Cheapest HEX

[oliverj8]

Hi all,

I plan to go to Heathrow at somepoint in the summer and would like to travel on the Heathrow Express but as cheaply as I can.

I have a 16-25 Railcard on the way and the cheapest I can find is £21.10 from Paddington. Is this the cheapest way or is there a cheaper way?

While its on my mind can I just ask, why is HEX so expensive for the journey length and time?

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks in advance,

 

[jopsuk]

It's expensive as it is a premium service- there's the slightly less expensive option in the form of Heathrow Connect, and the much less expensive option for those who have time (and/or fancy getting to Kings Cross-St Pancras without a change) of the Picadilly line.

 

[Mojo]

The cheapest way of using the HEx is to find a different way ot getting to the airport and travel on HEx Terminal 5 to Terminals 1,2,3 (Heathrow Central), which is free

 

[oliverj8]

The cheapest way of using the HEx is to find a different way ot getting to the airport and travel on HEx Terminal 5 to Terminals 1,2,3 (Heathrow Central), which is free

Good idea Take it I have already found the cheapest way then?

 

[don24]

Best option for you is to go to the HEx ticket office. It is £12 one way with the railcard

 

[oliverj8]

Best option for you is to go to the HEx ticket office. It is £12 one way with the railcard

What about return?

 

[don24]

What about return?

The return trip is the same cost as a single £12 so if you want a return ticket its £24 overall.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Actually £21.10 is the cheapest option for a return ticket, just checked.

 

[bb21]

Is it day return? We went on HEX in January and it cost me £24 for an open return. Full fare was £32. 25% discount instead of 34% when i asked the clerk.

 

[Edvid]

HEX only do Anytime Singles/Returns and Carnets. If you hold a valid Railcard the usual 34% discount - which I suspect is optional on their part - should apply (not to Carnets) according to their site.

 

[thefab444]

If you don't need to go on a specific date keep an eye on the TFL Tube Engineering website; if the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow is closed then normal travelcards will be accepted on HX and HC. Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th September is the next weekend this will occur, although Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th May is a possibility as the Piccadilly is suspended between Northfields and Hammersmith, not sure if this will result in travelcards being valid on HX.

Certainly worth waiting till then as HX is a real disappointment if you've paid £21 return!

 

[oliverj8]

If you don't need to go on a specific date keep an eye on the TFL Tube Engineering website; if the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow is closed then normal travelcards will be accepted on HX and HC. Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th September is the next weekend this will occur, although Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th May is a possibility as the Piccadilly is suspended between Northfields and Hammersmith, not sure if this will result in travelcards being valid on HX.

Certainly worth waiting till then as HX is a real disappointment if you've paid £21 return!

Cool!! thanks
So I can definitely use a travel card when piccadilly heathrow branch is closed?
I asked last time I went and he said no just HC between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, but I didn't mention the closure of the piccadillt heathrow branch.

 

[Thewanderer]

I believe that HEx no longer accept LUL tickets if the Piccadilly to Heathrow is closed.

 

[transportphoto]

[

Is it day return? We went on HEX in January and it cost me £24 for an open return. Full fare was £32. 25% discount instead of 34% when i asked the clerk.

No - You get the full 34% - Open return (Rte Any Permitted) with a railcard is the said £21.10 without railcard is £32.00. No day returns exist .


Fares correct at 03 May

 

[jon0844]

It's expensive as it is a premium service- there's the slightly less expensive option in the form of Heathrow Connect, and the much less expensive option for those who have time (and/or fancy getting to Kings Cross-St Pancras without a change) of the Picadilly line.

When you begin to consider the tube as an option to get to Heathrow, you should also look at the option of walking.

But, there's no cheap way to use HEX except for the free part from 1,2,3 to 5. Given you could keep doing that all day (changing train obviously) you could get very sick of the trains and not pay a penny. I wonder how many times you could do that before attracting the attention of security!

 

[oliverj8]

I wonder how many times you could do that before attracting the attention of security!

Not sure , worth a try , they were starting to look suspicious when I went return to T4 on Connect and return to T5 on Express.

 

[thefab444]

I believe that HEx no longer accept LUL tickets if the Piccadilly to Heathrow is closed.

They're that desperate for revenue?

 

[oliverj8]

Wonder where all the money goes to, they have one type of train in their fleet, a short route and probably don't need that many staff so surely they must have millions.

Do the staff get high pay?
Do they have to pay a lot for track access?

 

[jopsuk]

It's not a charity... it's a business. The money goes to pay executives bonuses and shareholders' dividends.

 

[transportphoto]

Not sure , worth a try , they were starting to look suspicious when I went return to T4 on Connect and return to T5 on Express.

Supose you could tell the Heathrow Central station that you are trying to tick off units - have a piece of paper with all the units with HEX & HEC (if you are actually doing units or not is a different story!) and explain that you are an enthusiast. They can't stop ya'!

 

[Edvid]

I believe that HEx no longer accept LUL tickets if the Piccadilly to Heathrow is closed.

They're that desperate for revenue?

TfL no longer have the money to compensate HEX for Travelcard acceptance.

 

[bb21]

[

No - You get the full 34% - Open return (Rte Any Permitted) with a railcard is the said £21.10 without railcard is £32.00. No day returns exist .
View attachment 2581View attachment 2582

Fares correct at 03 May

So that means I shall be firing off a very strong-worded letter to HEX demanding my £2.90 + postage back.

:-x:-x

 

[A60K]

Wonder where all the money goes to, they have one type of train in their fleet, a short route and probably don't need that many staff so surely they must have millions.

Do the staff get high pay?
Do they have to pay a lot for track access?

BAA own and paid for construction of the entire route from Airport Junction into Heathrow - tunnels, stations, trains, as well as a share of the various reconstruction works on the GWML into Paddington.

It's that capital investment that they want to recoup - and when you look at it, it's not a significant extra cost for a typical traveller compared to the £200-£3000 they will probably be paying for their flights to and from Heathrow.

 

[bb21]

...when you look at it, it's not a significant extra cost for a typical traveller compared to the £200-£3000 they will probably be paying for their flights to and from Heathrow.

The exact reason why we went on the HEX as it was 5pm we arrived at LHR and that was after a 13 hour journey so everyone's exhausted and could not bear another hour on the rattling tube journey back to STP.

 

[BigVince76]

If you do not have a railcard this link will get you 15% standard and 1st class tickets.

http://www.heathrowexpress.com/amex10

 

[bnsf734]

If you use the Heathrow Connect instead of the Express, the fare drops to £7.90 for an anytime day single. London Travelcards Zone 1 -6 are valid on this service except between Hayes and Heathrow which will cost £4.90.

Heathrow Connect stops at a few places and takes a bit longer, but still quicker than the tube.

Calv

 

[jon0844]

It is quicker than the tube, but if you just miss one and have to wait for the next one then the time saving is hugely reduced.

You can also get a railcard discount on the extension between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow I think (been a long time since I've used it as I generally stump up for HEX as time is a priority to me).