Just a quick practical question--We arrive in London on the Eurostar from Brussels at 9:39 a.m., and our flight departs LHR at 1:00 p.m. I'm fairly confident that this will leave us more than enough time to get to LHR (taxi to Paddington then Heathrow Express), but any thoughts would be appreciated. How long and expensive is the taxi ride from Waterloo to Paddington? Is Eurostar usually on time?<BR><BR>Also, has anyone used the check-in feature at Paddington? How early before departure do you have to be at Paddington to use this service? Did your bags arrive home with you?<BR><BR>Thanks for the help.<BR>

Revved up - I can't help you with your first question, but we used the check-in at Paddington, and everything worked fine. We checked in about 2.5 hours prior to our flight. However, you should check with your airline - some discontinued their Paddington service after 9/11.<BR><BR>

Actually - you may make your flight. BUT most airlines now require a 3 hour advance check-in. Even 2 hours would be hard for you to make - getting off the Eurostar and to the taxi rank at Waterloo will take you at least 10 minutes. Then 15 to 30 minutes by cab to Paddington depending on the traffic. The LHR express runs all day but you would have at least a few minutes wait - and once at LHR there's a long walk to the departure lounge<BR><BR>Are you flying BA - if so you can check in at Paddington. Otherwise you need to check in at LHR.<BR><BR>Usually Eurostar runs pretty close to schedule - BUT there sometimes are delays. You are cutting it pretty close

Thanks for the advice. We were originally scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. flight that was cancelled. We were put on a later flight (9:00 p.m.). I changed it to the 1:00 p.m. flight because I didn't want to have hang around for 12 hours between arrival in London and departure. <BR><BR>Our airline (Air Canada) permits check-in at Paddington 2 hours before the flight. Would the Tube from Waterloo to Paddington be faster than a taxi?

Sorry, one more thing...Who requires a three hour advance check in? I've only heard that two hours are recommended for international flights. I try to check in 90 minutes to 2 hours before an international flight and have never had a problem. Do others follow the three hour guideline?

Sorry, one more thing...Who requires a three hour advance check in? I've only heard that two hours are recommended for international flights. I try to check in 90 minutes to 2 hours before an international flight and have never had a problem. Do others follow the three hour guideline?

It is true, three hours is hardly ever necessary - but Virgin, United, AA and several others now state three hours. I just go along w/ it and use the extra time at LHR for shopping/eating.<BR><BR>

Virgin requires a three hour check in. BA did too (Iast summer anyway). My husband is religious about getting to the airport at the front end of that 3 hour window. Each of the last three times we've travelled overseas in the last year, we've had 45-60 minutes after clearing all security wickets and arriving at the boarding gate. But we also didn't encounter super long lines or other travel burps. A couple of 15 or 20 minute delays in the process would have driven me into nail biting mode. <BR><BR>I think you have adequate time to make the trip but not much buffer.<BR><BR>

ttt

If you can check in at Paddington, you should be fine as that checkin is the start of your 2.5 to 3 hours. And from waterloo to Paddington should not take you much past 10:30. When you get to LHR you go directly to security and passport control.<BR><BR>Just double check that you can check in ..AA told me we could and when we got to Paddington the desk was closed and it's a long walk from the train to the check in counter at Heathrow!

Flights to the USA from Britain require a 3 hour check in. As for the Heathrow Express, MAKE SURE IT'S RUNNING! Last Dec 1 I was scheduled to return to the US on a 4pm BA flight and thought I'd try the LHR Express for the first time. Took a taxi from Chelsea to Paddington with a lot of heavy luggage (from Christmas shopping, I did pack light from home) went to the BA counter to be told that the train wasn't running due to track maintenance problems and would have to find alternate transportation to LHR. The counter wasn't even open, the agents were only there to tell passengers that since the trains weren't running then check in and bag drop would have to be done at the airport. Thank God I was able to check in via phone the night before because I'm a frequent flyer member and had an e-ticket so my only problem was getting my bags to the airport on time and picking up my boarding pass. Ended up having to take a taxi to LHR. Next time I try the Express I'll make sure to watch the morning news rail/public transport report first.

If you're planning to take the tube from Waterloo to Paddington, check that the interchange at Baker St is working. They were doing construction at the station and starting in the summer of 2002, they stopped allowing people to get off off Northbound at Baker St (so you wouldn't be able to transfer to the line that takes you to Paddington).<BR><BR>Also - Eurostar is often late (on the dozen or so trips I took, it was frequently 15-20 minutes late, a few times 30-45 minutes late and once, 2 hours late).<BR><BR>Consider making arrangements for a car service - for two or more people it's probably about the same price as Heathrow Express x 2 + cab to Paddington. I use Swiss Cottage cars 020 7431 2700, and another Fodorite recommends Skinners Car Service (don't know the number). Book in advance, and then telephone when you're on the train if you're running late (if you don't have a phone, you can probably talk someone into lending you one).