Heathrow

I have a flight departing from Heathrow Thursday morning. Just wanna know since I flew into London from LCY, how early do you recommend that I arrive? I'm only taking one light bag and my laptop. Does check-in usually take a long time for you? Long lines? Any fuss? Or any over all advice for someone traveling from Heathrow for the first time? I have flown quite a few times already so I know not to bring any liquids in my carry-on, take out my laptop out of the bag during security checks, etc. My flight leaves at 11:40 and if I depart from my flat at 8:00 and expect to arrive at LHR at 9:20-ish, do you think that should be fine? Please and thank you.

Which terminal are you using?  Term 5, no problem.  Term 3 or 4, it is hit or miss.  I have waited 3 hours in a queue before and almost missed my flight. Equally, I have been in the departures area within 10 minutes of arriving.

Which terminal are you using?  Term 5, no problem.  Term 3 or 4, it is hit or miss.  I have waited 3 hours in a queue before and almost missed my flight. Equally, I have been in the departures area within 10 minutes of arriving.

Yeah, it's terminal 4.

ETA: Oops, thank you Mindy.

I always aim to get to Heathrow or Gatwick 3 hours before. On two occasions when I've allowed a budget of 2 hours, I've either only just made the flight (looooong security queue) or missed the flight altogether (transportation issues).

I always aim to get to Heathrow or Gatwick 3 hours before. On two occasions when I've allowed a budget of 2 hours, I've either only just made the flight (looooong security queue) or missed the flight altogether (transportation issues).

I think this is very good advice.  The Tube and the security queue are very unpredictable, and unless you are flying business or first class, and get to go through the priority security queue, you will make your day infinitely less stressful if you show up a bit earlier. 

I usually aim for 2-2.5 hours before and I've never had a problem, though I appreciate that this is probably just luck on my part (though I do fly a lot). I think the biggest difference is whether you are checking a bag or not. If you just have carryon, and can either print out your boarding pass before hand or use a self-checkin machine at the terminal, this saves tons of time.

It also depends how you are getting to the airport. If you are taking tube or bus all the way, you may want to leave more time but the Heathrow Express/Connect are pretty reliable. But you may want to leave a bit earlier anyway because 8 am is full rush hour swing, you may find yourself saving loads of time and discomfort just by leaving 20-30 minutes earlier.

My motto for heathrow is "expect the worst" but generally departures haven't been too bad for me; I do have the worst luck with arrivals though, as quite a few times I've ended up sitting on the tarmac for a long time for no reason, only to find an endless immigration queue. Yuck.

We sat down to book our bus tickets from Cambridge to Heathrow last night and because the bus ride takes 3 hours (despite being less than an hour to central London by train)...we quickly realized we need to take the 4:45am bus. That's going to be painful.

Since we live about 3 hours (on a good traffic day) from Heathrow we usually go down the night before, stay in the Travelodge just around the corner from the Long Stay Carpark for Terminals 1-3 (where we park) it only cost us £19 (booking in about a month in advance) and then we were able to take our time in the morning and not have to rush about worrying about traffic.

Since we live about 3 hours (on a good traffic day) from Heathrow we usually go down the night before, stay in the Travelodge just around the corner from the Long Stay Carpark for Terminals 1-3 (where we park) it only cost us £19 (booking in about a month in advance) and then we were able to take our time in the morning and not have to rush about worrying about traffic.

Great advice and one I had forgotten.  I am doing this for our early morning flights home at Christmas.

Since we live about 3 hours (on a good traffic day) from Heathrow we usually go down the night before, stay in the Travelodge just around the corner from the Long Stay Carpark for Terminals 1-3 (where we park) it only cost us £19 (booking in about a month in advance) and then we were able to take our time in the morning and not have to rush about worrying about traffic.

Ohh, great idea!  We are flying from Gatwick in April and that bus ride takes 4-5 hours from Cambridge...and the flight leaves at 10am!  I haven't figured out what to do then, as we're going to have a TON of luggage for that trip and the train is probably out of the question as it involves switching once or twice. 

We only live about 30 minutes away, but if the parking is only £19, then that in itself would make it worth it!

I've always allowed myself the full 3 hours AT the airport, so I factor in the travel time on top of that.  I'm sure that's being OCD, but I'd rather be through security and done with a book waiting at my gate for a while (or at the airport bar) than anxiously waiting in the security line.

I've always allowed myself the full 3 hours AT the airport, so I factor in the travel time on top of that.  I'm sure that's being OCD, but I'd rather be through security and done with a book waiting at my gate for a while (or at the airport bar) than anxiously waiting in the security line.

I don't think it is being OCD at all.  The airlines are looking for any excuse to charge extra fees, or to bump people without compensation.  And they don't give $*!% if the train was delayed or if there were only 2 operating X-ray machines at security for 1,000 people.  The delay might not be your fault, but it isn't their fault either.

If I have a non-refundable ticket to the States, then I get there in enough time that there is no way they can blame me for missing the plane and make me pay LOTS of extra £££ or $$$ to catch the next flight.  Nothing wrong with avoiding stress.

Don't forget about the Yotel which is right in the airport- its nice and comfortable and has an awesome shower- even if its a bit tiny

I flew out on Delta, using terminal 4.  It was a breeze, though my flight departure time was at 1pm.  So the terminal was not busy when I arrived at 9.30.

I used Priceline to stay close to Heathrow the night before.  The hotel was the Sheraton Heathrow for $40 with tax.  It was a great hotel and a great deal.