Please Help!!! Can we make our flight???

[Luv2travel81]

Although we are so looking forward to our Baltic Cruise on the Rotterdam on 8/10/07, this flight issue is becoming a real thorn on our side.

 

We're supposed to arrive back to port at Harwich outside of London at 7am on 8/22 (a Wednesday). From there we want to take car service to Gatwick airport. Here's the problem: About 95% of the flights returning back to Newark Airport depart 12:30pm or earlier. The other 5% is terribly inconvenient.:(

 

This is only our second cruise (the first one with Holland America), so we're not familiar with the disembarkation process with HAL. But if we leave the ship at 7:30am, we estimate it will take us about 3 hours to get to Gatwick (it supposedly takes 2 hours, but since it's in the middle of the week, and rush hour, we're allowing an extra hour). The flight we're looking at right now departs at 12:30, so we need to get to the airport by 10:30am. Is this feasible? I would really appreciate your input. Thanking you all in advance.:)

[gratefulguy]

You might want to post this on the "Britain" board--there are several very helpful "local" people who read that board! I flew back through Gatwick last Dec. 20th on Continental (but via Houston to San Diego), and it did take about 2 hours to go from front door to departure gate early on a Wednesday (9:30am flight)--it can get worse as the day goes on, but you never know what conditions will be like that far in advance. Any chance you could stay-over in London? I usually do the extra days pre-cruise, but maybe you could do "post" You could save the money you will spend on the car by taking the train/coach (bus) and spend it on a hotel. You could save some on the hotel if you stayed near Gatwick--although there wouldn't be much to do except rest and eat (sort of like a sea-day!)

Happy Cruising

[JeannyCT]

Better book a flight that leaves later, either just a few hours or a day (or more). If anything happens (technical problems with the car, traffic jam because of an accident or construction work) you won't make it to the airport on time.

[Globaliser]

This is only our second cruise (the first one with Holland America), so we're not familiar with the disembarkation process with HAL. But if we leave the ship at 7:30am, we estimate it will take us about 3 hours to get to Gatwick (it supposedly takes 2 hours, but since it's in the middle of the week, and rush hour, we're allowing an extra hour). The flight we're looking at right now departs at 12:30, so we need to get to the airport by 10:30am. Is this feasible?

If you don't mind living a little dangerously, and you're prepared to put up with the hassle if you miss the flight, then this is feasible. The road mileage is just under 105, which is less than 2 hours at an average 60 mph (the speed I normally use for door-to-door estimates). You're travelling in August, which is a light traffic month because of holidays. And the weather is likely to be good. So your time estimates are not unreasonable.

 

But the factors over which you have no control are things like: What if the ship is two hours late back? Even if on time, what if you cannot disembark until 2 hours after docking, as I have seen occur? What if there's an accident and you're held up on the motorway for an hour? Your margin could disappear.

 

If you don't mind the risks, then you could probably do it. But you need to know and plan for those risks.

 

In addition, ask the cruise line what timing they recommend for self-arranged flights.

[gratefulguy]

Sorry I wasn't clear in my post yesterday when I said 2 hours from the front door..., I meant the front door at Gatwick, not my London hotel!

(and Globaliser is one of the "locals" I hoped would see your post)

[Boo's Mom]

Although we are so looking forward to our Baltic Cruise on the Rotterdam on 8/10/07, this flight issue is becoming a real thorn on our side.

 

We're supposed to arrive back to port at Harwich outside of London at 7am on 8/22 (a Wednesday). From there we want to take car service to Gatwick airport. Here's the problem: About 95% of the flights returning back to Newark Airport depart 12:30pm or earlier. The other 5% is terribly inconvenient.:(

 

This is only our second cruise (the first one with Holland America), so we're not familiar with the disembarkation process with HAL. But if we leave the ship at 7:30am, we estimate it will take us about 3 hours to get to Gatwick (it supposedly takes 2 hours, but since it's in the middle of the week, and rush hour, we're allowing an extra hour). The flight we're looking at right now departs at 12:30, so we need to get to the airport by 10:30am. Is this feasible? I would really appreciate your input. Thanking you all in advance.:)

 

I would recommend booking the flight for a little later in the afternoon .....

AND taking a private transfer (car) that will accomodate a little touring on the side, with your extra time.

The Service we used had this available.

We did not do any side touring going to/from Dover. Wish we had.

 

With that said, we had about a 1:00 pm flight out of Gatwick. With the private transfer, we were wisked away from the ship quickly...and were at the airport with many hours to spare. Luckily the Gatwick airport is very large and has lots of great shops. :D

[Globaliser]

We're supposed to arrive back to port at Harwich outside of London at 7am on 8/22 (a Wednesday). From there we want to take car service to Gatwick airport. Here's the problem: About 95% of the flights returning back to Newark Airport depart 12:30pm or earlier. The other 5% is terribly inconvenient.:(

Now that this thread's resurfaced, one other question occurs to me: Why do you need to fly back from Gatwick?

 

There are later flights from Heathrow to Newark that day:

1435 (British Airways)

1600 (Virgin Atlantic, also carrying a Continental code)

1840 (British Airways)

2030 (Virgin Atlantic, also carrying a Continental code)

 

The three flights from Gatwick to Newark (at 1030, 1130 and 1230) are all operated by Continental. So whichever Heathrow flight you pick, you're going to be on a better airline anyway.

[Luv2travel81]

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you all very much. Based on your responses we decided to make some changes and will be leaving a bit later out of Heathrow. There were two reasons we wanted to leave out of Gatwick. First, we have flown out of Heathrow, and it is absolutely the worst airport I have ever flown out of. Have also flown out of Gatwick, and it is so much easier, and not a zoo like Heathrow. Also, the flights out of Gatwick for the most part arrive in Newark airport, in New Jersey, which is much closer to home (about a half hour). We are now flying out of Heathrow, and into JFK. Not ideal, but one must roll with the punches, and just enjoy the vacation.