Early Morning Flight and Transfer Options

£67 sounds reasonable for a private car, a taxi would cost you at least that much. However, would it really waste your last day if you moved to an airport hotel on the last evening of your last day? You’d surely be going to bed early anyway as you need to be up super early for your flight?

It would be less stressful if you spent the last day in London and went to a Heathrow hotel the night before your flight as Amanda suggested. Otherwise, you will be up super early, worried about the car showing up on time. Wouldn't you need to be at airport by 3:30 or so on Sunday to ensure time for check in and to get thru security?

As it is Sunday there is also Option 3 - taking the Night Tube. Not that I would personally recommend it.

I used blackberry cars May 2022. My hotel was near the St James tube station. Post code SW1. Paid £62 last year. This year it’s £90. With that early a flight I’d elect to stay at the airport. A hotel that’s actually at one of the terminals that doesn’t require a bus or shuttle ride.

https://www.blackberrycars.com/

With a 7:45 a.m. flight departure from Heathrow, I most definitely would stay at a hotel at Heathrow the night before - - - one attached to your terminal, not one requiring a taxi or shuttle bus.

I fly in and out of Heathrow quite a bit. For late arrivals, and early morning departures, I stay at an airport hotel within walking distance of my terminal.

This time of year, it doesn't get dark until around 10 pm. If your flight is from Terminal 2 or 3, book a room at the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2 and request a runway view room. Your kids might enjoy watching the planes from the comfort of your hotel room. But don't worry, you won't hear anything. They're soundproof.

For a check in at 5am or earlier, I would certainly book an hotel at the airport for Saturday night, and transfer from London during the evening on Saturday. You will lose minimal if any time in London.
Sure there is the night bus and the night tube, but save yourself that 1 hour transfer in the early hours and the worry of anything going wrong, either with transit or a car service.
Choose a hotel on site, not one on the Bath Road.

We a 7:45 AM return flight to EWR in a couple of months, already booked the Hilton Garden Inn at terminal 2. Save yourself the early morning hassle, have your hotel in London hold your bags when you check out, complete your sightseeing, have an early dinner in London and head to the airport in the evening.

I would absolutely stay at the airport the night before, instead of getting up at an ungodly hour to make the long drive out there the day of, especially for such an early flight and with kids.

It may already be sold out at this late date, but there is a great family room at the Sheraton Heathrow that was inexpensive, like 120 pounds. It’s a two room suite that has two bathrooms. One room has a king bed and the other room has two twins. It includes breakfast, and the breakfast was really really good. We stayed there May 19 and were incredibly pleased. They left us a handwritten note and little gifts for the kids. It’s on the Hotel Hoppa route or you can take a very inexpensive Uber or cab. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lhrsi-sheraton-heathrow-hotel/rooms/#roomPoolCode=famz

You could probably leave your bags at the Premier Inn while you go out and about for the day, and then pick them up and transfer to the airport hotel in the evening.

You could probably leave your bags at the Premier Inn while you go out and about for the day, and then pick them up and transfer to the airport hotel in the evening.

That's what I did in Scotland - I checked out of the Premier Inn in Edinburgh but asked them to hold my luggage till later, which they did. I then picked the bags up mid-afternoon and headed to Glasgow where I stayed at an airport hotel prior to departure the next morning. It's SO much easier and more relaxing. I always stay at airport hotels unless my flight is later in the afternoon.

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice! I booked us a room at one of the Sheratons on Bath Road. I know, I know - One of you explicitly said not to book on Bath Road! Unfortunately the terminal hotels are all booked on the day we need. I wasn't able to cancel our last night in London online, but figure I can always do that in London. I think we'll still be charged for that night, but on a trip this big I'm not going to let that bother me. It will be better to go to sleep knowing we're a short taxi ride from the airport. Thanks again!

As you are on Bath Road check with the Hotel as to which Hotel Hoppa bus route they are on- they start at around 4am, specifically for first check ins.

A family ticket is £13.

Tell the hotel when you check in you will need a taxi at a certain time. It's not going to cost much and why deal with hassle of a bus and walking when you can be driven door to door. Especially at that hour.

As you said, you've spent so much on this trip is an extra 5 or 10 GBP really going to make a difference?

what Frank II says

When I posted the Hotel Hoppa link I was debating whether taxi or hotel hoppa would be cheaper. If it wasn't for the drop off charge set by the Airport I doubt there is much in it.
It wasn't a money saving ruse, but an attempt to be helpful.
You don't have to walk anywhere with the Hotel Hoppa as it calls at the front door of each hotel, not at public bus stops. It may be useful to someone else.

Allison, you should be able to cancel a booking at Premier Inn online, unless you made a booking that was non-cancellable. Check out their FAQs page: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/faq/cancelling-or-amending.html

OP are you home yet?