Question about Heathrow Express in Advance

What does your ticket say or the web site?

Is your destination Paddington? If not, or even if so, there are better options.

HEX £5.50 fare is very clear on it's conditions. Valid for date on ticket only. No refund, no change of date under ANY circumstances, even in the event of a full COVID lockdown.
That totally unthinkable scenario is still there in their T's and C's.
Far better using one of the alternatives- Elizabeth Line or tube which you just pay on the day, not locking up your money months in advance. The time penalty of using Elizabeth Line, if you are going anywhere beyond Paddington is so minor that it is immaterial.
HEX must be the only airport transit in the world where you pay so far in advance, or probably that you pay in advance at all.
Even if you are only going to Paddington the extra few minutes doesn't matter in the whole context of the vacation.

What is your destination in London?

I am not a huge fan of the HEx. If everything works out perfectly, it is fine. But if there are any disruptions or problems, including strikes, you are out of money. Once I lost money because my flights changed, second time I lost money due to industrial strike. They said they would refund my money for cancellations due to strike action in October 2022, but after making several excuses, they finally stopped responding to me. Of course, this is just my experience. So now I just take the Elizabeth Line train, as I mostly travel to Paddington. The extra 20-30 minutes gives me time to catch my breath after negotiating Heathrow airport and adds to the anticipation and joy of being in London again.

As noted, plenty of options, don't tie yourself into one now. This will not be one of the larger expenses on your trip.

@ Map Girl's comments are interesting. I have scoured HEX Terms and Conditions in the past, and can't find anything about a refund being due if there is a strike, or the line is closed for other reasons (overhead wires down, signalling issues etc). It is questionably lawful, certainly morally so, to refuse to refund if you are not legally allowed to travel.

What is the point of HEX nowadays?

The conditions of carriage indicate a full refund if you are more than 30 minutes late. This covers them failing to provide a service at all.

We just returned from London on Feb. 28th. Spent a week. We took the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to and from Central London (Farringdon Station) and it was easy. One thing we didn't realize, and it isn't mentioned in anything I have seen from Rick Steves (but that we learned about from staff on the Elizabeth Line), is that you can use your credit card like an oyster card, if you have a tap option with your card. You just tap your visa card to go through the turnstile on entry and it lets you through. You tap again at the turnstile when you get off the train. It charges your account directly. You do need a separate credit card for each person traveling. So, if you have more than one person traveling you will need more than one credit card. I just looked at the bill yesterday and it was $15.50 USD for each of us per trip. I suspect there are cheaper options, but we didn't think this was bad.

The Elizabeth line is about 12.50 pounds on the day of passage while HEX is much more day of passage. If I roll the dice and buy passage on HEX in advance, it is 5.50 pounds.

I may try rolling the dice and if I lose, take the Elizabeth Line which is reasonable enough.

Do you need to go to Paddington? If not, forget the HEX.

@ isn31c and Marco: Yes, they are morally and legally obligated to refund the money for the cancellation due to strike action. They sent me an email saying they would refund the money, but then kept making excuses (CC refund was not working), then asked for my bank information. After I sent them the bank information, they just stopped responding to me. Radio silence. I just stopped trying to follow it up after a while, and now refuse to do business with them anymore. I love "Lizzy" and now that's what I use (and recommend) for travelling to Paddington and beyond.

UPDATE 7/25/2023: I received the refund! It took many months, but one day, without any fuss (in typical British fashion), the money suddenly appeared in my bank account. I am pleasantly surprised, and immediately put the money into my travel account :-)

yes, stroudy60,

I need to go to Paddington. My hotel is very close by. within walking distance.

Where are u staying?

HEX goes to Paddington Station. Elizabeth Line goes there as well.

Is your accommodation nearby?

EDIT: posted at the same time. I always ride HEX
( booked 3 months out) . Next trip I’m using the Elizabeth Line. Things change.

Safe travels

Tapping a credit card for the Tube is discussed constantly here and isn't really news to anyone who's travelled since the pandemic, it is the new norm. There's also a daily cap which is nice.

Last summer, we planned ahead and got the 5.50 euro hex tickets from paddington to Heathrow. We were staying at the paddington hotel so perfect. I figured if plans changes, the cheap ticket loss was the least of things to worry about.
Also remember hex has dedicated luggage racks and its built assumming people will have luggage.
Our plans were good and we enjoyed the cheap ride.

I am able to buy a Heathrow Express ticket in advance which is a very
good savings but what happens if Delta / Virgin changes the schedule .
If I end up coming in a day earlier or a day later because of the
airline, am I just out my money?

