Airports & Customs - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

scotters · 01-14-2006, 10:58 AM

Hi all,
How much time do you recommend I give myself to depart from a US to London flight, get my bag and then re-checkin for my London to Athens flight. There is a flight that leaves two hours after my arrival but I think that might be cutting it close.

(Looking back, I should have bought a US to Athens direct but I thought I was being smart and saving money....

)

Thanks!

xanthuos · 01-14-2006, 11:07 AM

Two hours is often sufficient...but that's ONLY if your flight is on time and there is a good chance it could arrive late. I would recommend you give yourself 3-4 hours between flights.

scotters · 01-14-2006, 11:35 AM

I could get a flight 4 hours later that departs from Luton. Any idea how long it takes to get from Heathrow to Luton?

**ajb3000** · 01-15-2006, 06:56 AM

It would take a couple of hours to get from heathrow to luton. Is there no later flight from heathrow? If you have any problems at customs or your flight is delayed you will be screwed, it's not worth the risk if you can avoid it.

scotters · 01-15-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ajb3000@Jan 15 2006, 06:56 AM
It would take a couple of hours to get from heathrow to luton.* Is there no later flight from heathrow?* If you have any problems at customs or your flight is delayed you will be screwed, it's not worth the risk if you can avoid it.

[snapback]98704[/snapback]

Thanks for the info. I may need to stay the night in London and leave the next morning for Athens, unless I want to arrive at 3 am. Oh well so much for saving all that money (and now I've wasted a day too!).

Any suggestions on stuff to see for a 1/2 day near Heathrow?

**Kevin-L** · 01-15-2006, 01:36 PM

from heathrow you can jump right on the underground and ride into downtown.

**ajb3000** · 01-15-2006, 02:04 PM

You can get to the center of London in just over half an hour on the underground from Heathrow.

**Joker** · 01-17-2006, 12:34 PM

I attempted to fly standby from San Jose, CR to Miami to avoid such a problem, but it didn't work out

As a result, I missed my connection in MIA to BWI and spent the nite in a hotel at the airport, regurgitating the Cuban sammich I had for dinner. (and a good part of this morning, too.)

Full write-up to come...

skorch · 01-30-2006, 09:21 AM

There's an airport to airport bus service which takes about an hour form Heathrow to Luton. It costs £17 for a single journey and they're pretty regular. They leave every 20min or so.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/

Deplaning and getting through customs really depends on the time of day and which airlines have just come in. I've gone through in 30min sometimes and 1.5hrs other times. I'd expect the worst.