Thank you for your r/r/c. I'm a former air stewardess, now working in the boring Civil Service and s...
Thank you for your r/r/c. I'm a former air stewardess, now working in the boring Civil Service and still hunting for my dream job! Studying part-time with the Open University for an English and Politics degree.
Member since:01.11.2002
Reviews:89
Members who trust:108
As cabin crew at Heathrow, I find myself using the Express about twice a week. I generally commute from my home town by train into Paddington and either the Express or Connect service to Heathrow. And vice versa.
About the Heathrow Express: The Service was launched in 1998 and ten years later is still going strong. The trains run from early (around 5am) in the morning until late (just before midnight) generally every 15 minutes.
Tickets: There are various ways to buy tickets. You can book online, buy at the ticket office or machine, or even buy on the train for a £2 surcharge.
Prices: The Express is not cheap. For example: the cheapest return fare is £28 for an adult! A first class return is £46!
Discounts: If you have a railcard you can get big discounts. Heathrow airport workers get a 50% discount when they show an ID pass-obviously a big bonus for me!
Onboard: Express Class is pretty good-well when you are paying £1 a minute you expect it to be! The trains are all new looking and clean inside which is a bonus. There is also air-conditioning and I love how the train floor is level with the platform so you don't have any problems with any luggage. There is also ample space for luggage. You can even use your phone whilst in the tunnels! Apparently there is Wi-Fi but I have never used it. I never have any problems in getting a seat.
First Class: To be honest, I don't see the point in paying double the Express fare for a 15 minute journey. A bit more legroom and a free newspaper-not sure that I would bother when Express Class is perfectly fine. Apparently First also offers better access to the terminals by the way the carriages are lined up.
Terminals: The service goes to all the terminals and offers free transfers to all the terminals even for none Express users.
Customer service: I have found all the staff I have encountered to be very helpful and polite.
My views: The Express is a good service…but really expensive! It was voted the UK's number one train service but when you are paying as much as you are you expect perfection! Personally, if you don't mind a less regular, slower service why not try Heathrow Connect? This runs from Paddington but stops off at other stations along the way. It runs about every 30 minutes and takes approximately 25 minutes. The major benefit is that the Connect is around half the price of the Express. It's a bit less glamorous and not as cosy as the Express. Both services are much better than the Tube!
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Come on now, WALKING would beat the tube by miles! I'm not quite sure if you are getting what you are paying for here, but it does sound rather more civilized than the alternatives! Richard.
voyagerdude220 23.06.2008 23:33
I was going to try Heathrow Express at the beginning of the year, when I found myself with a little time to burn at Paddington, just to try it out, but when I went to the Fast Ticket machine, to find out the cost, I didn't give it a second thought.....
avacarrdo 07.06.2008 22:24
I've always just taken the Tube from King's Cross to Heathrow and have never had any problems.....SO FAR.
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Jun 5th, 2008
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