fastest and most convenient way from London Heathrow to Gatwick

10-18-2003, 02:02 AM

I just bought some tickets, and when I checked for the change in plane
in London, I forgot to check whether the change in plane takes place
at the same airport.

Now that I've bought the tickets, and found that I arrive at Heathrow
and must depart at Gatwick, how do I get us (me and Mom) over from
Heathrow to Gatwick?

More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
GMT.

This raises issues like, how long will it take to clear customs
post-9/11 and Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber)?

Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
lunch? Is there a shuttle between airports? Will we have to cab it?
Whatever ideas come to mind, please do not forget to include
approximate cost for the transport.

Thanks in advance.

Lil

10-18-2003, 02:20 AM

Lil wrote:

    > Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
    > convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
    > lunch? Is there a shuttle between airports? Will we have to cab it?
    > Whatever ideas come to mind, please do not forget to include
    > approximate cost for the transport.
    >
There's a regular shuttle between the two airports - it takes a bit over an
hour, and costs GBP15. Check <www.nationalexpress.com> for information on
times, etc.

10-18-2003, 02:29 AM

Lil wrote:
    > More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    > before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    > GMT.

Not sure this would be a legal connection. Call your airline to confirm that
this connection is legal.

you can also check the web sites for the airports at
http://www.baa.co.uk
British Airways's web site probably has some information on inter-airport transfers.

    > Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
    > convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
    > lunch?

There are shuttle buses that link the 2 airports. Last I heard, since 9-11 you
had to pickup your luggage and lug it with you. In the past, luggage was
transfered by the airlines. Assuming your connection is barely legal, you
wouldn't have time to eat, unless you pickup something as a takeaway at
Heathrow and eat it while on the bus to Gatwick.

10-18-2003, 06:32 AM

"Lil" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > I just bought some tickets, and when I checked for the change in plane
    > in London, I forgot to check whether the change in plane takes place
    > at the same airport.
    > Now that I've bought the tickets, and found that I arrive at Heathrow
    > and must depart at Gatwick, how do I get us (me and Mom) over from
    > Heathrow to Gatwick?
    > More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    > before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    > GMT.
    > This raises issues like, how long will it take to clear customs
    > post-9/11 and Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber)?
    > Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
    > convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
    > lunch? Is there a shuttle between airports? Will we have to cab it?
    > Whatever ideas come to mind, please do not forget to include
    > approximate cost for the transport.
    > Thanks in advance.
    > Lil

Sorry to disappoint but don't think you have enough time to do anything but
take a taxi - which will cost an arm and a leg.
You don't have time to wait around for buses or coaches. Or fiddling around
getting meals - you may only have time for a quick bite if you get to
Gatwick early enough to checkin and accomplish this procedure with a few
minutes to spare. Even getting a taxi without having to queue is no
guarantee - see the following website:
http://www.airport-transfers-uk.com/...ansfer_times.h
tml

Regards

David Bennetts

10-18-2003, 07:49 AM

On 17 Oct 2003 19:02:03 -0700, (Lil) wrote:

    >I just bought some tickets, and when I checked for the change in plane
    >in London, I forgot to check whether the change in plane takes place
    >at the same airport.
    >Now that I've bought the tickets, and found that I arrive at Heathrow
    >and must depart at Gatwick, how do I get us (me and Mom) over from
    >Heathrow to Gatwick?
    >More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    >before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    >GMT.

Who sold you this connection? Last year BA were quoting a minimum
connecting time of 3 hours via the inter-airport coach. It looks like
you will be using a very expensive taxi.
--==++AJC++==--

10-18-2003, 07:56 AM

    > I just bought some tickets, and when I checked for the change in plane
    > in London, I forgot to check whether the change in plane takes place
    > at the same airport.
    > Now that I've bought the tickets, and found that I arrive at Heathrow
    > and must depart at Gatwick, how do I get us (me and Mom) over from
    > Heathrow to Gatwick?
    > More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    > before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    > GMT.
    > This raises issues like, how long will it take to clear customs
    > post-9/11 and Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber)?
    > Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
    > convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
    > lunch? Is there a shuttle between airports? Will we have to cab it?
    > Whatever ideas come to mind, please do not forget to include
    > approximate cost for the transport.
The fastest would probably be to take the Heathrow Express to Paddington,
tube to Victoria, then Gatwick Express to atwick. This will also be very
expensive. o cut costs you could take the tube to London.

