The flying trains (Heathrow Express)

Member Name: SimonT

Product:	Heathrow Express
Date:	26/05/01 (433 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast, Comfortable, Children go free

Disadvantages: Not cheap

If you are heading to Heathrow Airport to catch a flight, you can actually check in at Paddington Station, then jump on a Heathrow Express to the airport and go straight to the departure lounge to board your plane. The whole process could take just 30 minutes!

I first tried the Heathrow Express in June 1998 when Tony Blair officially launched the £455 millions airport-link in London. I was very impressed! Since then I have used the service many times (partly because I have worked as a contractor for BAA). The high-tech trains are fast and comfortable with air-conditioning and onboard TV. They are very quiet as they run on the specially built tracks for electric trains. The journey time between Paddington and Heathrow Airport is only 15 minutes (further 7 minutes to/from Terminal 4). The service runs from 05:10 to 23:50 every day in the year (including Christmas Day) with four departures every hour. There are two Heathrow Express stations in the airport; the Heathrow Central station is underneath Terminal 1 (from the station you walk to Terminal 2 and 3), and the Heathrow Terminal 4 station is obviously underneath Terminal 4. By the way, the train rides between Terminals in the airport are free.

When you come to Paddington Station, look for the electric trains with futuristic look and smoky glass windows (at Platform 6 and 7). Get on board and you'll be seeing the blue sky sooner than you think!


============================================ FARES
============================================
Express Class: Single £12 / Return £22
First Class: Single £20 / Return £40

£2 surcharge if you buy ticket onboard.
Return tickets are valid for one month.
Up to 4 children (15 yrs old and under) travel free per adult.

============================================ AIRLINE CHECK-IN DESKS AT PADDINGTON STATION
============================================
Air Canada
Air New Zealand
All Nippon A
irways
American Airlines
Austrian Airlines
British Airways
British Midland
Finnair
LOT (Polish)
Lufthansa
Manx Airlines
Qantas
Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Sri Lankan Airlines
Thai Airways International
United Airlines
Varig (Brazilian)

NB The check-in area is near the cafes at the back of the Station.


E&OE

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