Free First Class upgrade on Heathrow Express for BAEC members extended

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• Paul says:

  9 Sep9 September 06:54

  Still the most expensive train journey in Britain which has the most expensive fares in all of Europe.
  In most cases if travelling to Central London it is quicker and cheaper to take the Tube as the train goes to Paddington only.

  • Brian says:

    9 Sep9 September 08:09

    Indeed – and even if you’re going to Paddington, the Heathrow Connect is half the price of the Heathrow Express and only takes about 10 minutes longer. The Heathrow Express is really only for those claiming expenses and deluded tourists.

    • Rob says:

      9 Sep9 September 08:34

      (EDITED as I can’t do sums)

      You would, on average, be waiting 7.5 minutes more for a HC than a HEx, given the 30 minute vs 15 minute frequency. Total average extra journey time will be 19 minutes.

      • Brian says:

        9 Sep9 September 08:50

        True. I guess that might make a difference if you are within walking distance of Paddington and so can gauge exactly when to arrive at the station for the train. Otherwise, it’s less of a factor. I know for sure that I’ve often arrived at Heathrow station and seen Connect trains depart while I wait for my pre-booked Express train.

        Depends on how much one values the saving. I’m always slightly amused by the way that this website and its readers extol the virtues of spending time earning a couple of hundred miles, worth one or two pounds, but can be quite sniffy about a real monetary saving! :))

    • JQ says:

      9 Sep9 September 08:35

      But the Connect is only every 30 minutes, no?

• Charlie says:

  9 Sep9 September 08:59

  Have to disagree with the increase of 15 minutes in average wait:
  HEx goes every 15 mins => average wait of 7.5 minutes if you turn up randomly.
  HC goes every 30 mins => average wait of 15 mins if you turn up randomly.

  • Rob says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:28

    Yes, sorry, was too early in the morning when I wrote that!

• Scott says:

  9 Sep9 September 09:11

  Tube from Kings Cross for me always.
  £2.60ish with my Oyster Card and I don’t have the bother of getting the tube to Paddington and then the Hex @ £21 for a single (+tube fare) and only saving 10 mins or so by doing so.

• Martin says:

  9 Sep9 September 09:47

  I’m pretty savvy on UK train travel, yet I was caught out by HEx a couple of years ago thanks to a bug on National Rail’s website.

  Transferring late one Friday evening from Euston by tube to Paddington, National Rail were showing a departure at a specific time to Heathrow as being a HC service (covered by my existing ticket). The electronic board on the platform at Paddington showed only the departure time and destination, and the first carriage of the train where I boarded carried absolutely no branding inside or out. It was also a tatty old train. I thought I was on the advertised HC.

  Turned out it was a HEx and we were dinged for two brand new tickets. I had screenshots of the erroneous NR web screens, and meant to follow up on this, but, after an enjoyable holiday, I wrote it off to experience.

• richie says:

  9 Sep9 September 11:25

  will this work for gatwick express?

  • Rob says:

    9 Sep9 September 13:24

    Nope

  • callum says:

    10 Sep10 September 03:30

    Gatwick express is just as pointless as the Heathrow express. Just get on any normal Southern or FCC train heading past Gatwick.

• signol says:

  9 Sep9 September 12:07

  I’m looking forward to Crossrail taking over the Connect service – direct to LHR from Liverpool St then!

  • flyforfun says:

    9 Sep9 September 12:59

    Have they announced pricing for XR yet? Thought I had read that as Heathrow.com built the tracks, (the spur from the main line) there hadn’t been any agreement on whether it would be part of the TfL fares or not. Also, will it go to T4 and/or T5 or just stop at T123?

• paul says:

  10 Sep10 September 05:00

  This is the equivalent of getting a free seat upgrade to CE for take off on a European flight and then having to go back to your seat at 10k, which is barely any different anyway. The mind boggles.

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