11am flight from Heathrow on disembarkation day in Southampton - too early?

Hello,

We are currently looking at a flight leaving LHR 11am to Germany on British Airways on a Friday morning in August.

We are planning on booking a private transfer from the ship to the airport.

The Royal Princess arrives at 5am in Southampton. We plan on walking off with our luggage, but know it can be chaotic with elevators etc.

Do you know from own experience if we can make the 11am flight and not be worried and stressed? What time would we have to meet our driver at Southampton cruise terminal? The later flight does not leave until almost 2pm and we would lose 3 hours in Germany.

Thanks for any insight you can share!

Yv

Yes, it can be done, even on a Friday.

But not without being "worried & stressed".

Or without the risk of missing your flight.

Forget the 5am ship's arrival time - first passengers will normally be able to leave the ship (hauling own bags) from 7am, often a little earlier. Terminal formalities are quick & easy for the first folk off the ship unless you encounter an immigration problem or get a tug from HM Customs.

A car booked for 7.15am makes sense, & the car will probably already be there & waiting mebbe 10 - 15 minutes earlier.

And forget BA's check-in closing 45 minutes before short-haul flight time because you might not be fast-tracked at check-in, you are very likely to be delayed at security & you might face a long walk - or even a shuttle-train - to the departure gate which, in theory at least, closes 35 mins before flight time.

For comfort you should allow a minimum of 90 mins before your flight.

So you need to get from ship to check-in in something like 2hrs 15 mins.

If it's from Heathrow's T5 (dedicated to BA) that's by far the quickest & easiest terminal from Southampton direction.

With zero traffic that can be done in under 90 mins.

At that time on a Friday morning it's likely to be 2 hrs plus. And that's without hold-ups caused by any roadworks or accidents

For the only flight of the day?

Mebbe worth the risk.

Instead of a 2pm flight?

I wouldn't risk it.

But I'm not you.

As well as the opinions of us on CC, can I suggest you ask the opinions of one or two of the private transfer operators - their drivers do this run every day of the year.

Try www.smithsforairports.com or www.westquaycars.com or www.aquacars.co.uk

They're all based at the Southampton end.

I think the only cities in Germany served by Southampton's own airport are Munich & Dusseldorf.

JB :)

Agree with JB. If there is a later flight, I wouldn't stress about getting the earlier flight...take your time over breakfast! Checked the Southampton Airport website and the only 2 German destinations are Munich and Dusseldorf, if they are anywhere near where you're going.

Simon

Thanks so much for your quick feedback. We will go with the later flight and avoid the mad rush in the morning. Do you happen to know when they want you out of your cabin typically?

Yv

Thanks so much for your quick feedback. We will go with the later flight and avoid the mad rush in the morning. Do you happen to know when they want you out of your cabin typically?

 

Yv

Typically out of the cabin by 8am or 8.30, and off the ship by 9.30.

The later flight gives you the option of taking a direct www.nationalexpress.com/en bus to Heathrow. The 9.40am bus gets you to Heathrow 11.30 to 12 noon depending which Heathrow terminal, & costs about £18 per person.

You are strongly advised to pre-book.

Add about £6 for a taxi from the line at the ship to Southampton coach station.

Or ship's transfer bus from the cruise terminal to Heathrow - they leave around 8am & cost significantly more.

Or a pre-booked private transfer will cost around £80 for a sedan.

Friday 24th Aug is the beginning of a holiday weekend. Won't make any difference to the drive to Heathrow (traffic will be heading in the opposite direction) but makes it more imperative to pre-book, and the airport will likely be busier than usual.

JB :)

I am finding pre-booked private transfers closer to 160 GBP for just two of us. Can you recommend a more economical company?

Thanks.

I am finding pre-booked private transfers closer to 160 GBP for just two of us. Can you recommend a more economical company?

Thanks.

Yikes :eek:

For a simple one-way transfer between Southampton & Heathrow?

Have you tried those I linked in my earlier post - Smiths & West Quay & Aquacars ?

JB :)

Whatever you book be sure that you double check with them a few days prior to arrival that all is in order as you do not want any surprises that they do not show up.

Keith

Thanks so much. I will go back to the drawing board and check the services you mention. And good advice about doing a double check.

And forget BA's check-in closing 45 minutes before short-haul flight time because you might not be fast-tracked at check-in, you are very likely to be delayed at security & you might face a long walk - or even a shuttle-train - to the departure gate which, in theory at least, closes 35 mins before flight time.

The departure gate theoretically closes 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight. You would do well to make sure you get to the gate by that time, although in practice many flights are usually still boarding passengers at this point, in which case you would not be too late.

The 35-minute cutoff is applied at the boarding pass scanner at the entrance to the security channel from the check-in area. This is a strict time limitation; miss it by one second, and you will be automatically offloaded. If that happens, don't expect to benefit from intervention by the airline (although in theory it can be done).

There is a 45-minute cutoff point for bag drop. This is also the check-in deadline for short-haul flights. However, for long-haul flights you must now be checked-in 60 minutes before departure, even though your bags can be dropped up to the 45-minute point.

I am finding pre-booked private transfers closer to 160 GBP for just two of us. Can you recommend a more economical company?

Thanks.

I wonder if you are getting an £80 quote and thinking that it is per person. Taxis quote for the car.

Thanks. I found the 80 GBP car. One other really did quote 160 GBP for two. The Princess one is $115 for 2 which is not much more but I am wondering what time you have to leave the ship and if you have to wait at the airport for a group before they depart for the ship. My flight from LHR is at 2:30.

Thanks. I found the 80 GBP car. One other really did quote 160 GBP for two. The Princess one is $115 for 2 which is not much more but I am wondering what time you have to leave the ship and if you have to wait at the airport for a group before they depart for the ship. My flight from LHR is at 2:30.

I used to drive coaches in Southampton, including ships' transfers.

From LHR to ship

You'll be met at your LHR terminal's arrivals hall by a Princess rep or one of their local agents, and escorted to the bus stands.

The first bus starts to trawl the terminals from about 8.30am, when it's nearly full the next bus is called forward to do likewise. Usually 4 to 8 buses in total from LHR to ship. Last one usually leaves I guess around 1pm

Matter of luck - if you're first on the bus you can snaffle the best seats & then you might do a grand tour of all the terminals before you head for Southampton, or the bus might fill at that one terminal. But never more than about 40 minutes between arrivals hall & the road. Then to Southampton usually takes about 90 minutes.

From ship to LHR

Ship's transfer buses usually depart 8am to 8.30 - most are to a single specific

LHR terminal but the last bus to leave usually takes the stragglers to all terminals.

Buses aren't packed - they're 46 to 50 seaters but usually carry about 32 to 35 cos then they run out of space in the luggage lockers.

Journey time is longer due to commuter traffic heading to Winchester & to London. 2 hours plus.

You'll have acres of time to get there for your 2.30pm flight - and you'll probably be allocated to one of the later buses.

IMHO ships' transfers are over-priced (you could instead book a direct bus with https://www.nationalexpress.com/en for under £20 pp, plus £7 taxi from ship to bus station) but ship's transfers do work very well. And Princess' transfer rates were always lower than the likes of RCI & Celebrity.

In all cases, drivers load / unload luggage.

(Some buses are in Princess livery, but that's not the cruise-line's own buses - by coincidence one of the local operators is called Princess Coaches).

JB :)

:)Thanks so much. That is very valuable info. I appreciate your responding. I can see I have lots of options.