My husband and I arrive at Heathrow within 40 minutes of each other--but into different terminals. We plan to take the Heathrow Express. Where can we meet? Do trains pass the terminals in a specific order? So, if he gets on at Terminal #2, can he take Heathrow Express to Terminal #5 and wait for me? Please advise! Thank you!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I think This map answers your question.
Heathrow Express starts at Terminal 5, then goes to 'Terminals 1,2,3' (one station for 3 terminals), then onward to London Paddington station.
If you get in contact by mobile phone once you land, person1 gets on at Terminal 5, and phones person2 to get on the next train at 'Terminals 1,2,3', it should work.
If all else fails, just meet up at Paddington station. Agree to meet by the Paddington bear statue, and then ask the nearest local or rail employee, everybody knows where that is.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
The same Heathrow Express station serves terminals 1,2 & 3. So it is a single stop from there to Terminal 5. Intra-terminal use is free. best to wait in the arrivals area of the terminal - there are a couple of coffee places as well as a waiting area. Pick one off the linked map.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
Better to meet in the terminal than try to meet up on the train. We have done this---my sister and her husband arrived at T3 about 45 minutes ahead of our arrival at T5. They jumped Innthe Heathrow Express to T5 ( free for transfer between terminals) and were waiting for us in the Arrivals area as we came through the door. We had communicated by phone as soon as we landed. For a bit of humor, they were holding up a large "Dave and Lola" sign as though they were a car service looking for us.
Do you know about the DuoSaver tix? If you and your husband will be returning to Heathrow from London within 30 days, you can buy this discount ticket on the website and save about £28 for the two journeys.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7991 posts
This may not happen to you, but for what it's worth, we flew in to Heathrow Terminal 5 and used the Heathrow Express to transfer to a different terminal for our onward flight to Scotland last August. The two of us had been thru Heathrow and many other airports many times before, but had never taken the Heathrow Express. Signage directing us to where to reach the train was confusing, and we needed to ask twice to get a good answer about where the lift (elevator) was that could get us to the lower-level train platform. Even then, it required a bit of a walk, asking another airport attendant (who directed us in the wrong direction), and an about-face with another walk to reach the train platform. Then, the train stopped farther down the platform, which necessitated moving down even further before we could get onboard.
The Express Train worked well one we were onboard, but getting onboard took some effort. Unless better signs have sprung up in the past 6 months, or unless we were completely clueless (possible, but I don't think so in this case - and the airport staff weren't a completely reliable resource), be prepared to hunt a bit, and ask for directions if necessary.