Suzi007

We arrive at Gatwick 9:00 a.m. on a weekday in June and taking the Eurostar to Paris later that day. Thinking of this:

Arrive 9:05 a.m.
Allow 2 hours for passport clearance, customs and luggage retrieval.
Catch Thameslink direct to St. Pancras Station somewhere between 11:00 and 11:30, depending upon customs/luggage. (arriving 13:30 at the latest).
Based on this scenario, this will put us at St Pancras 60 minutes ahead of a 13:30 Eurostar to Paris.

I've read where we should allow 90 minutes at St Pancras. Am I pushing making the 13:30 train or do I have enough wiggle room built in? I'm thinking of being ultra safe and booking the 14:20 train, but it's more expensive and puts us into Paris later, where we have very limited time (overnight). Would that be overly cautious?

tonfromleiden

And what if your plane is delayed? Or your luggage doesn't show?

PalenQ

Have you checked on connecting flights from Gatwick to Paris?

You have built a lot of time into the schedule and unless the plane is very late you should be fine but still since your ticket is probably non-changeable non-refundable build in that extra hour- for one thing it will make you feel more comfy if the plane is running late - well worth the extra money IMO.

but since you're at an airport anyway check on flights from Gatwick - on your airline as an add-on fare or the likes of cheap no-frills airlines.

You do have to technically pass thru Eurostar check-in at least 35 minutes (or so) before the train - no need to be at St Pancras 90 minutes before though you probably will be.

kerouac

You have enough time. Naturally nobody is safe from a major plane delay.

PalenQ

another possibility is to rest up in London at a hotel near or at St Pancras and hop an early train to Paris without any worries and actually feel rested to enjoy the ride. Bop around London a half day too.

janisj

That would be plenty of time . . . BUT if your flight is delayed and you do miss the train, the problem is you lose your Eurostar tix and, assuming you can afford that $$ hit, the Eurostar is usually booked solid so you might not be able to get another train even for several days.

I simply wouldn't.

easyJet does fly from LGW to CDG and if you book a flexi fare you can change your flight time

PalenQ

the Eurostar is usually booked solid so you might not be able to get another train even for several days>

even in first class? full fare tickets rarely available on site - are you sure of that?

Cheers!

janisj

Even IF 'first class' tickets were available (which they often aren't) -- the walk up 'first class' fare will cost an absolute fortune.

. . . There is no '1st class' -- Standard, Standard Premier, or Business Premier.

scigirl

I personally hate "what if I don't make it" anxiety when traveling - so I would most definitely do the later train. Better to not rush, and the consequences of a missed train would really mess up your trip. I'd rather have to sit an hour to wait for the train due to booking the later train than deal w/ the risk of missing the train. You have a lot of moving parts getting from point A to point B - so better to allow a bigger cushion.

schnauzer

I'd definitely look into flying... You're at an airport, check out the flights, I think it could take some of the angst out of the situation.

Havana128

This does beg the question why you are flying to London when you actually want to go to Paris.

janisj

Good question -- but that is probably water under the bridge now . . .

kerouac

I don't know about London, but in Paris most flights from North America arrive about 30 minutes early for the simple reason that the schedules are totally fake and designed just so that airlines do not get stuck with paying compensation for delayed flights. Maybe the UK does not have those compensation rules, but I thought it was an EU decision.

PalenQ

Maybe the UK does not have those compensation rules, but I thought it was an EU decision.>

Britain has an exemption from this EU law perhaps as it does others? Ah those Brusselscrats - rats

Christina

Since you are already at the airport, I might seriously consider flying Easyjet, also. However, they don't have flights until about 6 pm except on Fri-Monday (when there is one around 2 pm, arriving about 4 pm). So if the weekday isn't Monday, that isn't possible anyway. There isn't any way you wouldn't make that flight if you arrive at 9 am. Of course, then you are at CDG in Paris but you can then take the train from there into Paris, same as you'd have to do in London anyway, and you are there about the same time since the 13:30 Eurostar doesn't arrive until 5 pm, an hour later than the flight.

PalenQ

Fly - Christina makes a compelling case - the easiest and safest thing to do.