Has anyone here ever braved the N9 to the Airport?

[rmt4ever]

So.... I have an early flight on a Monday morning coming up. Too early for our usual option, the Piccadilly Line.

If it was a Saturday or Sunday AM flight it would be fine as the Underground Piccadilly Line runs 24/7 on those days.... but on a Monday it is no good.

We usually always just got a local Minicab (proper Minicab and pay cash with cash tip, not this Ubercab lark).... but I simply refuse to pay this rip off £5 drop off Charge.

For the record, I do not have an issue with the charge during the hours when the public transport is running. It is unbelievable that there is no 24/7 rail service to Heathrow Airport. But for a dead early flight when public transport is simply not an option, and minicab is the only way for many, it is a liberty that they rip us off for an extra fiver. I refuse to pay it.

Anyway now I have got that out of my system, we are flying British Airways and I am a Gold Card Holder so I have usual privileges like First Wing, Fast Track etc, so when we arrive at Terminal 5 it is quite stress free. So I have decided to try, for the first time ever, the N9 bus.

I have booked AirPortr to collect our bags from our home in West London the day before. The fee is about what I would usually pay for a MiniCab (before the disgraceful £5 add on). So evens there. And we are going to try the N9.

We will be getting it from the Chiswick High Road to the airport. Hopefully arriving about 0440 (the First Wing opens at 0500 but we won't have to check in any luggage thanks to Air Portr).

It apparently is scheduled to take an hour from Chiswick to T5.

Questions I ask, is this bus route reliable? If the bus doesn't turn up it would leave us rather scuppered...

Is the journey time accurate? There won’t really be any traffic at that time of day, so I don't see why not.

It will be an adventure I guess, if nothing else.

 

[Statto]

I've been on the N9 a few times times, & it's been very reliable, journey time is accurate, traffic is non existent that time of the day.

The N9 is every 30 minutes, so if you really getting anxious about missing check in, then catch the one 30 minutes earlier, gives you 50 minutes on arriving until check in opens, but gets you piece of mind incase of any breakdowns, diversions & such.

 

[rmt4ever]

I've been on the N9 a few times times, & it's been very reliable, journey time is accurate, traffic is non existent that time of the day.

The N9 is every 30 minutes, so if you really getting anxious about missing check in, then catch the one 30 minutes earlier, gives you 50 minutes on arriving until check in opens, but gets you piece of mind incase of any breakdowns, diversions & such.

I was thinking the 0340 from Chiswick, which journey time of an hour arrives LHR T5 around 0440. That should give me a pole position queue to get into the lounge at opening time of 0500, if all goes to plan

 

[AlbertBeale]

My experience of the N9 - though at the London end - is that it seems to run as frequently as it says it does; and certainly there shouldn't be traffic delays...

 

[RJ]

The N9 is ok if you get on by Trafalgar Square and get to pick your seat, but by Chiswick High Road at that time of day it is entirely standard for it to be packed to the gunnels with people standing upstairs and the windows fully steamed up. It doesn’t start to ease up until the airport perimeter area and unlucky people in your area do have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus when it has no room to pick them up. You are competing for space as the route is popular not just with shift workers but also with homeless people due to its length and the quietness of the vehicles. The regular drivers know better than to slow the service down by checking tickets or even kick off the sleepers at the last stop. On the plus side, the drivers don’t mess around, it’s a nicely paced journey through West London.

It’s a judgement call on how time critical your journey is. If you were getting to Heathrow before 4am or after 5am the N9 would be a safer bet, but you’re travelling at peak time! The extra £5 for peace of mind doesn’t sound like a terrible deal.

As for the F Wing it isn’t always stress free! Last time I was there it got a bit ridiculous at security and it took an hour to get through thanks to some issues with the scanner and staffing. I had left plenty of time but people were kicking off. I don’t know why you get spat into Galleries F after as that really isn’t where you’d want to be, the Concorde Room is much better! And the Concorde burger is recommended!

 

[transportphoto]

As highlighted above, buses into Heathrow at that time of morning are prime commuter routes. They are likely to be busy.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The N9 at that time can be busy, and can be full of people (especially at the back upstairs) that you may not wish to be sitting too close to.

