National Express --- HEATHROW Airport London T2 & T3 (LHR) > SOUTHAMPTON

I would suggest booking in advance for the time you think you will travel, but use the “Change and Go” option for an additional 5 GBP to allow you to change if your flight arrives early or late. It is described here:
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/change-go

Fares are generally lower the further you book in advance. You can buy on arrival, but there is a risk that the bus is full.

If you book ahead you need to allow a couple of hours from landing time to complete immigration, pick up luggage and walk to the bus terminal. In the past I have booked ahead and been able to change my ticket to an earlier or later bus. NE guarantee a seat if you book in advance and this route could be busy with cruise passengers.

Good input.

Thanks

The problem with using Change and Go is that, officially at least, the ticket has to be changed at a Travel Shop Desk or by calling 03717 81 81 81 between 8am and 8pm. And now Heathrow has no manned ticket desk, only ticket machines.

In practice I have amended even officially unamendable tickets by just talking to the driver- but I have may just have been lucky.

At least the Heathrow to Southampton buses are starting from Heathrow- they haven't come from anywhere else.

I would have also suggested getting tickets ahead and the added change option, but given the lastest info, you can decide whether to take your chances and book on arrival, or pre-purchase a ticket with 2 or 3 hours' grace. It may also all depend on how frequently it runs.

Ugh. Not much is simple these days.

Thanks

From the National Express website --- "For added flexibility purchasing a Change and Go add-on from the 'add extras' page when making your booking online and travelling to/from an airport means that you can board any available coach 12 hours before or 12 hours after your original departure time."

I guess that means go to the driver of the next bus and hope for the best?

Hank, one thing I noticed last year when I took the bus from Heathrow to Southampton is that the same bus starts off from the terminal 2/3 station, goes to terminal 4, and then goes to terminal 5 before hitting the road for Southampton. It is possible you might be able to catch at alternate terminals in a time crunch.

I’m headed out with friends for another cruise in May. We purchased our tickets in advance with the change feature. We have given ourselves plenty of time between arrival and our bus, but feel good knowing we could switch forward or back as needed.

From the FAQ's at the bottom of that page is what I quoted you-

How can I amend my ticket? Amendments to tickets can be made through the Contact Centre. Please visit our Contact Us page for ways to get in touch and our opening hours. You can also amend your ticket at any Travel Shop desk where facilities are available, prior to attempting to board the next available departure.

Then from the 'Contact Us' Page-

Call our Customer Contact Centre- For advice when travelling, amendments to your journey, to make a complaint or provide feedback and to book assistance. 03717 81 81 81 Lines open 7 days a week, 8am - 8pm (calls to this number are charged at local rate).

Carol now retired,

How much time did you allow between arrival in Heathrow and departure to Southampton? We are scheduled to arrive at 12:10 pm. Our coach leaves for Southampton at 1:50 pm.

Thanks

We were lucky too in 2023 when we’d allotted plenty of time for our booked National Express bus with £5 to Bournemouth change fee. Our plane arrived on time and we walked to the bus terminal. It was very busy when we got there and we didn’t see a way to amend the reservation ourselves so we just asked the next bus driver who was headed out on that route and he said ok, about an hour before our scheduled time. I would try this again as sitting in the bus station wasn’t very comfortable after an overnight flight.