Hi. I'm arriving from a cruise to Southampton in 3 weeks, on a Friday and I need to book a flight from London to Zurich. Taking into consideration I will be in Southampton cruise port, what do you think is the best airport to get and take a flight to Zurich? Heathrow or London City? What do you think will be easiest way to arrive to one of those airports, if I am in Southampton cruise port and need to take bus or train to one of those airports? Any suggestion or advice will be really appreciated!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5511 posts
Since there is a direct Natiinal Express coach between Southampton and LHR, that would be my recommendation. Google Maps is often a good choice as a first look at transportation options.
Posted by
Irving
3292 posts
Southampton (SOU) Airport
Posted by
Green Bay
21244 posts
That's a connection in Amsterdam.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8187 posts
Whether or not Zurich is a connection via Amsterdam that would totally be my preference to fly from. One it is a small airport, two it is not 70 miles away with all the vagaries of what could happen on the way, whether by road or rail.
Three it removes the inherent unknowns of whether the ship will dock on time, and what time you will be able to disembark.
A cruise ship is not a Swiss Watch- any number of factors can delay it.
Although Southampton Airport is only 10 to 15 minutes away I would still not book a flight until early to mid afternoon. That way you are not stressing if the ship is an hour or two late, or if you are in a late disembarking cohort.
I have seen far too much really bad behaviour on the ships from people who are timetabled to the hilt and can't cope when things go a bit wrong- you are on vacation- chill out a bit and build in recovery time.
To LCY you would take the train to London Waterloo, then my route preference would be the Jubilee Line to Canning Town, then the DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
Posted by
Freedonia
16440 posts
Southampton is easiest regarding ground transport but no nonstop flights.
Heathrow has direct transport from Southampton via coach.
London City, while small and easily manageable, requires numerous changes in ground transport.
Your choice.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8187 posts
Gatwick also has direct flights to Zurich on Easyjet (at about 4.30pm on a Friday).
Gatwick has direct National Express buses from Southampton at around noon and mid afternoon, as well as an hourly one change train along the south coast- the former direct train having been stopped.
The noon bus would not get to Gatwick on time for the 4.30 flight- allowing for check in etc time, but a mid to late morning train would, assuming no problems on the train line.
Posted by
Green Bay
21244 posts
The KLM flight from SOU is at 5:20 pm and gets to Zurich at 10:30 pm. The 9:00 am flight is not makeable if arriving on a cruise ship that day.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11970 posts
While not explicit in your post, it does appear you intend to fly the day the boat arrives in port, true?
Where is the boat coming from? Will you be 'entering' UK from somewhere outside the UK and have to clear immigration?
What time is the boat scheduled to dock?
Which airport is 'best', will depend on when you would actually be on your way and what time you would actually be able to get to an airport.
As an armchair observer, the flight from SOU-AMS-ZRH looks to be the simplest solution, as long as you lodging has late check in.
$0,02 fee waived.