Public transport disruption to and from Heathrow: 18 - 21 August

Due to industrial action between 18 - 21 August, there will be some disruption to rail and bus services to and from Heathrow.

 

When planning your journey, make sure you leave enough time to get to the airport as roads may be busier than normal. 

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Arrival times and other important information

As always, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to the airport and we’re working hard to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. To help with this process, please be aware of the following:
 

Consider your arrival times

Allow three hours to check-in before your flight and make sure all your travel documents are up-to-date. Please do not turn up significantly early for your flight though, as this can cause unnecessary congestion in the airport and you may not be able to check in your bags.

 

Remove liquids from hand luggage 

Remember, you can only take liquids on the plane that are in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml. This includes creams, gels, pastes, aerosols and make-up. 

Remove each item from hand luggage and place them all in a single transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity. Each bag must be able to close properly with all the items inside. These bags are available free-of-charge before security. Passengers are strictly limited to one bag of liquids per person.

 

Terminal Drop-Off Charge

A £5 charge applies to vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated drop-off zones, located directly outside the terminals. Discounts and exemptions apply. Free drop-off is available at our Long Stay car parks.

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    • Passenger updates

     
    The latest passenger updates and news from Heathrow Airport.

    Page last updated: 17 August 2022

    Due to planned industrial action, public transport to and from Heathrow will be disrupted from 18 August - 21 August.  Please plan your journey in advance and ensure you leave enough time to get to the airport as roads may be busier than normal.

    In additon, due to engineeering works on the A4 in west London, only one lane will be open which may cause traffic disruption for passengers travelling by road out of west London to Heathrow.

    Thursday 18 August
    Underground Normal service
    Heathrow Express Normal service between 07:30 - 17:57 to Terminals 2,3 & 5
    Elizabeth line Limited service between 07:30 - 17:46 to Terminals 2,3 & 4
    TfL buses Normal service
    Friday 19 August
    Underground No service on whole network
    Heathrow Express Normal service resumes after 07:00
    Elizabeth Line Normal service resumes after 07:00
    TfL buses No service on 105, 423 and N9 buses
    Saturday 20 August
    Underground Normal service resumes after 08:00
    Heathrow Express Normal service between 07:30 - 17:57 to Teminals 2,3 & 5 
    Elizabeth Line Limited service between 07:30 - 17:46 to Terminals 2,3 & 4 
    TfL buses No service on 105, 423 and N9 buses
    Sunday 21 August
    Underground Normal service
    Heathrow Express Normal service resumes after 07:00
    Elizabeth Line Normal service resumes after 07:00
    TfL buses Normal service

    Passengers wishing to transfer between other terminals before the first or after the last train can use the Underground (when available) or free bus services which will be signposted from the arrivals area.

    Please check the Tfl and National Rail websites for further information on the affected services, including other local bus services which are affected.  There are other options available to get to and from Heathrow including private hire and coach services, however these are expected to be extremely busy.

    At Heathrow, our guiding vision is to ‘give passengers the best airport experience’.

    We are determined to do all we can to protect passenger’s holidays and our interventions are part of a suite of industry measures that will help consumers this summer.

    However, the sector has experienced forty years’ worth of growth in four months which means the industry needs to work together to minimise disruption to passengers this summer.

    Heathrow has put in place all of the resources we need, but there remains a shortage of ground handlers employed by airlines. There has been no change in airline ground handler resourcing levels at Heathrow since January, despite passenger demand returning to 80-85% of pre-pandemic levels this summer. Airlines must grip this issue and recruit more ground handlers so that we can remove the constraint on airport capacity and get back to giving passengers the excellent service they expect.

    Read a message from our CEO
    Five tips to stay ahead of the game

    At peak times there will inevitably be more activity in the airport than usual. To keep your journey through Heathrow as seamless as possible, consider the following advice…

    1. Check travel and testing requirements

      Always double-check travel and testing requirements to and from your chosen destination before you leave for the airport. Heathrow offers a range of COVID-19 testing options should you need to book any tests before you travel.

    2. Download the Heathrow app

      The Heathrow app is your ideal travel companion. You can reserve parking, view maps of the terminal, pre-order food and receive live flight updates from wherever you are, all at the touch of a button.

    3. Keep all travel essentials handy

      Make sure your tickets and boarding pass, travel insurance, driving licence, currency and credit cards are safe but easily accessible. It’s also mindful to carry a charger for your smartphone and have your airline’s information at the ready.

    4. Remove liquids

      Remember, you can only take liquids in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml on the plane. Each item should be removed from hand luggage and placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity per passenger.

    5. Get set for security

      Before reaching security, it’s a good idea to remove your laptop, tablet or similar electronic device from your hand luggage to be inspected separately. Coats, jackets and belts should also be removed. 

    A £5 charge applies to vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated drop-off zones, located directly outside the terminals. Discounts and exemptions apply. Free drop-off is available at our Long Stay car parks.

    Pay for your trip.

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