Travel advice/help for my parents

sand_hun

My parents and 2 of their close friends live in Newcastle upon Tyne. They are flying to Canada from Heathrow airport in August. Originally the plan was for them to fly from Newcastle to Heathrow but they've just received notification that their domestic flights have been cancelled.

So now they need to get from Newcastle to Heathrow with 4 large suitcases. Their flights to Canada are on a midweek day departing Heathrow at around 5pm.

One of the options they are considering is to get a lift down to the Midlands, to stay the night at mine and then get a coach from Birmingham (Digbeth) to Heathrow (Lon) the following morning.

Can anyone suggest alternative options/ideas of them getting from Newcastle to Heathrow? Since they're all in their 70's could it be worth them buying railcards for a train? Would it be cheaper for me to hire a car/van and take them down there myself?

Ms_Chocaholic

You can buy a Senior Railcard with Tesco vouchers if it helps.

Presumably Newcastle to Kings Cross direct on the train then a taxi to Heathrow.  Unsure of the cost of the taxi but probably better for them than the underground.

How fit are they? Can they manage their luggage? You can get luggage pick up but I've never used it so unsure whether it's reliable or indeed the cost.

Ms_Chocaholic

So just checked taxi companies, there's some Meet & Greet services from KX to LHR and taxi costs look at around £40-£60 one way so between the 4 of them that's pretty reasonable.  The only thing you'll need to check is whether LNER are on strike - when are they due to travel?

spenderdave

Another option is to get the train to Reading then the rail/air coach from there which would avoid London entirely. May also tie in with the suggestion to get a lift to Birmingham as trains are easy Birmingham to Reading. Of course it depends on train strikes and you simply won't know until a week or so before.

luvchocolate

I think rail have to give 14 days notice of striking

daveyjp

What status does the cancelled flight have?  Is it a separate flight to Heathrow, or a through ticket to Canada connecting at Heathrow?

sand_hun

Ms_Chocaholic said:

So just checked taxi companies, there's some Meet & Greet services from KX to LHR and taxi costs look at around £40-£60 one way so between the 4 of them that's pretty reasonable.  The only thing you'll need to check is whether LNER are on strike - when are they due to travel?

That's not a bad option. They are due to travel on 23rd August. My parents are fit and healthy but one of their travel companies, less so. I think they'd likely need help with their bags. Either a senior travel card or something else I found called a 'Two Together Railcard' could work - it brings the price of the train journey from Newcastle to Kings Cross down.

daveyjp said:

What status does the cancelled flight have?  Is it a separate flight to Heathrow, or a through ticket to Canada connecting at Heathrow?

I'm not sure - I will check with them. I think they said they were going to speak with their travel agent today to discuss options.

speedypete2022

Subject to strikes,

Using a CrossCountry service will avoid the need to go via London. A Two Together railcard (£30 for two people so you'll need two of these) will decrease the cost by a third. 

Quick search based on your dates returns a journey from Newcastle to Heathrow (rail) costing £197 (one way). Changing at Cheltenham Spa and Hayes & Harlington. Add to this the cost of the railcards and you're looking at little change from £260. Assuming your return would be a week later then it's the lion's share of £500 

Via London is slightly cheaper but not much (changes at Kings X and Paddington)

Just the fuel for a hire car will be roughly £230 (45 mpg @ £9 / gallon) but then there's the hire itself + whatever sort of extortion goes on at Heathrow nowadays for drop off. 

No idea about coach etc - I would assume it's cheaper. 

Could always fly from Newcastle to Heathrow?

eamon

Coach from Newcastle to Heathrow is a 10hr trip with 1 x change at London Victoria bus station.

See this link

https://book.nationalexpress.com/coach/#/choose-fare

Downsides its a long day and may not meet your parents travel needs, however if they travel the previous day and overnight in an hotel that may be something to consider. Return trip back to Newcastle can always be arranged when they are in Canada.

Ms_Chocaholic

sand_hun said:

Ms_Chocaholic said:

So just checked taxi companies, there's some Meet & Greet services from KX to LHR and taxi costs look at around £40-£60 one way so between the 4 of them that's pretty reasonable.  The only thing you'll need to check is whether LNER are on strike - when are they due to travel?

That's not a bad option. They are due to travel on 23rd August. My parents are fit and healthy but one of their travel companies, less so. I think they'd likely need help with their bags. Either a senior travel card or something else I found called a 'Two Together Railcard' could work - it brings the price of the train journey from Newcastle to Kings Cross down.

daveyjp said:

What status does the cancelled flight have?  Is it a separate flight to Heathrow, or a through ticket to Canada connecting at Heathrow?

I'm not sure - I will check with them. I think they said they were going to speak with their travel agent today to discuss options.

Were either of them in HM Forces, even for just one day, they would qualify for a Veterans Railcard apparently (a neighbour was telling me today) - apparently you can buy several tickets with one railcard as opposed to the other types where you can only buy your own.

Alan_Bowen

If the booking was through BA, they have an arrangement with LNER and will issue tickets for the train from Newcastle, 3 hours and I think on presentation of tickets for the journey will reimburse the fare to the airport from Kings Cross. You should not have to pay any extra if BA has cancelled the flight. You need to contact BA to make the necessary arrangments