Coventry, Lichfield, or some other place, then the best route might well be different.

Morgiesmom, I do understand that trying to assimilate tables and tables of flight data can be confusing and trying. That's why looking at a good map, with a careful notation of scale, can be a good idea. By comparing with a similarly-scaled map of your home region, you can get an idea of distances in a way that is meaningful to you. Maps are pictures - and you know what they say about how many words (or flight data figures) a picture is worth.

A little nervousness is fine, everybody has a little pre-trip nervousness. Start emphasizing the positives. She'll be in an English speaking country (they're very obliging that way in the UK ;) ) which furthermore has a well-developed infrastructure. Point being, planning is fine, but this is one situation where help will be readily available after arrival if the unexpected happens, etc.

I second the idea to have her rest for a night in London after the flight if she expects to be exceptionally tired after all her studies, etc.

Pah, when I was her age I used to hitchhike the length of the country :-)

I'm still having trouble figuring out what she really wants to do.

Where is she starting from, and where does she want to end up?

It is quite possible that the best answer doesn't involve Heathrow at all.

If she is trying to get from CHICAGO to BIRMINGHAM, the connection in Amsterdam makes sense. Skip Heathrow. Or possibly fly into Manchester, as someone suggested; it all depends on where she's ACTUALLY GOING. We've heard about her pet and a bunch of other stuff, but not the basics.

Hi Again,
Thanks for the info.
She starts in Chicago and is flying into Heathrow. From there she's going to Birmingham.

She doesn't have any time to spend in London, they have a black-tie party Sat. night.

National Express seems to be the best bet - at least price wise.

These tickets were bought months ago. They knew when they were out of school for the holidays, (in order to purchase tickets) not when exams were.

Thank you again.

"If she is trying to get from CHICAGO to BIRMINGHAM, the connection in Amsterdam makes sense. Skip Heathrow. Or possibly fly into Manchester, as someone suggested;"

'Someone' would appreciate it if fnarf999 would concentrate on his trip report :-D :-D :-D