King's Cross to Heathrow Return.

[reb0118]

A colleague is taking his sister-in-law (no railcards or discounts) to Heathrow Airport. Unfortunately he has only booked her advance ticket to London (from Edinburgh).

What would be the cheapest option for an open return from King's Cross to Heathrow avoiding the peak periods? As a caveat the route must also be permissable by a passenger holding a TOCNE priv ticket (from Edinburgh to Heathrow Rail).

TIA.

 

[Alex365Dash]

What would be the cheapest option for an open return from King's Cross to Heathrow avoiding the peak periods? As a caveat the route must also be permissable by a passenger holding a TOCNE priv ticket (from Edinburgh to Heathrow Rail).

Contactless both ways at £13.30 single from King’s Cross St Pancras LU (or St Pancras Intl NR if preferred) to Heathrow Airport NR via the Elizabeth line.

The actual cheapest option off-peak would be to split on contactless at Hayes & Harlington at £10.40, but that means hopping back a train.

 

[reb0118]

Thanks for that.

 

[Nottingham59]

Contactless both ways at £13.30 single from King’s Cross St Pancras LU (or St Pancras Intl NR if preferred) to Heathrow Airport NR via the Elizabeth line.

Cheaper for both to go via the Piccadilly line: 2x£5.60 anytime each way. 55 mins to HR Central, direct trains.

 

[Taunton]

Unfortunately the quoted Elizabeth Line does not go to Kings Cross, and all the various connecting points it makes with Underground lines which do are a real labyrinth for the non-cognoscenti, apart from seeming to lose any time advantage. It's more straightforward to use the direct Piccadilly Line.

 

[Horizon22]

Unfortunately the quoted Elizabeth Line does not go to Kings Cross, and all the various connecting points it makes with Underground lines which do are a real labyrinth for the non-cognoscenti, apart from seeming to lose any time advantage. It's more straightforward to use the direct Piccadilly Line.

Thameslink and change at Farringdon? Or too complex?

 

[Taunton]

Probably too complex. You and I would do it, but getting across from Kings Cross to Thameslink on the west side of St Pancras, and the long hike at Farringdon, with luggage and unfamiliarity, all makes it a toll compared to the direct Piccadilly route.

 

[reb0118]

Would a through TOCNE priv ticket from Edinburgh to Heathrow Rail be valid on the Piccadilly line direct to Heathrow (I'm aware that it would be valid for a cross London transfer between London terminii)?

 

[miklcct]

It's a direct lift access at Farringdon rather than a long hike.

 

[Gaelan]

I suspect it wouldn’t - though I’ll defer to people who understanding London routing better than I do - but even if you just stop short at Kings Cross and pay for the Heathrow trip with Oyster/contactless, the two tickets to Heathrow are still cheaper than a single ticket for either of the National Rail services (Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line) to Heathrow. And, as others have mentioned, it’s a direct service; going by mainline rail would require a tube trip to Paddington or elsewhere on the EL.

 

[Haywain]

Would a through TOCNE priv ticket from Edinburgh to Heathrow Rail be valid on the Piccadilly line direct to Heathrow (I'm aware that it would be valid for a cross London transfer between London terminii)?

No, that would need a ticket to Heathrow Underground or Zones U1256 London, neither of which are available to a TOCNE holder. Ultimately it looks like there will have to be a decision about whether the overall cost for 2 people is more important than the cost for the TOCNE holder.

 

[sonic2009]

What about walking straight out of the front of Kings Cross onto the Circle, Hammersmith & City or Metropolitan to Farringdon and then across on the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow?

 

[Watershed]

Probably too complex. You and I would do it, but getting across from Kings Cross to Thameslink on the west side of St Pancras, and the long hike at Farringdon, with luggage and unfamiliarity, all makes it a toll compared to the direct Piccadilly route.

I hardly think so. The Piccadilly line is also not exactly quick to get to at Kings Cross; there's a lot of walking involved. The interchange at Farringdon is really not onerous - there's a direct lift down to the Elizabeth line platforms at the southern end of the southbound Thameslink platform.