The £5 drop off charge is annoying, but when a long haul air ticket will cost many hundreds (even with a “free” Avios ticket), I’m not sure I’d be messing around with night buses to save the cost of a cup of coffee.

 

[richardderby]

The Piccadilly line starts running before 5am from Osterley, and there is a tube from there at 0455 arriving T5 at 0515, perhaps a taxi to Osterley would be an option and avoids the £5 drop off

 

[sonic2009]

You also have the option of the Elizabeth Line from Ealing Broadway at 04:44am in the morning arriving into Terminal 5 at 5:04am

 

[AlterEgo]

Proof the drop off charge works if it can force a Gold Card holder to take a bus.

 

[Mwanesh]

Everytime I fly early from Heathrow I book a hotel. Far easier and less stressful. Sometimes things can go wrong so plan ahead

 

[Busaholic]

The N9 at that time can be busy, and can be full of people (especially at the back upstairs) that you may not wish to be sitting too close to.

The £5 drop off charge is annoying, but when a long haul air ticket will cost many hundreds (even with a “free” Avios ticket), I’m not sure I’d be messing around with night buses to save the cost of a cup of coffee.

I agree, and I can stubborn for Britain! Don't cut your nose off to spite your face, grit your teeth and pay the £5 into the extortion racket fund, If you missed your flight by not being able to get on an N9 you'll regret it for a long time, and it might become a long-running bone of contention with others. I say that with experience of 53 years of marriage!

 

[Tetchytyke]

it might become a long-running bone of contention with others. I say that with experience of 53 years of marriage!

Agreed!

Last time I flew through Heathrow with Mrs Tetchy (pre-Crossrail) I suggested we save money by taking the Piccadilly Line rather than HEx. She, not entirely unreasonably, pointed out that we’d spent over £3000 on the holiday and she wasn’t going to slum it on the tube to save a tenner each.

I might suggest the night bus next time just to wind her up…

 

[ac6000cw]

The £5 drop off charge is annoying, but when a long haul air ticket will cost many hundreds (even with a “free” Avios ticket), I’m not sure I’d be messing around with night buses to save the cost of a cup of coffee.

I agree (and £5 is cheap - it's £7 at Stansted for a drop-off at the terminal...)

 

[rmt4ever]

Well I have been seriously put off the N9 from Chiswick at 0340hrs, because of the reports of it being full and standing. I honestly thought it would be like most night buses.

So I decided to book a Minicab to the long stay car park (free drop off, avoids the £5 extortion fee)... But the Minicab firm doesn't do that, only goes to the drop off rip off area. So I will be forced to pay it.

£36 the Minicab will be, including the unethical charge. So I will have to give the Driver £40 as they will need their tip.

Plus the bloody money I have paid for Airportr'ing the bags.... Its costing me as much to get to the airport almost as the flight cost! (well not quite... but you get the point).

They seriously need to improve public transport to the airport overnight for the dead early flights. Or Heathrow should not charge the extortion fee between say midnight and 6am.

The N9 is ok if you get on by Trafalgar Square and get to pick your seat, but by Chiswick High Road at that time of day it is entirely standard for it to be packed to the gunnels with people standing upstairs and the windows fully steamed up. It doesn’t start to ease up until the airport perimeter area and unlucky people in your area do have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus when it has no room to pick them up. You are competing for space as the route is popular not just with shift workers but also with homeless people due to its length and the quietness of the vehicles. The regular drivers know better than to slow the service down by checking tickets or even kick off the sleepers at the last stop. On the plus side, the drivers don’t mess around, it’s a nicely paced journey through West London.

It’s a judgement call on how time critical your journey is. If you were getting to Heathrow before 4am or after 5am the N9 would be a safer bet, but you’re travelling at peak time! The extra £5 for peace of mind doesn’t sound like a terrible deal.

As for the F Wing it isn’t always stress free! Last time I was there it got a bit ridiculous at security and it took an hour to get through thanks to some issues with the scanner and staffing. I had left plenty of time but people were kicking off. I don’t know why you get spat into Galleries F after as that really isn’t where you’d want to be, the Concorde Room is much better! And the Concorde burger is recommended!

Sadly I am not flying F, I am flying Club Europe so F lounge is as good as it gets. I will need to drink my body weight in Champagne to make me feel less bitter about the £5 criminal charge.

