Seattle-Heathrow and then Gatwick-Venice w/3h4m layover?

Making this connection is marginal. I would not chance it. Besides if you have not already purchased this ticket Fall Europe sales have just started to be advertized. BA, Delta,United. Milan arrival is also another to ck out then train it to Venice.

I meant 3h40m layover

It's just about possible ( maybe ). You're going to be hitting the M25 from LHR to LGW at lunchtime on a Saturday. Even if the shuttle bus uses the designated bus and taxi only lanes it could be a very close call. You are hitting both airports at their peak times and queues will be long.

Best of luck - I wouldn't try this unless my flight tickets allowed me to make at least one change free of charge.

I assume you know that you will be responsible for collecting your luggage and getting to Gatwick on your own. While direct National Express coaches run very frequently and the trip is scheduled to take around 1hr15min, heavy traffic can double that time. If you arrive at Heathrow on time and don't experience traffic delays, you'll make it--barely. Be sure that British Airways will guarantee putting you on the next avialable flight if you miss your connection.

From the sounds of things, it wouldn't be worth the chance. With the airfare running about $250/pp less than the next preferred route (via CDG on Air France), I thought it would be something to explore.

Thanks,
I did check Milan since they appeared to be the only other Heathrow - Italy airport. The price was ~$860/pp. Not enough for me to jump. I'll watch for the other airlines' fall prices. I did get my BA fall fare sale notice.

Greetings
I would say there's just no way. Remember you will have to clear immigrations, get your luggage, clear customs, then get to Gatwick and re-check your luggage and check in for your flight.

Security is very tight these days, London traffic is bad and Heathrow is an absolute, total nightmare when it comes to luggage. Right now, due to extra security, a backlog of delays due to bad weather and strain on a system that is handling 20% luggage than it's designed to, people are waiting 3+ hours to get luggage and there are 1000s of lost bags still being sorted out. I have a 100% record of lost luggage with BA transfers at Heathrow.

There's a chance you might make, but one security alert, long line, delayed flight or baggage snafu and you're vacation is at risk. Flights are very full these days so you could wait a long time for an extra seat. $150 may seem a lot now, but it's much cheaper than a completely re-arranged holiday or having to buy clothes whilst a suitcase is AWOL.

I am interested in flying from Seattle to London, Paris then Rome.
I am interested in flying over the Pole to save time and want to know the best way to start planning all of this for Sept 2008.
Any input?
I came to this site as Rick came (via his book) to my last two European vacations.
The books were so helpful and right on with everything he said in the book. I am brand new to this site.
Thanks,
Gia

Gia,

You won't be flying over the pole to get to London/Paris/Rome. The It's only about 1/3 of the way around the globe. If you fly direct from Seattle to London (only British Airways currently does this), you will go in a northern arc. The flight is around 9 hours to Heathrow.
If Paris is on the way to Rome, then you could either fly or take the train. I've taken the train to Paris and flown back. But if you're carrying a good deal of luggage (by weight and number), then the European commuter airlines may get kind of spendy. Paris to Rome by air can be done pretty easily too as they're very major airports.
You may be able to work something out with a combination British Airways/Air France trip. There aren't any direct flights from Rome to Seattle, so you'll either work it through Paris (direct to Seattle via Air France) or London (via BA).

Gia....if you can get to Vancouver, consider looking at flights from there. Air Canada, of course, but also Zoom, Flyglobespan, and Air Transat to the U.K....Zoom to Paris....Air Transat to Amsterdam....and LTU, Air Transat and Condor to Germany. London-Paris....by Eurostar train. Paris to Rome....vueling, Air Berlin, CDG to Rome....easyjet, Orly to Rome. Check EVERYTHING....airline websites, search engines, all sorts of travel websites and boards like this. Then start formulating a plan and look at making reservations. Compare prices between various travel websites and the airline website themselves for the best prices.

Don't know how much is accounted for by the London-Rome bit...
That date is now covered by the ryanair offer, and you can get flights to Rome for £10 each way , and £5 to check a bag in the hold. Granted you have to get to Stanstead, but there are flights at 4.55pm --arr.20.20 and 18.15-arr 21.40.

Air France started a non-stop from Seattle-Paris in June.

Cary,
I noticed that flight and have been watching it. I'm hoping that they'll start their Fall sales soon. There was one reaching into October, but I'm planning November travel.

The last time I arrived in Heathrow (last fall) our plane landed 30 min late, then it took over an hour to get through passport control. Then it took a long time to get to the bus terminal, and another half hour to get a reservation on the bus. I was at Heathrow over 4 hours before getting onto my bus to Bath. If I were you, I would try for a later London-Venice flight. I think you could get to Gatwick quicker by taking the Express train (whatever it's called) into London, then by Tube, etc to Gatwick. On the bright side, by the time you get to your hotel in Venice you'll be tired enough and it will be late enough for you to go to bed.