I did not realize how often airlines are now changing schedules and
even canceling flights.

Have you been tracking your scheduled flights, and if so have Delta or Virgin changed the dates or canceled any of them? Would it bother you a lot to lose the £5.50 you paid for a HEX ticket, if that happened? If so, don't do it.

Hi Suz,

My trip is not until October so I am feeling it is too early to track because who knows what is going to happen by October. I have booked through Delta which has put me on Virgin.

Is there a way to set up tracking?

I would not like to lose the 5.50 pounds but I could live with it ... I'm rolling the dice.

I'm not aware of a way to set up tracking. And TBH it sounds like more work than it's worth, at least it would be for me. I've read that airlines have changed schedules etc., but I figure the odds are against my booked international flights being radically rescheduled or cancelled. If it happens, the airline will inform me and I'll have to deal with it, but it's not something I worry about.

It charges your account directly.

No - it sums up your travel for the day, caps it at the daily maximum, and charges that amount.

You do need a separate credit card for each person traveling.

You can also use VISAPAY on your phone. Even if two phones are set up to charge the same VISA card, you can use both - but each traveller must use his own phone - AND use the VISA card as a third ticket. Not sure how it works, because I don't have VISAPAY, but it has been described numerous times here. Search for threads with VISAPAY.

Edit: You cannot use VISAPAY - if that even exists. Here is a list of options: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go?intcmp=55539

Note that you now have to book 5 months in advance for the £5.50 HEX fare, not 3. Still OK for October of course.

Good Morning Johnnew52

I believe that it might be four or five months in advance and I still have time. I think that I am going to roll the dice and buy in advance, just like in Las Vegas.

I might save some money or I might lose some money.

On another thread yesterday we discovered that the recent change to 5 months has already been withdrawn. It’s now a number of Advance tickets with no specific time frame

A small bit of advice--in planning my departure from London on Sunday 9/24 (staying near Paddington so I know I can easily use either Elizabeth or HEX), I checked the HEX schedule and the trains don't start running until 7:40 am that day, and I want to be at Heathrow by 7:30. So I plan on using Elizabeth, but the concern is always what if there's a problem on the line? This has happened to me previously with Piccadilly. I ultimately decided I would feel better if I changed my flight to 2 hours later, so back to having either option.

If there's engineering work on HEX chances are that it is also on the Elizabeth Line. Looking at TfL engineering work that turns out to be so with no Elizabeth line before 0745 between Paddington and Ealing Broadway on 24 September.

This is interesting and funny. My trip is getting close and everything is booked but transportation from Heathrow to Paddington And transportation from London to Southampton to take my cruise 6 days later.

This is an old post that i created in March.

As it turns out, my airline is flying me in 24 hours earlier than planned. If I had bought HEX in advance, I would be out the money.

Someone told me that you can buy HEX in advance with some option in case your airline changes your schedule and you come in a day earlier or later. I do not find that option

Do I need to buy HEX or the Elizabeth Line in advance? Will there still be a seat for me on a train going to Paddington whether or not I buy tickets in advance?

I kid you not. I have been thinking about Heathrow to Paddington in the last hour and then I check the forum and this old discussion about Heathrow to Paddington popped out.

I find this very comforting and very spiritual.

One more question should anyone come on in on this discussion. I am changing the subject.

My B & B is on Bayswater rd across from Kensington Gardens and near Paddington. I was thinking of going to Victoria Station to get either the coach or train to Southampton when the time comes. I am even thinking of walking.

But do I need advance reservations? Even without reservations, will I be able to get a coach seat to Southampton. Same with train if I decide to go by train?.

@bostonphil- a HEX ticket is only available on the day it is issued for whether an advance or a full price fare.

Elizabeth Line you just buy on the day.

There are no guarantees but unless there is massive service disruption you will get a seat on either service joining at Heathrow.

I am assuming you are staying on Bayswater Road (rather than Bayside),

If you changed off the Elizabeth Line at Ealing Broadway onto the Central line that would take you to Queensway and to Lancaster Gate stations- they are on Bayswater Road so may be closer to your hotel.

If you go Nat Ex I would take bus #148 to Victoria Station then walk down Buckingham Palace Road to the Coach Station. You 'should' be able to turn up and go on the coach but it is always better to book ahead, if only by a day or two.

If you take the train those leave from Waterloo Station. Take the bus #148 as above then anywhere between Victoria Station and Westminster change onto the #211 for Waterloo. The transfer is free so you only pay one fare.