 

[northwichcat]

Might be useful if the thread title said Heathrow Airport. It's not the only airport with a bus service!

 

[greyman42]

So I decided to book a Minicab to the long stay car park (free drop off, avoids the £5 extortion fee)... But the Minicab firm doesn't do that, only goes to the drop off rip off area. So I will be forced to pay it.

£36 the Minicab will be, including the unethical charge. So I will have to give the Driver £40 as they will need their tip.

Is there any reason why the cab cannot take you to the long stay car park? If not then i would not bother tipping them which will just about cover the rip off charge.

 

[markymark2000]

Well I have been seriously put off the N9 from Chiswick at 0340hrs, because of the reports of it being full and standing. I honestly thought it would be like most night buses.

So I decided to book a Minicab to the long stay car park (free drop off, avoids the £5 extortion fee)... But the Minicab firm doesn't do that, only goes to the drop off rip off area. So I will be forced to pay it.

£36 the Minicab will be, including the unethical charge. So I will have to give the Driver £40 as they will need their tip.

Plus the bloody money I have paid for Airportr'ing the bags.... Its costing me as much to get to the airport almost as the flight cost! (well not quite... but you get the point).

They seriously need to improve public transport to the airport overnight for the dead early flights. Or Heathrow should not charge the extortion fee between say midnight and 6am.

If you can get yourself to Ealing Broadway, National Express has the N40 service, Fares from £2 from Ealing Broadway Station and goes to all terminals.

Alternatively, Monday Mornings, Diamond Bus has the N30 from Acton (https://bustimes.org/services/n30-acton-heathrow?calendar=4506839). Costs £2 flat fare.

 

[FOH]

If you can drive you could take a Zipcar Flex to the Avis place and get their free shuttle to T5. Not sure what's it's like in the middle of the night though

 

[skyhigh]

If you can drive you could take a Zipcar Flex to the Avis place and get their free shuttle to T5. Not sure what's it's like in the middle of the night though

From Zipcar's Heathrow page:

An airport fee of £7.50 will be added to your account within three working days if your Flex trip started or ended at Heathrow.

So if you don't want to pay the £5 drop off fee I'm not sure an option with a £7.50 drop off fee would be for you...

 

[FOH]

From Zipcar's Heathrow page:


So if you don't want to pay the £5 drop off fee I'm not sure an option with a £7.50 drop off fee would be for you...

I'd forgotten about that. Still, that goes to Zipcar not Heathrow so the OP might be ok with it

 

[rmt4ever]

If you can get yourself to Ealing Broadway, National Express has the N40 service, Fares from £2 from Ealing Broadway Station and goes to all terminals.

Alternatively, Monday Mornings, Diamond Bus has the N30 from Acton (https://bustimes.org/services/n30-acton-heathrow?calendar=4506839). Costs £2 flat fare.

This is a revelation to me! N40, N30.... I have lived in this area since I was a teenager and had no clue at all about these bus services. I can easily get to Acton Town Station. The N11 goes there from the end of my road all through the night, then looks like a simple change to the N30. I have used that exact bus stop many times, but can not recall ever seeing any timetable, information, or notices about the N30 bus.

You live and learn.

Re Zipcar Flex, I am a member of ZipCar and would consider it. I have never really heard of it before, to be honest! I use Zipcar so infrequently. My preferred method of transport is always public transport or my trusty pushbike for work.

I have had a quick look in the app (I was struggling to find any way to book Zipcar Flex on their website, which confused me), but can not see any way to prebook a flex Zipcar! So it is a bit of a gamble as to whether there would be one available nearby at the time I need it for the airport run on Monday AM. It would be half hour tops at that time of day to drive to the Avis drop off place, so that would cost £10.80 + the £7.50 - less than half price of a Taxi.

If only you could prebook a Flex car I would do that now and cancel the Minicab and I would even give the £20 difference to Charity because I would rather give my money to anyone other than the robbing Heathrow gits with their £5 con!

 

[markymark2000]

This is a revelation to me! N40, N30.... I have lived in this area since I was a teenager and had no clue at all about these bus services. I can easily get to Acton Town Station. The N11 goes there from the end of my road all through the night, then looks like a simple change to the N30. I have used that exact bus stop many times, but can not recall ever seeing any timetable, information, or notices about the N30 bus.

