Quick Heathrow Question

cullenswood

Hi,

Not overly familiar with Heathrow but I will be taking a 12.35 flight from Heathrow to Dublin in a few Sundays time, from Terminal 1.

I was wondering how long does it usually take to get through security etc. I will only have carry on luggage and was reckoning I could be at the airport at about 11.45. I will have checked in online with Aer Lingus. Is this leaving it too tight?

BuffyBot

A little, it's doable but for peace of mind I wouldn't choose it. While it's likely that security may be quick, you have to plan for backlogs. Factor in that the Irish flights are quite a distance from the checkpoint also and any delay doesn't leave you much recovery time.

Miaireland

I think you are leaving it a bit tight. The queues at Security can be very long, the last time I was there it took me twenty minutes to get through. The walk to the gate takes about 10 mins. Also they take your photo a couple of times in the airport and the camera kept breaking down while I was there which added another 15 mins.

Also bear in mind they close the gate a few minutes before the flight departs. We were actually going into the air at our departure time.

finbarrk

I wouldn't feel comfortable arriving at Heathrow just 50 mins before the flight departure.

cullenswood

Would an hour be enough?

Any idea of how long a taxi would take from Earls Court to Heathrow at that time on a Sunday morning?

BuffyBot

Personally, an hour is the absolute minimum I'd give myself at Heathrow.

schemingbohemia

cullenswood wrote: »

Would an hour be enough?

Any idea of how long a taxi would take from Earls Court to Heathrow at that time on a Sunday morning?

The tube takes about 40 minutes direct from Earls Court, google maps has driving taking between 23 and 40 minutes, on a Sunday it might be less.

www.tfl.gov.uk gives a 10.27 tube from earl's court that would have you in heathrow for 11.06, if it were me, i'd get the 10.17 and give myself a bit of extra time.

Will the extra 20 minutes in bed really be worth it if you miss the flight? Or the stress of thinking you might miss the flight.

Heathrow is a poxy airport for getting through and i wouldn't want to rely on a speedy trip through security at all.

coylemj

You only have carry-on luggage so why take a taxi? Earls Court is on the Piccadilly Line, get the tube direct to Heathrow and save yourself a bundle of cash. The journey on the tube counts as zone 2 to 6 and on an Oyster card as an off-peak journey, it will cost you all of £1.50.

Heathrow is run by a private company and people get paid more to work on Sundays, that means they won't have more security lanes active than they need so you will probably encounter a queue at security even though it will be one of the quietest times of the week for air travel.

I'd always aim to arrive in LHR at least an hour before the scheduled departure. There is a long walk from security to the ROI gates.

ProudDUB

I wouldn't cut it that fine OP. At Heathrow, you have to do a ridiculous amount of walking to get to the Aer Lingus departure gates. For a 12.35 departure, I wouldn't get there any later than 11am. Factor in your own admitted unfamiliarity with Heathrow, & you should be allowing for the time that you'll just spend just figuring out how to get from A to B. The place is a damm zoo at the best of times.