[ghaff]

OT but I've never really understood the Heathrow Express economics--and I've asked Londoners and they've never been able to give a good explanation either. I take the Piccadilly line in and I've never understood the justification for taking the Express. Maybe if I were staying right around Paddington but not if I'm going to have to take the tube or a taxi anyway.

[dogma1138]

I live these days 15 min of lazy walk from Paddington and i prefer the express over a car due to the fact that it's much quicker.

There is the connect which is about 60-70% of the rate of the Express but it tends not to run late at night, and every time there are any works done on the line it takes a back seat to the express.

The problem with the Piccadilly line is that it takes ages, it doesn't run late (service stops around 11pm and doesn't renew till about 5.30ish iirc) and it's the most delayed line of the tube system, especially the parts towards Heathrow. So many people don't take it, most people that do are young people that take it during the middle of the day since it's also when most of the low cost airliners operate.

I think that most people in London at this point are just used to paying the premium of living in London even tho at this point i don't really see a point for that. The salaries are double at least than pretty much anywhere else in the UK, but the cost of living is also at least as high.

[mason55]

I only go to London on business travel so price isn't as big of a deal but I take the Heathrow Express for time purposes. In morning traffic after the red eye from NYC it's much faster than either a cab or the tube.

[dogma1138]

OT but check the flights from NYC to City Airport they are much better than anything you can get from/to Heathrow unless you are flying with mile high club ;)

[mason55]

The only flights I'm aware of that fly NYC-LCY are the BA flights that are all business. The nice thing is that you get to pre-clear immigration in Shannon, Ireland but unfortunately I'm not quite important enough to demand $10k flights.

[yuliyp]

The exchange rate from your money to Other People's Money is very significant

[ghaff]

I'm sure that's true. Though even when I'm spending Other People's Money I tend to avoid gratuitously burning it when I legitimately don't care. As I was discussing with someone this past week, I'm probably something of an exception--or at least have somewhat different priorities about things I care about.

[robk]

It's much cheaper with a Network Railcard - 22.40 roundtrip. With all HEX tickets, you can use them in any direction (i.e., it's two unlimited one ways basically) and the first is good for 3 days, the second "return" one good for 30 days, so I usually keep a few active for regular trips. 11.20 each isn't bad at all vs Uber if you're time sensitive and already nearish to Paddington.