Beware coaches LHR T5 to LGW
Back to Forum- This topic has 26 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 15 Sep 2011
at 14:04 by VintageKrug.
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openflyParticipantI attempted to get a coach transfer from LHR T5 to LGW North Terminal on Sunday at about 7pm.
The 7pm, 7.20pm and the 7.40pm did not operate. I eventually got a coach at 7.55pm, which did NOT go to the North terminal, only the South Terminal!
I spoke to the person on the National Express ticket desk at T5, while waiting, and he was totally unhelpful and couldn’t give a damn about customer service. His reply was ”happens a lot”!! The National Express driver had been to the same charm school. He even said that he shouldn’t really accept my original ticket!
So, beware National Express…they advertise ”Direct To The Airport Door”, but do not say when or which airport! At T5 I reckon, to be safe, allow at least 3 hours for the transfer to LGW North.
And they have the audacity to charge £25 single for the journey.
14 Sep 2011
at 08:41
PatJordanParticipantA very shoddy service from a major player in the transport business.
If faced with that journey in the future, might the Heathrow Express to Paddington, tube from there to Victoria and then the Gatwick Express be a more dependable albeit more cumbersome way to do it?
Pat
14 Sep 2011
at 11:05
openflyParticipantNTarrant Yes, I had thought of that. But honestly I think it would be a waste of time. It will have more effect by posting my complaint publicly on this website. Then the folks who may use the coach service get a warning as to how unreliable it can be, and be prepared.
14 Sep 2011
at 11:57
RichHI1ParticipantWhen I first moved to Surrey we had a helicopter connection that flew overhead. Those were the days…. Of course everyone wrote to their local MP complaining bitterly… It is amazing the wheel ever got implemented really… Imagine if they were trying to build the Railways or the Motorways from scratch in 2011…
14 Sep 2011
at 12:02
NTarrantParticipantSadly Openfly the majority of people that use NatEx services, not just LHR-LGW won’t read this forum. Equally NatEx probably won’t read this forum either as it is not thier core business, business travellers that is.
So it wouldn’t be a waste of time. NatEx are trying to improve their image so I would be suprised if you didn’t receive a reasonable response. Really its the old adage that they can’t do anything about it if they don’t know its happening.
14 Sep 2011
at 12:29
Tete_de_cuveeParticipantThere was a time when there were 3 operators on LHR – LGW route. The best being Oxford Bus company who ran frequent Oxf-LHR-LGW shuttles, now it is a monopoly. Who allowed that?
Easybus have a far cheaper but far more inconvenient service which drops around Earls Court for you to make your own way on the Picadilly Underground.
http://www.easybus.co.uk/airport-guides-travel-guides/london-heathrow/london-heathrow-to-gatwick
There is no real competition so no incentive to provide a polite, let alone decent service.
14 Sep 2011
at 13:12
NTarrantParticipantTete the Oxford Bus Company only used to operate between LHR and LGW at night time to save vehicles due to low usage. Therefore more economical to serve the two airports from Oxford than using two. The Easybus service was not real competition or service
There used to be two services, Speedlink and Jetlink. The former operated from the terminals and airlines such as BA would issue a flight coupon to cover the journey offering no cost to the passenger. The latter was Central Bus Station and T4 to LGW suited to those passengers who could not use the Speedlink service and those transfering to LGW from other NatEx services from other parts of the country.
14 Sep 2011
at 13:36
VintageKrugParticipantAh. The Heathrow to Gatwick ‘copter service.
Real “jumpers for goalposts” stuff:
http://www.cue-dih.co.uk/aerospace/aeropdfs/air_links_lgw_lhr.pdf
Stopped when they built the M25….!
14 Sep 2011
at 20:42
GoldcardsaplentyParticipantThe LHR-LGW bus link is truly dire. Unhelpful staff, dirty coaches and poor timekeeping to name but a few regularly encountered problems.
It saddens, and embarrasses, me that this will be a lot of people’s first impression of the UK.I am so disillusioned with the bus link that I take a taxi – costs about £85 though.
I spend a lot of time in South Korea and regularly arrive into Incheon on an International flight and need to make my way to Gimpo for a Domestic connection. There is a constant stream of clean busses with courteous drivers and additional staff to assist with baggage. The trip takes about 40 minutes and costs about £4.
What has happened to our once great country?
15 Sep 2011
at 00:51
LuganoPirateParticipantWhere do you find this stuff VK? Great reading and brings back memories. Thanks.
15 Sep 2011
at 05:52 -
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