Pay as you go

Can you pay as you go on the Heathrow Express?

Discover whether you can pay as you go on Heathrow Express, and how to do it.


39506-travel-often

Is it cheaper to book your Heathrow Express ticket in advance or pay on the day?

The short answer is yes, you can pay on the go for your Heathrow Express ticket. But it is cheaper if you book online or on our app before you travel.

Let’s look at the different methods you can pay for your Heathrow Express ticket and see why it’s cheaper to get your ticket in advance.

How can you pay as you go on the Heathrow Express?

There are a number of different ways you can pay-as-you-go on Heathrow Express trains, including:

A group of people buying tickets at a ticket machine

Buying a ticket at the station

You have a couple of options to buy a ticket at the station before you hop on the train. Either from the ticket office or one of the ticket machines. You can do this at London Paddington and both of the stations at Heathrow Airport.

Couple at Gates

Tapping in with a contactless Debit or Credit Card

Simply touch in using your Debit or Credit Card at the start of your journey and out at your destination, and you'll automatically be charged for your journey.

Oyster Card

Travelling on an Oyster Card

If you regularly use an Oyster Card to travel around London, you can also use it for your travel train on the Heathrow Express. Simply touch in at the start and end of your journey.

Pay as you Go with your Bank Card

Tapping in using your mobile phone

If you use your smartphone to pay for things through the likes of Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, you can simply tap in at the start of your journey and out when you get off the train. You’ll automatically be charged for your journey.

Is it cheaper to pay on the day for your Heathrow Express ticket?


Whilst you can pay as you go on Heathrow Express and buy your tickets on the day, it’s not your cheapest option.

Buying a Fully Flexible Single ticket at the station on the day will cost £25 for Standard Class and £32 for Business First Class. But if you were to purchase an Advanced Discounted Single ticket in advance (45+ days before you travel), it will cost you just £10.

To get the best deals when travelling on Heathrow Express, it's always best to plan your travel early and buy in advance – either online or via our app.

What tickets can you buy at the station for Heathrow Express?

If you’re planning to buy Heathrow Express tickets at the station, your options are limited. You can only buy Fully Flexible Single tickets, Day Return tickets and Anytime Day return tickets. You can also buy children’s tickets too which are free for kids aged 15 and under.

If you want to buy Carnet tickets or pay for Group travel, you won’t be able to do so at the station. You’ll need to buy these online via our website or through the Heathrow Express app.

A group of people buying tickets at a ticket machine

Looking to save on your Heathrow Express ticket?

To cut costs the next time you travel on Heathrow Express, book online on our website or simply download the Heathrow Express app. You can buy your tickets directly through the app and manage them all in one handy place.

- One Way: Buy a single ticket to travel one way on the Heathrow Express.

- Return: Either return on the same day or within one month.

- Group Travel: Buy tickets for a group up to the value of £600 for up to nine people.

- Family Travel: Purchase tickets for the whole family, with kids aged 15 and under travelling for free.

- Carnet: Save money by buying blocks of tickets, either six or 12.

newsletter_banner_app1

use our app

Download the Heathrow Express App

Our ticket types

Choose from a range of Heathrow Express ticket types to suit your journey and your budget.

Sitemap

© 2024 Heathrow Express. All rights reserved