I recently discovered RailAir, which offers a fast, comfy and stress-free way to get to Heathrow Airport from Reading.
RailAir is a luxury coach service that connects Reading train station and Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5, with departures up to every 30 minutes.
We live close to Reading and when planning how to get to Heathrow Airport for a recent work trip I realised it worked out far more affordable for my husband to drop me at Reading train station, where there is free parking for 30 minutes, rather than Heathrow where there is a £5 drop-off fee.
(For some the cost of driving to Heathrow is even higher because Heathrow Airport is now in the ULEZ Ultra Low Emission Zone.)
From Reading station short stay car park, you simply follow signs to RailAir, hop on the coach waiting in front of the exit, and in next to no time you are dropped directly outside Heathrow Airport.
It was genuinely such an easy and comfortable journey. I arrived at Heathrow feeling relaxed and unhurried, which is just what you need when have a long flight to Sri Lanka ahead of you!
Disclosure: This post is written in collaboration with RailAir. All opinions are my own.
Some things I loved about travelling with RailAir are:
- There’s no need to pre-book seats. I purchased a 30-day flexible return priced at £30 on the FirstBus app and activated my ticket just before boarding. This means there is flexibility to catch a later or earlier departure if your plans change at all.
- The seats are super comfy and it was easy to relax in the plush leather armchairs without any distractions. As my coach wasn’t very busy, I seated myself at a table and made use of the free wifi and USB charging to get on with work, safe in the knowledge we were heading straight to Heathrow.
- Your luggage is safely secured in the hold and the driver kindly helps to load it. I loved not having to worry about navigating a busy tube with my unwieldly baggage! There’s also plenty of space in the racks above your seat to store your hand luggage.
- You are dropped directly outside the airport terminal. My flight departed from Heathrow Terminal 3 and I was a bit concerned I’d have a long walk to departures but the RailAir coaches arrive and depart from directly outside the terminal. In fact, you’ll find RailAir coaches at Terminal 3 in the same place as the Emirates chauffeurs who collect business class passengers – so you’re essentially getting a VIP experience for the price of a bus ticket!
RailAir Coach Routes
RailAir operates 3 luxury coach routes to Heathrow Airport, 7 days a week.
The full list of RailAir services are:
RailAir 1 – Reading to Heathrow:
- Luxury, stress free travel
- Up to every 30 minutes
- Dropping you off right outside Terminals 2, 3 and 5
RailAir 2 – Woking/Guildford to Heathrow:
- Luxury, stress free travel
- Up to every 30 minutes
- Dropping you off right outside Terminals 2 and 3
RailAir 3 – Watford to Heathrow:
- New service (launched July 2023)
- Single fares start at £9
- Children under 16 go free with adults
- Dropping off at Terminals 2 & 3
Top tips for travelling with RailAir
You’ll get the best priced fairs by booking online in advance. However, if you’re travelling last minute or have had to change plans, you can also buy a ticket onboard RailAir coaches using cash, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
RailAir has a VIP lounge at Reading Station that you are welcome to wait in. I didn’t end up using it as I was too busy buying snacks from the M&S Food Shop next door!
Your ticket includes 2x bags/suitcases (30kg each plus hand luggage) per person. Additional bags/cases can be purchased individually at a fee of £5 per bag.
I’d definitely use RailAir again, especially when travelling solo, because it’s far more affordable than a taxi or airport parking for 1 person. It’s also a lot less stressful than navigating other forms of public transport with heavy luggage.
To plan your journey and book tickets please visit railair.com
*Featured image thanks to CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
