We are flying on Icelandic Air from Heathrow to Pittsburgh on Sunday, 25 May. Our flight leaves at 13:03.
We will be traveling from Cambridge to Heathrow and the National Express Bus, while longer, is an easy ride. There are two buses one that leaves Cambridge at 6:05am and arrives at Heathrow at 8:30am and one that leaves at 8:00am and arrives at 10:30am. I'd prefer not to have to sit at Heathrow for 4.5 hours but am not sure that 2.5 hours is enough time to pass through security and get to the gate (we are not checking luggage).
I realize we have to figure out our level of comfort but I would appreciate any thoughts.
Posted by
Winter Park, Florida
303 posts
I am flying from Heathrow to Orlando this Sunday. I plan to arrive 2.5 hours prior to flight departure. I think you will be okay with the 8am bus from Cambridge.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5659 posts
The guidance is to be at the airport three hours before your flight for long haul flights however 2 1/2 hours should be sufficient to make it through security and to the gate. The problem would be if there was an issue with the traffic that would potentially cause a delay in your arrival at Heathrow.
I'm risk averse so I like get to the airport early however I have lounge access so 4 1/2 hours wouldn't be an issue for me.
Posted by
London, UK
479 posts
I would be very anxious about taking the bus from Cambridge the morning of a flight - traffic can be really bad and it’s a long, convoluted drive from Cambridge to Heathrow. Myself, I’d get to Heathrow the night before and stay in an airport hotel, but if you can’t, then I’d take the earlier bus and just accept the possibly long wait, knowing I’d left myself some leeway for things going wrong.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2887 posts
The consequences for missing your flight are having to buy a new ticket at the last minute. That is too great a risk for me. I would stay at the airport, or at least in London, the night before. But if that isn’t possible, I would take the earlier bus.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5037 posts
I found security at Heathrow to be fairly disorganized and not at all pleasant. Slow as well. I would get their early and either use a credit card for lounge access or buy a lounge day pass. You also get fed that way.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
3125 posts
As I recall there's a Hilton Garden at T2. Settling in there for lunch or a coffee for an hour or so might be a more pleasant way to pass the time rather than cooling your heels inside the terminal.
Might add that the Sofitel at T5 is a very, very nice place to hang out for an hour or two, though you'd then have to make your way seperately over to T2 for your departing flight.
Posted by
London
340 posts
Two and a half hours is more than enough time for Heathrow- I personally always arrive two hours ahead and this has always been plenty of time (and usually leaves time to make any last minute purchases and get something to eat/drink). They don't even show the gate until about an hour before the flight. For a Sunday early morning I would not anticipate heavy traffic either. I will put it this way- if I lived in Cambridge, I would definitely take the 8am bus. However, everyone has their own risk tolerance so if taking the earlier one makes you more comfortable then go for that.
Posted by
Freedonia
17115 posts
The Hilton Garden Inn's restaurant is not open for lunch.
However, there is a pub in Terminal 2 before security.