No-one ever wants to particularly take on Heathrow. It is big, it is noisy, and it is bustling at all times of the day and night. However, there are many reasons why someone would choose to fly from here. It is conveniently located for many people throughout the UK and has plenty of amenities to cater for those who might be travelling from slightly further afield. As the UK’s busiest airport, it also has one of the longest lists of destinations which you could ever hope to see.
Sometimes it can’t be helped, there is nothing you can do except fly through Heathrow. If this is the case for you, here are some of our top tips to help you take it on as best as you can.
Give Yourself Enough Time
One of the best things you can do when you need to take on Heathrow is to give yourself enough time. A mad airport dash at the last moment could result in you missing your plane, causing an injury to yourself or others, or even getting lost within the terminal. You have to give yourself enough time to properly travel through all stages of the airport, plus some extra time in case of delays.
You never know when there might be an issue with the baggage drop or security. The airport staff will try to ensure that you move through any delays as quickly as possible but you should still leave a bit of time to accommodate for them. Heathrow Airport recommends arriving at check-in with at least three hours before your flight. It might seem like a waste of time but it will be worth it if you can guarantee that you won’t miss your flight.
Simplify Parking
Trying to find the right parking space in an airport multi-storey can be a complete nightmare. It will be cramped and dim and when you do eventually find a free spot you might not even be able to manoeuvre the car into it. What if there was an easier way to handle your parking? Thanks to the Heathrow airport meet and greet system, there is!
With meet and greet parking Heathrow airport is nowhere near as intimidating as it might have been before. All you need to do is hop in your car and then drive right up to the doors of the terminal itself. You will hand the car over to a qualified driver who will then take it to a secure compound for the duration of your holiday. When you return, your car will be available to pick up at arrivals. No waiting around and no travelling great distances to get back to your car! If this sound like something you want to check out for your next holiday, head to Heathrow Parking.
Pack Snacks
Airport food is notoriously expensive and you would much rather save your pennies for souvenirs from your holiday. When you are preparing to head into the airport, bring some snacks from home. So long as they are not liquid, you can take food through airport security with you (although there is an exception for baby food if you have an infant travelling with you).
You should also make sure that you have an empty reusable water bottle with you. There are plenty of water fountains and other places where you can fill up once you are airside. This means that you do not have to waste money on buying water or some other expensive beverage once you are through security.
Dress Properly
The airport is not a fashion runway and you don’t need to break out your latest designer heels for travelling. Whilst some people do want to look good whilst jet setting, you should also aim for comfort over everything else. Dressing in layers made from a good-quality breathable material like cotton is always going to be a plus. You should also consider wearing slip-on shoes, just in case you need to take them off at security, and try to keep your jewellery and belt as simple and as minimal as possible. The moment after security can be the most frantic as you try to put everything away and you don’t want to spend a valuable moment getting caught up in some extravagant piece of clothing.
As it is plain to see, Heathrow Airport is not quite the untameable monster it initially appears to be. So long as you are sensible and you approach it with the right mindset, you will breeze through it with no trouble whatsoever. Just remember to leave yourself enough time to be able to get through all the obstacles, even with a delay, and to prepare yourself properly beforehand. Before you know it, you could be breezing through Heathrow like you own the place!
This is a collaborative post.