Getting from Heathrow to Gatwick

antwire · 12 Oct 18, 10:54 PM

Hi all,

Looking at flights and it seems like it’s going to be cheaper for us to swap in London so a few questions.

1) how do you get from Heathrow to Gatwick with your luggage?

2) if you had flights from Glasgow which are actually from Gatwick not Heathrow do you still get your luggage at Gatwick or does it go straight to the plane? Was thinking of getting off at Gatwick and getting the train back as would be quicker.

pinkstargirl · 12 Oct 18, 11:42 PM

There are a few different options for getting between Heathrow and Gatwick - Taxi (potentially very expensive) Coach (I took National Express between Heathrow and Gatwick in May, which took around 1.5 hours.) Tube & Train - the journey I would personally do would be Heathrow to Hammersmith on the Piccadilly line, directly across the platform for the District line to Victoria (saves going up and down stairs!) and then a Southern train to Gatwick. This is an okay journey for adults only or a family with teens who can each take a case, but if you have younger children I’d look more at a coach or taxi.

Unsure of what you’re asking in your second question so hopefully someone else can help with that.

Peko · 13 Oct 18, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by antwire

Hi all,

2) if you had flights from Glasgow which are actually from Gatwick not Heathrow do you still get your luggage at Gatwick or does it go straight to the plane? Was thinking of getting off at Gatwick and getting the train back as would be quicker.

I assume you mean that you would have a connection LGW-GLA on the return, e.g. MCO-LGW-GLA, rather than MCO-LGW//LHR-GLA.

In that event, no you would not get your luggage at LGW, it would be checked through to GLA. You can ask to have your bags “short-checked” to LGW, but it is against BA policy and and you are likely to be refused. Airlines are on the lookout for people trying to do that nowadays.

Of course, if you don’t board the LGW-GLA flight, your bags will be offloaded, but you will then have to spend a potentially long time getting them back and clearing customs at LGW. That will reduce or negate the time saving you might make from taking the train.

sky13 · 13 Oct 18, 03:01 PM

I've taken the National Express coach a couple of times between Heathrow and Gatwick. It took about an hour both times, and I recall that there were coaches about once every 15 minutes or so. Just bought a ticket for the next coach when I got to Heathrow.

However - if there are several people the cost of buying several coach tickets can add up quickly... There was a couple who were waiting with me for the National Express bus at Heathrow who started looking up Uber costs and they were saying that next time they might consider taking Uber instead...

tonymc · 17 Oct 18, 08:47 PM

If there are a few of you, it may be worth checking the cost of a one-way car rental, although you would have to factor in getting to and from the car rental locations at both airports.

baldybouncer · 18 Oct 18, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by tonymc

If there are a few of you, it may be worth checking the cost of a one-way car rental, although you would have to factor in getting to and from the car rental locations at both airports.

thought about it - would probably take longer with collecting and dropping off...

tiger01204 · 19 Oct 18, 12:30 PM

We have used these : heathrow-gatwick-transfers/home.aspx and another similar company. as there are 5 of us with luggage it was easier to book a taxi both ways. It cost us around £80 per journey for an 8 seater (plenty of extra room for luggage!)

it save the hassle of waiting for National Express which isn't cheap, and it was quite a bit quicker.