10-18-2003, 08:08 AM

AJC wrote:
    >>More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    >>before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    >>GMT.
    >
    > Who sold you this connection? Last year BA were quoting a minimum
    > connecting time of 3 hours via the inter-airport coach. It looks like
    > you will be using a very expensive taxi.
    > --==++AJC++==--

Well, it arrives at 11 AM, that only 15 minutes shy of 3 hours, plus
they said "a little before 11", so it could be only a 5 or 10 minute
difference.

10-18-2003, 01:26 PM

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:29:46 -0400, Middle Gonad <> wrote:

    >Lil wrote:
    >> More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    >> before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    >> GMT.
    >Not sure this would be a legal connection. Call your airline to confirm that
    >this connection is legal.

My guess is that the OP booked with *two* airlines, one to take them to
Europe and the other to take them to their final destination. The latter
is probably Easyjet. I will advise the OP to, if it's possible, cancel
the flight from Gatwick and book a later one. This connection is tight.

Most convenient is the direct bus. Don't know about fastest.

__________________
Don't be sorry to email me.

10-18-2003, 01:36 PM

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 13:26:40 GMT, (Jesper
Lauridsen) wrote:

    >On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:29:46 -0400, Middle Gonad <> wrote:
    >>Lil wrote:
    >>> More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    >>> before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    >>> GMT.
    >>Not sure this would be a legal connection. Call your airline to confirm that
    >>this connection is legal.
    >My guess is that the OP booked with *two* airlines, one to take them to
    >Europe and the other to take them to their final destination. The latter
    >is probably Easyjet. I will advise the OP to, if it's possible, cancel
    >the flight from Gatwick and book a later one. This connection is tight.
    >Most convenient is the direct bus. Don't know about fastest.

Indeed if the op is on separate tickets, and especially non-flexible
tickets, then 4 hours is nearer to what is needed to allow for delays
on arrival, traffic on the M25, and to get lunch.
--==++AJC++==--

10-18-2003, 05:05 PM

"Lil" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > I just bought some tickets, and when I checked for the change in plane
    > in London, I forgot to check whether the change in plane takes place
    > at the same airport.
    > Now that I've bought the tickets, and found that I arrive at Heathrow
    > and must depart at Gatwick, how do I get us (me and Mom) over from
    > Heathrow to Gatwick?
    > More details: the plane is supposed to arrive at Heathrow a little
    > before 11 a.m. GMT, and is supposed to depart Gatwick at 1:45 p.m.
    > GMT.
    > This raises issues like, how long will it take to clear customs
    > post-9/11 and Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber)?
    > Assuming we clear customs quickly, what is the fastest and most
    > convenient way to get to Gatwick and somehow manage to grab some
    > lunch? Is there a shuttle between airports? Will we have to cab it?
    > Whatever ideas come to mind, please do not forget to include
    > approximate cost for the transport.
    > Thanks in advance.
    > Lil

It will take about an hour to clear customs, immigration and baggage, then a
bus to gatwick will take 1:15 minimum plus queueing time - maybe 20 minutes,
and cost 17GBP with speedlink, the national express coach although cheaper
is more difficult to find, a taxi may make the journey in about an hour and
will cost something like 60 GBP if pre booked.

Its going to be a VERY tight connection, but planes from the USA often land
early if the wind is in the right direction.

A pre-booked taxi is the only sensible way to attempt this, but do try and
change the second leg to a later flight.

I would get lunch after checking in and clearing security at Gatwick.