It can be very difficult to decide just how much time to allow for getting to Heathrow. With the exception of travelling in on the Underground, every other means of getting to the airport is affected by local road conditions. Again, the majority of road approaches to Heathrow involve the use of the M4 or M25 motorways which have their predictable hold-ups and others that are not predictable. Even a minor shunt on the motorways can cause instant tailbacks that take half an hour to clear, and at peak times the traffic on both motorways moves at a snail's pace.
The predictable bad times on the M4 and M25 are, of course, early in the morning and late in the afternoon into the early evening. Between 08:00 and 09:00 the spur road linking the Heathrow access tunnel with the M4 is usually very slow moving, and the condition is always worse on Monday mornings. Sunday evenings, too, are bad for congestion, and it can take 20 or 30 minutes to get to a Terminal after leaving the M4. The message is simple, you should always allow at least an extra 30 minutes on the time you otherwise calculate, and if your schedule allows it you might enjoy getting to the airport with enough time for a meal and a browse around the shops.
Once through the tunnel it takes about 10 or 15 minutes to get parked and through to the check-in area, and if you have parked off-airport you should allow at least 30 minutes for a tour of the other Terminals before it's your turn to be dropped off.
Regular travellers should skip this piece of advice which is intended to help those who rarely travel by air. When you get into the Departures area of your Terminal you will perhaps be daunted by the array of illuminated signboards, crowds of people and public announcements. Even though you know you've got plenty of time to spare, the stress levels rise. It's worth standing to one side for a minute to get your bearings before deciding which check-in desk is the one you need. Some have clear signs on or behind them with the flight number and destination of the flight currently being dealt with. In other cases the correct desk will be indicated on a Departures TV screen. Beware of simply joining the nearest queue which may be for your airline but a different destination. If in any doubt, ask assistance from anyone in uniform and you'll get all the help you need.
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