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Car Transfer Services Gatwick to Heathrow

We have reservations on BA arriving Gatwick 7:35 AM and leaving Heathrow for Brussels 12:40. I know we can take Nat'l Express but am concerned with time frames, especially if flight is late (often in transatlantic flights)and/or heavy London area traffic. Add in security delays in Heathrow (potential) and I have visions of arriving at the gate with my hair on fire (not a pretty sight). Any recommendations for car transfer services? Many thanks and apologies if this question has been asked recently.

Posted by
9371 posts

A car service is going to have the same traffic issues as the National Express bus, and it will cost more. You have five hours to make the transfer. That is ages of time, even if your arriving flight runs a bit behind. Gatwick is a smaller airport, so it doesn't have the immigration traffic that Heathrow does.

Posted by
33743 posts

I see it differently. It has been a while since I met someone at GTW but I regularly used to. It always was at least 90 minutes before they came through the frosted glass doors and often 2 hours. So lets say you want to use the toilet and call it 2 hours. Looking around for your driver at 0930 and leaving the parking area at 0945. At least an hour is what I would budget for the 45 miles. 1045. Assuming no walking to the check in area (have you seem Heathrow?) and you need 2 hours check in. Oops. A big tighter than I would be comfortable with.

Posted by
9371 posts

I must have just been lucky last month then. I was out of Gatwick with my checked bag in 45 minutes (and I always stop at the restroom). I had a ticket for a NatlExpress bus for Heathrow at 6:50, but it was only 5:30, so they let me take the earlier bus at 5:40, and I was at Heathrow in an hour. The wait for security was not long (T3), either. I was already checked in, so from bag drop to seated in the waiting area was 40 minutes.

Posted by
181 posts

I think it WAS your lucky day, Nancy!!! I am with Nigel on this. I have sat on the motorway for what seems ages to drive to Heathrow. I am always holding my breath hoping I will make it.

Posted by
9371 posts

I have, too. But that was my point to the OP. A car service isn't going to have any time advantage over the bus (except perhaps not having to wait for the scheduled bus to leave). And my travel time was the same hour that Nigel was budgeting. But I have never had it take two hours just to get out of Gatwick.

Posted by
188 posts

Thanks for the replies....my thinking is that I don't want to have to wait for the bus watching the clock. And I remember just how far the NE bus station is from the terminal in Gatwick!