Very new services. National Express N40 was the A40 I think for a few months but the N30 literally only started at the end of August. Both of them are Heathrow contracts in a bid to improve public transport for Heathrow workers and improve access to Heathrow in the early hours when other transport links are limited.

 

[rmt4ever]

Very new services. National Express N40 was the A40 I think for a few months but the N30 literally only started at the end of August. Both of them are Heathrow contracts in a bid to improve public transport for Heathrow workers and improve access to Heathrow in the early hours when other transport links are limited.

Well well well, that is good news and going in the right direction!

Sadly they are both just a tiny bit too far from me to be able to walk to with cases etc to catch to the airport. But I would consider.

I had a similar early flight on a Sunday morning during the Summer. It was a dream after AirPorter'ing the luggage the day before just getting the Picc from Turnham to T5 (me and the Mrs both get free travel)... I just wish it was so easy Monday-Friday mornings.

 

[Stan Drews]

Very new services. National Express N40 was the A40 I think for a few months but the N30 literally only started at the end of August. Both of them are Heathrow contracts in a bid to improve public transport for Heathrow workers and improve access to Heathrow in the early hours when other transport links are limited.

Presumably the £5 drop off charges are helping to fund these new routes!

 

[Busaholic]

Presumably the £5 drop off charges are helping to fund these new routes!

I've a feeling oystercash won't see it that way

 

[bobdoe]

So.... I have an early flight on a Monday morning coming up. Too early for our usual option, the Piccadilly Line.

If it was a Saturday or Sunday AM flight it would be fine as the Underground Piccadilly Line runs 24/7 on those days.... but on a Monday it is no good.

We usually always just got a local Minicab (proper Minicab and pay cash with cash tip, not this Ubercab lark).... but I simply refuse to pay this rip off £5 drop off Charge.

For the record, I do not have an issue with the charge during the hours when the public transport is running. It is unbelievable that there is no 24/7 rail service to Heathrow Airport. But for a dead early flight when public transport is simply not an option, and minicab is the only way for many, it is a liberty that they rip us off for an extra fiver. I refuse to pay it.

Anyway now I have got that out of my system, we are flying British Airways and I am a Gold Card Holder so I have usual privileges like First Wing, Fast Track etc, so when we arrive at Terminal 5 it is quite stress free. So I have decided to try, for the first time ever, the N9 bus.

I have booked AirPortr to collect our bags from our home in West London the day before. The fee is about what I would usually pay for a MiniCab (before the disgraceful £5 add on). So evens there. And we are going to try the N9.

We will be getting it from the Chiswick High Road to the airport. Hopefully arriving about 0440 (the First Wing opens at 0500 but we won't have to check in any luggage thanks to Air Portr).

It apparently is scheduled to take an hour from Chiswick to T5.

Questions I ask, is this bus route reliable? If the bus doesn't turn up it would leave us rather scuppered...

Is the journey time accurate? There won’t really be any traffic at that time of day, so I don't see why not.

It will be an adventure I guess, if nothing else.

No matter how reliable the buses are, always drive or get a taxi when catching flights.

 

[londonteacher]

No matter how reliable the buses are, always drive or get a taxi when catching flights.

I do not agree with this! Not always at all. It depends on how many people are travelling. For a group, yes much better but when travelling alone the cost of the travel can be really high. I lived in Plumstead previously and the cost of a cab was usually about £40/50.

I have never driven to the airport and always use public transport. Even living in Chatham now I always use public transport to get to Heathrow (or any other London airport). Usually the last train to Victoria and then the N9 to the airport.

 

[johncrossley]

No matter how reliable the buses are, always drive or get a taxi when catching flights.

Don't understand this logic. If you have a puncture or break down then you are really screwed. If you get a local bus and it doesn't turn up or breaks down, then you can get the next one.

 

[MasterSpenny]

No matter how reliable the buses are, always drive or get a taxi when catching flights.

Why though? If you drive or get a taxi there is a higher chance you will break down. If you get a bus, and where you want to go is served at both day and night, you don’t need to worry about missing the last bus since there in theory isn’t a last bus.