Heathrow Airport

[rsvp]

If I travel up to Heathrow tomorrow evening to meet my daughter whose plane is due to land early on Thursday morning, can I stay overnight in the arrivals lounge or must I book a hotel? Thank you

[Tilly2]

You won't be very comfortable on a chair in the lounge. Book a hotel.

[DTCwordfan]

I don't think that there is much seating in arrivals, even to bunk down. Book a hotel. Which terminal are you looking at?

[EcclesCake]

Arrivals halls are not the most hospitable and comfy of places. It's also worth bearing in mind that the cafés and shops will close after last flight in and not reopen until first flight in, during that time the cleaning will be done....hardly a restful environment for you.

Is there any reason you can't drive up there on Thursday morning?

[Prudie]

I agree with others, pretty sure there is no lounge at all, just a few hard seats in a cafe area probably. You might get moved on anyway and whatever you will end up shattered.

[Buenchico]

The only café facilities (in the arrivals halls) open overnight are those provided by Costa in Terminals 1 and 5. (Remember that you don't need to wait in the terminal that your daughter's flight will arrive at; you can wait at another terminal. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are all within a 10 minute walk of each other. Terminals 4 and 5 are linked by free buses and trains).

There's theoretically no reason why you can't wait overnight. As others have indicated, it won't necessarily be a particularly comfortable wait (which is why I've told you where to find Costa) but, as long as you don't look like either a vagrant sheltering from the cold or a terrorist looking for a target, the security staff shouldn't trouble you. (They're used to people waiting for the arrivals of severely delayed flights, so there are often people there for several hours).

[tamborine]

Sleeping only permissable after entering a Gate. These hotels have free parking (cheaper than Hrow). They all have access to regular 30min direct bus route to Hrow. Local rail is Slough from Paddington.

https://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/hotels/united-kingdom/london/slough.html?oid=540420&mkid=412349417&aid=1&dev=t&gclid=CMW1qYHttMMCFe_JtAodTngAHg

[rsvp]

Thank you for all the helpful advice - don't want to drive up in the dark early on Thursday and can't get a train early where I live. Will give it some more thought - only heard today that she's coming over and don't have flight details yet.

[tamborine]

Sms dter to wait till you arrive; plenty of nice shops & coffee shops to visit. When you at Hrow phone her to wait nr left end of T3 for pick up. No charge for drive thru. Or you could car-snooze at Cranford church park. Posher snoozer is Magna Carter cafe park, Old Windsor, easy access to Hrow.

[rsvp]

Thank you Tamborine

[237SJ]

Arrivals lounges are for passengers with loyalty cards for particular airlines. You would be more comfortable going up to Departures where there are seats. I sat in Bahrain airport overnight (on Departures) once and it was pretty awful despite the Gulf Air staff bringing us cups of coffee because they felt sorry for us. I wouldn`t recommend it. I`m not even sure if it is allowed these days due to security reasons. Maybe you could try one of the hotels on the Bath Road (that have parking facilities) or a B&B in Stanwell or somewhere and then you can go to the airport on public transport which is free within the airport zone.

[rsvp]

237SJ thank you for the suggestion - have decided to get an hotel - I now know her flight details so will pick one near terminal 5. I appreciate all the input from ABers.

[Maydup]

Good plan, you'll be refreshed and ready to meet her when she arrives. Plus you need to drive home again and take her out for a lovely meal! Enjoy having her home rsvp.