Getting to airports

[Kirsty]

Hi again!! I've thought of another question!

I have been looking at some of the schedules for flights between cities and I 've noticed that a lot of them seem to depart first thing in the morning (6:00am etc.). I was just wondering if, in London for example, the tube or other public transportation is available this early??

Thanks again for everyones help!
Kirsty

[WillTravel]

You can likely get the hours for London public transit at www.thetube.com (which will also lead you to sites other than just the Tube).

There are buses to various London airports from Victoria Coach Station - www.nationalexpress.com

There is also a train option for Stansted from Liverpool Street station, but I don't remember the URL for that.

Most expensive is a taxi, of course.

Many travelers choose to spend the night in the airport when taking these early flights, because the early commute is pretty awful sometimes. Remember that you have to be there in plenty of time, because the check-in window shuts down 40 minutes before departure, no matter if you are next in line, and you won't get the flight. So plan to be at the airport at least two hours before the flight is set to depart. (So you can see that if you have to be there at 4 AM for a 6 AM flight, that might mean you have to leave where you are staying at 2 AM - which is why many people just choose to sleep in the airport.)

I am fairly resolute that I will never take one of these early morning flights except under the most drastic circumstances.

[NFLqueen]

I second Wiltravel....... 6am flights are cheaper for that very reason. I would deffinitely suggest spending the prior evening in the airport.

A taxi would be a horrendous cost to an airport in London. The tube stops running at midnight if I remember correctly but I'm not aware of when it starts back up. Although it definitely won't be by 3am which is the min time you would need to get to an airport and check in.

Have a look at the links below, the first one should give you the information you need to get to Luton airport. From Paddintong Station you'll need to take one of the lines over to Moorgate then onto the northern line to London Bridge Station. From there it looks like there are above gnd (i believe) conncetions to Luton airport via Thameslink.

On the thameslink site check out airport connections on the left hand site. I believe there are timetables. Looks like it costs about 10 pounds from the london connecting stations.

www.thameslink.co.uk/plan_your_journey/plan_your_journey.shtml

summer.londontown.com/London/Luton_Airport/

The tube goes right to hethrow and I'll see if I can dig up some sites for directions to Gatwick / Stansted although if you just do a search on these airports you'll be able to get ground directions for sure.

kelly