Frustrating National Express website

Contessa

I haven't travelled by coach for many years but want to travel with National Express from Cornwall to Heathrow. I don't want to risk rail disruption in January. I book a return or use the train depending on timings.

I've looked at the NX website several times and the information changes. For example: sometimes it states departure time from my town but another time it says there is no stop there (yet on it's map it's clearly listed); when I first looked a couple of days ago to see if I could use NX after my return flight the time was too early, but when I checked again today a later, feasible time was listed.

I don't feel I can rely on the website so will telephone them but it's so frustrating to see such conflicting information. Has anyone else experienced this?

Voyager2002

The actual information is consistent, but the site seems to try to guess what you want and so bits of the search form get filled in for you, and this can happen differently on different visits. So when I use the site I always find the full search form and fill in my own requirements.

I don't suggest that you telephone them, since the people who answer the phone use the same website and have limited skill in using the search function. I do suggest that you use the train, which is a good deal more reliable than motorways in winter.

Contessa

Thanks for your reply Voyager. I'll persevere with the site.

My concern with using the train is the risk that the line is blocked at Dawlish again as has happened a couple of times in recent years. However, if that did happen no doubt there would be a bus service around this. Or I could just drive to the airport.

Contessa

I've finally managed to book my return journey from Cornwall to Heathrow. I also bought a Senior Coachcard as I want to take more holidays next year and may well fly from Heathrow again.

It was incredibly cheap (£26 return) but may be incredibly bad-we'll see. At least the driver loads and unloads the luggage and I don't have to change. I'm put off trains because I find it a struggle if I have to carry my case up/down stairs (as with my local mainline station), find somewhere to put the case on the train and wait for connections.

I've booked a hotel for the night before and after my longhaul flights to compensate for the long journey times.

Normally I prefer to drive everywhere but in this case public transport is far cheaper.

I'll report back on my experience.

Contessa

I survived my National Express experience!

In fact, I thought it was excellent. It was incredibly convenient for me - from the local stop to Heathrow with no changes, driver loaded and unloaded the case. The coach was 5 minutes early arriving at the airport and fifteen minutes early on the return trip.

I also bought two return Hoppa journeys with my online booking so the grand total was £35. That's what I call money saving!