National Express coaches from Heathrow

[lillielangtry]

Does anyone have experience with the above?

I don't usually use Heathrow, but I'm flying in there on a Friday evening in June and I Need to get to Woking.

It Looks like I have to book a National Express Coach, but I don't really see how I can guarantee I can make a specific one, given possible delays and getting through passport control. You can buy a flexible fare - but as far as I can see, this only allows you to amend your booking, not to just jump on the next Coach available. Also, there's the Option "Change & Go", which costs another five Pounds and says "Flight Delayed? Board a coach 12 hours before or after your planned journey time". So does this allow me free choice without having to Access my booking along the way? How come I can book both flexible and "Change&Go", what would be the Advantage of that?

Also, do These coaches tend to get full? I'm thinking that a Friday evening will be quite a busy time.

I'm sure this sounds very incompetent of me, but I'm not finding the Website terribly informative, so if anyone has done this journey before and can give me some tips, that would be great.

[riverhorse]

Wow, that really is confusing, I had a quick look on the website too. So what's the difference between "fully flexible and amendable fare" and then still comes the suggestion to add the "Change and Go" option for another 5 quid?? Absolutely no idea, I'm afraid I can't really help at all. I had a quick look at other alternatives like getting the Rail Air bus to Reading, but there's no direct connection from there to Woking, you'd have to then get the train down to Basingstoke and then a direct train to Woking. PITA

[tucano]

That's probably a busy time although I think they are quite frequent. We ended up getting an Uber from Woking to Heathrow last time as it was cheaper than 2 bus tickets.

[sprite]

I just looked on Traveline.info, and one of their suggestions was, in a nutshell, go to London Waterloo and get a 26 minute train from there to Woking.

Last time I was delayed out of Heathrow, I do remember getting a later bus than planned, but can't remember if we had flexible tickets, or just bought one when we arrived at the station. I do remember that the signs for the station seemed to make it harder to find than it actually was, but that may have changed.

[riverhorse]

Sprite, I'd thought of that too, Waterloo to Woking, but the problem is that the Heathrow trains come in to Paddington. So then you have to schlep halfway across London to get down to Waterloo

[lillielangtry]

Yes, it'd take me Ages to get into London, across London, and then back out again. I might actually call their booking centre and ask what the difference is between the two tickets - *shrug*. Can't think of the last time I had to do that!

[sprite]

yup. oddly though, traveline thinks it'll only take about 20 minutes longer--they have a change at Green Park.

i hate having to call offices. it should be obvious from the ticket description.