You can pay on the day for the train, and it is very unlikely they would be full if travelling in the off peak as you would.

There is an hourly train from Victoria, but it takes twice as long as from Waterloo. On that route advance fares start from £6.
If you just turn up you will pay £41, if you book ahead you may get a fare as low as £9.20, more likely £14.50 or so.

yes isn31c,

you are right. it is Bayswater Rd and I have gone and edited it.

I am not going to buy HEX in advance lest my airline change my dates further. I am going to take my chances and probably just use the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Paddington. I am not going to be in any hurry.

My B&B is very very close to Lancaster Gate like a block or two but i like walking and I travel lite. I am going to spend 6 nights in London so I want to get to know the area and clear my head after a long trip..

I am sailing on October 14th spending the 13th in Southampton so it looks like it would be worth it for me to buy a ticket to Southampton in advance.

Where do I pick up bus #148. There is a bus stop right outside Lancaster Gate Station. I have been doing research which includes watching youtube videos.

I have to think about whether train or coach. Time to focus and make a decision.

This is getting really exciting for me. I have been working on this trip for about a year more or less and now it is just over two months away

I have bought a new backpack, sling bag and mini iPad.. Today I am getting printer ink from Amazon. Still have to get a new rolling suitcase,

The #148 travels the full length of the Bayswater Road, and uses the stop outside Lancaster Gate amongst several others-
this is the full timetable- you are travelling towards Denmark Hill- https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/148/?direction=inbound- click the arrow next to each stop name to get live next bus times.

I'm going to jump in on the Heathrow Express thread with more questions:

We will be landing at Heathrow at 8:40 am on 6, September and hoping to catch a train out of Paddington at 10:52 am. We will have Britrail passes so cost is not an issue (we've already paid it :)). What are concerns for us are: timing and stairs.

We have done HEX before and found it quick and easy but I see people recommending the Elizabeth line. What would be fastest with the minimum of stairs and preferably no changes? The next train out of Paddington is 11:51 which wouldn't be the end of the world but the earlier train with fit our schedule better. If it makes a difference, we will be flying from Dublin on Aer LIngus.

Thanks

PS: We leave in 31 days so these details are all getting very real!

Assuming that you can use your BritRail pass on the HEX then just take that. It’s comfortable, runs every 15 minutes and comes into the main Paddington station, where your other train will depart from. The Elizabeth line is slower as it stops a few times and comes into Paddington underground, so a bit less convenient. It’s very useful for many as it carries on across central London but not especially for you.
You will hear plenty of negative comments about the HEX. This is because it costs £25 each way unless you buy months in advance, takes only a few minutes less than the Elizabeth line and takes you to Paddington, which is the wrong place for many visitors with accommodation elsewhere in the city.
There is another option for you but it’s probably not worth the hassle given you’ve already “paid” for your travel. You can take the Elizabeth line to Hayes & Harlington and change to go to Reading and from there almost certainly pick up your train which set out from Paddington. This might be useful for others.

@katiecem (again)-
If cost is no object (as here) and speed is of the essence (as here) HEX will always win. As you know you come into the main station at Paddington, so you will only be a short level walk away from your main line platform.
Elizabeth Line comes into it's own underground station just outside Platform 1, so takes longer anyway (though more frequent) and is a longer walk up the escalators and through the station building.
You are arriving at T2 at Heathrow, so straight onto the train.
It sounds like you are arriving at the Bank Holiday weekend. So make a reservation, if you haven't already on your planned and back up trains, as they will likely be busy.
The 1052 is scheduled to leave from Platform 11 (but check for any on the day alterations), the 1151 from Platform 1 (although both yesterday and today it was moved to Platform 5, and today ran departed minutes late as it has been a bad day at Paddington due to signalling problems). Even HX had multiple cancellations today.

As you know HX comes into 6 and 7 at Paddington.

Perfect. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge @isn31c and johnew52! Heathrow Express it is.

Britrail did cover Heathrow Express last time we took it (2019).

I thought Summer Bank Holiday was 28, August. But we do have reservations already anyway.

Katie

thank you so much isn31c

clicked on the link but right now there is a glitch on the tfl end. I have plenty of time to check another day

Update. I was able to access Bus #148 I like the bus line. It would be a great sightseeing bus but I am told that London traffic is horrible.

katiecem

I am glad that you jumped in. It is giving my old thread a new life, not just for us but for others who will need or want this information in the future...