UK travel
Winter travel to the London airports: how much extra time to allow
Frost, fog and disrupted trains change how early you should leave for the airport. A practical plan for allowing time, staying reachable and planning the journey home.
Published 26 Oct 20262 min read
Why winter changes the plan
Frost, fog, heavy rain and wind rarely close an airport for long, but they slow the roads and rail lines around it and change how flights leave and land. The margin that works for a May morning is not the margin you want in January.
Build the extra time into the collection, not the airport
Work backwards from the time you need to be at check-in or bag drop, then add road time. In winter, add more than you would in summer, and more again for an early departure or a Monday morning. Our guide to what time to ask for an airport pickup sets out the arrivals and departures arithmetic; winter simply means a bigger buffer on the road leg.
Arriving at the airport early is far cheaper than missing a flight. If you would rather wait with a coffee than watch the clock in a queue of traffic, ask for the earlier pickup.
What a pre-booked car does for you
- The fare is fixed when you book. Rush-hour, night and bank-holiday supplements are part of the quote you are shown, so bad weather does not change what you pay for that journey. How fixed prices work.
- We track your flight. Give us the flight number and local arrival date and we move the collection time for an ordinary delay, with no delay surcharge. Airport pickups include 60 minutes after actual landing. How delays are handled.
- You are not relying on a train strike or a replacement bus. Door to terminal is one leg with one person responsible for it.
Tell us what we cannot see
Flight tracking shows when the aircraft lands. It does not show a long queue at passport control, a delayed bag or someone who needs assistance. If any of that is holding you up, call us so your driver knows.
A winter checklist
- Check the airline the night before. Look at your flight status and your terminal, because both can change in bad weather.
- Add time to the pickup. Choose a collection earlier than you would in summer, and earlier again for a first-wave morning flight.
- Keep your phone charged and switched on. It is how your driver and our team reach you if the plan changes.
- Keep warm clothing and documents in your hand luggage. Not in the case that goes in the boot.
- Plan the way home as well. Send the return flight details when you book it, so the same tracking works on arrival.
- If the flight is cancelled, tell us before the car sets off. See what happens if your airline cancels.
Questions, answered.
Will the fare go up if the weather is bad?
No. The fare you are shown when you book, including any rush-hour, night or bank-holiday supplement, is the fare for that journey. It does not change with traffic or demand afterwards.
Do I get extra waiting time if my flight is delayed by snow?
Airport pickups include 60 minutes after actual landing, and we track the flight and move the collection time for an ordinary delay without a delay surcharge. If baggage or passport control delays you, call us.
Should I ask for an earlier pickup in winter?
Usually, yes. Leave more road time than you would in summer, particularly for early flights. An earlier pickup costs you a little waiting at the airport and protects you from the cost of missing the flight.
Check your journey price
Enter the addresses, date, passengers and luggage to check the price. If your itinerary needs team approval, wait for a confirmed fixed fare before paying. Your confirmation sets out the agreed journey and included charges; changes and extra waiting may cost more.
Rather talk it through? Call 020 8742 2888, 24 hours a day.
P5 Chauffeurs is a TfL-licensed private hire operator (licence no. 11928). Every journey is pre-booked at a fixed price with a licensed driver in a licensed vehicle. Written by P5 Chauffeurs.