Home / London /Heathrow / RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton vs National Express coach to Luton

LHR → London · head to head

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to SouthamptonorNational Express coach to Luton?

The short answer

For one traveler the National Express coach to Luton is cheaper by up to £32.80. The National Express coach to Luton fare is sold "from" a price rather than at it, so this comparison holds only at the advertised prices and the real answer can change with the day you travel.

The National Express coach to Luton is quicker: 1 h against 1 h 44. The RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton varies between 100 and 125 minutes.

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: 04:50–22:20. National Express coach to Luton: 00:30–23:00.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in GBP. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to SouthamptonNational Express coach to LutonDifference
1£48.30from £15.50up to £32.80
2£96.60from £31up to £65.60
3£144.90from £46.50up to £98.40
4£193.20from £62up to £131.20
5£241.50from £77.50up to £164
6£289.80from £93up to £196.80
7£338.10from £108.50up to £229.60
8£386.40from £124up to £262.40

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
RA2SWR · RailAir and South Western RailwayRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton
From
Terminal 3 (Stands 7/8), Terminal 2 (Stands 11/12) or Terminal 5, on the RailAir RA2 coach
To
Southampton Central, changing at Woking
Luggage
The RA2 coach takes 2 bags of up to 30 kg and hand luggage per person; extra bags are £5 each. The train has racks.
Runs
04:50–22:20
Journey
100–125 min

The through ticket is only valid via Woking: a ticket by any other route costs more.

The train from Woking runs hourly, so a missed connection costs close to an hour.

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail
shuttle · National ExpressNational Express coach to Luton
From
Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, outside Terminal 5 (stops 11 to 15) or outside Terminal 4 (stops 12 to 14)
To
Luton Airport bus station, stands N, P and Q, outside the terminal
Luggage
One large suitcase (or two medium) and one soft hand-luggage item per person.
Runs
00:30–23:00
Journey
40–80 min

The coach goes to the airport bus station, a short walk from the terminal, so you do not need the Luton DART shuttle.

The same coach from Luton to Heathrow starts at £20.50, not £15.50.

National Express advises being at the airport three hours before a flight, so do not plan a connection tighter than that by coach.

National Express coach to Luton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Express

This compares two of 19 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Heathrow