Virgin atlantic heathrow to gatwick

[georgemac]

Originally Posted by Buzz's buddy

Have you considered one way car hire, might be easier with all the cases etc.

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Just priced it - decent sized family car £60 approx, plus fuel I would think. People carrier was £160 ish so expensive.

The main downside would be the time spent picking up the car and drop off although this should not be so bad, but perhaps an hour compared to a pick up/drop off service?

Time would be comparable with bus though.

[Guest]

Hi georgemac,

We're also from Aberdeenshire and was wondering if you finally booked to fly from ABZ or whether this transfer is just too much hassle.

[LISAM]

We've booked with Virgin from Aberdeen to NY (via Heathrow) then were coming home from Orlando Virgin to Manchester then Flybe to Aberdeen on a through ticket. I got prices from BA but decided against them as it would mean coming home to Gatwick then transferring to Heathrow to get home and it was too much hassle for us picking up cases and finding our way there.
My friend is also going ABerdeen to Orlando in October with Virgin on a through ticket via Manchester as she did the BA transferring to Heathrow 2 years ago and said never again.

Lisa

[Redsnapper]

I don't agree that you have plenty of time for this.

The M25 can be awful plus you have to allow for time to get off the first aircraft and then wait for your bags - that is before you wait for the coach. The absolute latest you can be at Gatwick is 12.00pm to hand your bags over and that is allowing no leeway at all.

So lets be generous and say you arrived at Heathrow on time - so collect you bags at say 9.20am.

9.40am to get to the coach stop - again lets assume no delay so you leave on the coach at 10.00am.

Arrive at the Gatwick terminal you need at 11.15am - only 45 mins before check in closes for your Orlando flight.

So very little time for motorway hold-ups, missed coach departure, long wait for bags, queues at check-in etc

Yes you can do it - but its taking more of a risk than I would like.

I would travel the day before if possible.

[TigerMom]

I totally agree with the last post. I live 45 minutes from Heathrow if the M25 is behaving but last time I had to go there at rush hour it took 1 hour and 50 minutes and that was just traffic volumes and no accidents. Coach is the best way to go as the drivers know lots of alternate routes so if the M4, M25 or M23 is playing up they can still make good time. If you travel the night before it will be a lot less stressful and you can do twilight check-in, have a nice meal and relax into your holiday.

[Guest]

Hi LISAM,

On what basis did you friend say "never again" for the Heathrow-Gatwick transfer. Was it just the hassle/stress of the transfer?

Their are 4 adults and 2 children going on our trip so we thought about using a private transfer (8 seater taxi) on the basis that they will be quicker and more 'nimble' through the traffic.

[steve@mac155.f]

What about trying Edinburgh to Gatwick with BA, I know it means getting to Edi but that has to less hassle than the LHR - LGW transfers.

Steve

[Guest]

The ABZ flight arrives into LHW at 0815 which is operated by Aer Lingus for Virgin. The cost of this domestic flight is included in the flight cost.

Surely landing at 0815 and needing to be at LGW no later than 1200 for 1300 flight is easily achievable? or am I being overly optimistic?

[steve@mac155.f]

Originally Posted by Brave_ABZ

The ABZ flight arrives into LHW at 0815 which is operated by Aer Lingus for Virgin. The cost of this domestic flight is included in the flight cost.

Surely landing at 0815 and needing to be at LGW no later than 1200 for 1300 flight is easily achievable? or am I being overly optimistic?

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It really is down to the traffic between LHR & LGW if it is bad and there is a problem on the M25 it can take a very long time to transfer between the 2 airports.

Steve

[Jaybeez]

Is it possible to fly down the night before? We live 5 miles from Heathrow and unless we have a late flight we always stay overnight at a Gatwick hotel. My husband used to work a few miles from Gatwick and the drive is an hour if the traffic is good, but can take a lot longer if there are accidents or hold ups.