Do International Flights land on time?

You should be OK flying in at 9:00. Your flight should be reasonably on time.Count on about 2 hrs to get through passport control and claim your bag [ if it was checked , better still go carry-on] . Gatwick Express to Victoria takes 30 min and Heathrow Express takes 15 min to Paddington. From there a cab and you should have plenty of time.

They usually land on time for two reasons.

First, they have a lot of room to make up lost time if they are behind.

Second, there is a lot of air traffic in Europe. It pays to make your scheduled time.

Having said that, occasionaly the winds are significantly different than planned or the plane has to be rerouted for weather so usually on time doesn't mean always.

The other factor is getting through customs once you are on the ground. It pays to give yourself plenty of time. The time it takes hours to clear customs will be the time you can't afford to wait.

If you fly on the 14th, you may cutting it close. Just one delay could mean disaster for you--equipment problems, weather, strikes, terrorist activity, who knows......play it safe, go early.

Could you leave one day earlier, the 13th?

If you can tell me the exact weather conditions on the morning of May 15 in the south of England, I can tell you what flights will arrive on time.

That is the problem.

Outside of technical problems with aircraft ( which ARE the responsibility of the airline - no matter what they say ) there are a whole host of factors that are totally outside of airline's control.

Everything from a terrorist attack like the one at Glasgow airport last year to protestors campaigning against the third Heathrow runway can conspire to delay your flight.

That's the reality of international air travel in the 21st century.

I'm sorry to be so blunt and I'm sorry to be so pesimistic. The chances are that everything will go according to schedule but you have to be aware that every once in a while a 100-1 shot comes in.

I would fly in earlier.

I have been stuck more then once. (I once had to land in Manchester and wait on the fog to lift at Heathrow.....for several hours)

I don't find it that uncommmon to land a little late and you really aren't giving yourself much extra time especially if you check luggage. I have NO idea what they do at Heathrow but it's SLOW LOL!

So let's say you are an hour late. Then it takes a while to get through immigartion pick up luggage and get to Kensington. Plus if graduation STARTS at 2 what time do you need to be there for a seat? probably at least 1? It's just cutting it too close IMHO!

Thanks for the replies everyone - I figured I was probably trying to cut it too close. I guess I'll suck up the extra money and just buy for the week before.

Kelly...

As a "Professional Pond Crosser" I would strongly advise you to arrive ahead of schedule.

It would be a perfect world if all flights arrived on time every time. While the Airlines strive for it, sometimes there are factors beyond their control. I know this well. Some days start out as per schedule and turn out to end up where the Crew "Busts Duty Day" as we call it. By law a fresh Crew of Pilot, First Officer, Engineer and Flight Attendants has to be called in. (After a 15 hour delay/flight time/duty day we are too fatigued and no longer fit to operate a safe flight. They give us a nice bonus as compensation and overnight layover wherever we land first if it's not our Base)

Weather and Mechanicals are only a few factors which can lead to delay. There are other reasons as well but we won't go there...Not on this website.

Save yourself the added stress and arrive earlier. It's worth the extra $75 plus to take the pressure off.

Hello,

I usually fly to Europe once a year on United. I have noticed over the years, especially if flying from the U.S., that the airline pads its schedule by at least an hour, sometimes more, most likely to keep its on-time arrival percentage up. For example, I just flew last month from Washington Dulles to Munich. The schedule said it would take about 8 1/2 hours, but the flight lasted about 6:55. Last year we flew from Washington Dulles and landed at Heathrow in about 5 hours. Of course it all depends on the weather, tail wind, no major delays in taking off, but I don't see any reason why your flight wouldn't land before 9 AM. If it were me, however, I would probably go the day before just to ensure I don't miss such an important event.

Good luck.