domestic flight fro heathrow airport

[filthiestfis]

I have a domestic flight departing heathrow this week at 19.20. I can check in online as I only carrying hand luggage. Whats the latest I should get there?

[spudqueen]

Check with your airline. I always like to get there before the lastest stated time - maybe I've watched too many of those Airline programmes where people miss their flights by being only a few minutes late!

[filthiestfis]

Yes. The problem is I finish work then head straight to the airport which is over an hour by tube. Maybe I should take heathrow express instead. The airline is BA

[spudqueen]

Why don't you give BA a ring? Don't forget that you will still have to pass through security, which may take some time and get to the gate, which may be quite a long walk.

[Buenchico]

BA, 1920 ex LHR? So you're off to Manchester then? ;-)

BA close their check-in desks 45 minutes minutes before flight departure. It follows that they think that it's reasonable to get from the check-in desk to the departure gate in under 45 minutes. So if, having checked-in online, you're actually in the security queue 45 minutes before take-off, you ought to be able to make the flight. However, it would obviously be better to aim to be there slightly earlier than that.

It might be worth spending a little extra and using National Rail services, rather than the Underground.

Heathrow Express departs from Paddington at 10, 25, 40 and 55 minutes past each hour, with a journey time of 15 minutes. The single fare is �14.50 online, �15.50 at a ticket office (or machine) or �17.50 if bought on the train. (Return fares are �28.00, �29.00 and �31.00 respectively):
http://www.heathrowexpress.com/

Heathrow Connect offers a good compromise between the speed of Heathrow Express and the economy of the Underground. Services depart from Paddington at 03 and 33 minutes past each hour, with a journey time of 28 minutes. The fare is �6.90 single or �12.90 return:
http://www.heathrowconnect.com

Chris