Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

How to get a discount on Heathrow Express train tickets (2025 edition)

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

It’s been a while since we last looked at the different ways of getting a Heathrow Express discount.

I thought it was worth an update. The big change in the last 18 months or so is the removal of all group discounts, such as Duo Saver for couples or the ‘3RDOFF’ code for 3+ adults travelling together.

You can book your tickets via the Heathrow Express website here.

How to get a discount on Heathrow Express train tickets

Save money with Mastercard

The only widely available discount I know of is in association with Mastercard.

The link for your discounted Heathrow Express ticket is hereIt is only valid for selected Mastercard cardholders. You need to try to register your Mastercard to see if it is accepted or not.

You save 12% on full fare standard and First Class tickets.

Remember that children travel FREE

Children under 15 travel for free on Heathrow Express.

This makes a substantial difference to the maths when you compare the train to a taxi.

Make serious savings by booking in advance

Advanced Purchase tickets are available.  If you can plan ahead you can make big savings.

You can see the full list of prices here.

Tickets can be as low as £10 one way.  There is a yield management system in place, so if you book late or for a busy day (tickets are valid for a certain day, not a certain train) you will pay more.

Combine that with the fact that children under 15 are free, and a family of four could get to Heathrow for as little as £20. It could be even less with a Railcard – see below.

Using a railcard on Heathrow Express

Don’t forget that if you have a railcard (Network Railcard, 16-25 Railcard, TfL Annual Gold Card, Senior Railcard etc) then you can also get a discount.

Details of how to claim a Railcard discount are on this page of the Heathrow Express site.

Heathrow Express discount tickets

Earn Avios or Heathrow Rewards points when you book

You are able to collect Heathrow Rewards points on Heathrow Express tickets booked online.   This works on both the main website and the Heathrow Express app.

You earn 1 Heathrow Rewards point per £1 spent.  Premium tier members of Heathrow Rewards earn 2 points per £1.  They can be redeemed 1:1 for Avios, Virgin Points, Heathrow shopping vouchers and various other bits and pieces.

You can also collect Avios with your Heathrow Express tickets as this article explains.  This is a far more generous offer than the Heathrow Rewards one because you earn 5 Avios points per £1 spent (see ba.com here).

There is a snag, of course. You need to visit www.heathrowexpress.com/avios to book.  This site does not allow you to mix a promotional code with your booking, nor can you book Advanced Purchase tickets.

Big discounts if you work for an airline

You save 75% on full-fare Express Saver and Business First tickets if you work at Heathrow.  This discount also applies to employees of airlines that operate out of Heathrow who have a valid airline photo ID card.

This means that if, for example, you work for British Airways at Gatwick, you are still entitled to 75% off your Heathrow Express ticket.  An easyJet employee would not as easyJet does not fly from Heathrow.

To book, choose ‘Add Railcard’ and then select ‘Heathrow Airport Partners Discount’.

How to get a discount on Heathrow Express train tickets

A free upgrade if you are Star Alliance Gold

You are able to upgrade your standard class ticket to First Class if you have a Star Alliance Gold card from any of their member airlines.  Simply sit in the First Class carriage and show your Gold card to the conductor.

The website for the offer is here. You can bring one guest with you.

A free upgrade if you are British Airways Gold Guest List

The least known benefit of being a British Airways Gold Guest List member is a free First Class upgrade on Heathrow Express. This is also valid for one person travelling with you.

As ba.com explains, simply sit in First Class and show your Gold Guest List card and your standard class ticket to the conductor.

A standard British Airways Executive Club Gold card will NOT work – there is a small ‘GL’ in the corner of Gold Guest List membership cards.

Don’t forget the Elizabeth Line

If you don’t want to take the Heathrow Express at all, the slightly slower (and less comfortable) Elizabeth Line service also stops at Paddington, Heathrow Terminals 2-3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.

Elizabeth Line fares are included in the daily fare cap for all your tube, tram, DLR, bus, overground and National Rail travel in London so you will never pay more than £15.60 for Zones 1-6, which includes Heathrow.

If you have a London travelcard, for Zones 1 to 6, taking the Elizabeth Line will cost you nothing extra. If you have a travelcard for fewer zones, you only pay the difference between zone 6 and the outermost zone on your travelcard.

And, of course, there are the tube and indeed bus options. Both are cheaper, but the tube does lack the comfort and space of the trains. In many ways, it depends where you are starting from as to whether going via Paddington is convenient.

Comments (30)

  • Mike says:

    I know an even better way to get significantly cheaper tickets to Heathrow:

    1. Open the Heathrow Express website.
    2. Check the exorbitant prices.
    3. Close the website (and your computer, to that end).
    4. Go to Paddington and tap in to Elizabeth line. ✨
    5. Profit.

    Nevertheless, Elizabeth is similarly expensive like anything running on rails in this country, but at least it’s not overly inflated. You’re welcome!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please click here to read our data protection policy before submitting your comment

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.