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I for one have never understood (aside from the network effect and lack of choice) why anyone actively chooses to connect through LHR. The taxes on airfare are

I for one have never understood (aside from the network effect and lack of choice) why anyone actively chooses to connect through LHR. The taxes on airfare are extortionate just because they can, you have to pay (!) for on-airport hotel shuttle buses, the facilities are dilapidated and designed with, um, British sensibilities, and transferring / security is an ordeal given how cheaply they choose to (under)staff the services. It is pretty nearly the opposite of a SIN, MUC, or DXB, in my mind.

toyg 7y ago
It’s not terribly worse than most major hubs in the area. The only one I would rate higher, more or less in the same range from US east coast (which I guess is the major market for hub-like traffic in LHR) is Schiphol, but that’s another sprawl that probably cannot grow much more. Munich is nice but it’s so much smaller and significantly further afar from the US. CDG is an utter dump. I don’t know about the Spanish options, maybe those could compete more actively, but maybe they’ve got their hands full with SouthAmerican traffic.
- asplake 7y ago
  There’s also Frankfurt, for those who like a good long walk
Moto7451 7y ago
I’ve only ever flown into Gatwick and it surprises me that they haven’t expanded it with the aim of taking more business from Heathrow. If you’re operating as a transit hub, it doesn’t matter that you’re a train ride away from London. The network effect must be really strong.
- pjc50 7y ago
  Gatwick have their own plan for this: https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles/business_and_community/all_public_publications/second_runway/airports_commission/gatwick_sd3_engineering_plans_final.pdf https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles... But effectively it's centrally planned and only one of them is going to get the permission. Transport links between the two aren't as great as you'd like either.
- asplake 7y ago
  I choose Gatwick over Heathrow now. Even coming from well north of London it’s easier to get to and a much smoother experience

toyg 7y ago

It’s not terribly worse than most major hubs in the area. The only one I would rate higher, more or less in the same range from US east coast (which I guess is the major market for hub-like traffic in LHR) is Schiphol, but that’s another sprawl that probably cannot grow much more. Munich is nice but it’s so much smaller and significantly further afar from the US. CDG is an utter dump. I don’t know about the Spanish options, maybe those could compete more actively, but maybe they’ve got their hands full with SouthAmerican traffic.

asplake 7y ago
There’s also Frankfurt, for those who like a good long walk

Moto7451 7y ago

I’ve only ever flown into Gatwick and it surprises me that they haven’t expanded it with the aim of taking more business from Heathrow. If you’re operating as a transit hub, it doesn’t matter that you’re a train ride away from London. The network effect must be really strong.

pjc50 7y ago
Gatwick have their own plan for this: https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles/business_and_community/all_public_publications/second_runway/airports_commission/gatwick_sd3_engineering_plans_final.pdf https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/publicationfiles... But effectively it's centrally planned and only one of them is going to get the permission. Transport links between the two aren't as great as you'd like either.
asplake 7y ago
I choose Gatwick over Heathrow now. Even coming from well north of London it’s easier to get to and a much smoother experience