In article ,
(Theo Markettos) wrote:

Heathrow Connect doesn't accept Oyster cards (between Heathrow and
Hayes & Harlington). So what's the recommended method to make a journey
between Heathrow and somewhere in Oysterland, for example Stratford
changing to/from the Central at Ealing Broadway?

1. Buy paper ticket LHR to Ealing, touch in at Ealing, change to
Central line
2. Paper LHR to H&H, jump off train, touch validator, dive back on again
3. Westbound only: Paper travelcard plus BZ6 to LHR (does that
exist?).[1]
4. Westbound only: Paper travelcard (eg Z1-3) plus Ealing to LHR addon

Where are the 'touch in' points at H&H - is (2) likely to happen without
waiting half an hour for the next train? Similarly, is a 'touch in' at
Ealing easy without coming all the way out of the station and going back
in again?

To make life more confusing, the Network Railcard discount applies to
H.Conn tickets on weekends, but not to Oyster. Presumably there's no
'LHR to BZ6' ticket either (no, can't find one).

[1] Hmm, BZ6 to LHR does exist:
http://www.brfares.com/#fares?orig=0...&rlc=%20%20%20
but it's more expensive (6.00) than H&H to LHR (5.20). OTOH BZ3 to LHR
http://www.brfares.com/#fares?orig=0...&rlc=%20%20%20
is cheaper (6.60 v 7.40) than Ealing to LHR.

BZ6 to LHR is presumably for journeys from the west outside Greater London,
not for Heathrow Connect from H&H.

And paper travelcards are quite expensive if you're only making one
journey. Would be cheaper to get a paper single, if you can get a
Z1-3 single at LHR
(and the gates don't complain that it's never been previously seen)

Any better ideas?

Sigh. If only Heathrow Connect was 'zone 99' or something, would make
life a lot easier.

Indeed. As I keep saying it's high time the evil nonsense of the BAA (or
whatever it's called this week) monopoly was brought to an end. It should be
incorporated into the London public transport network like pretty well every
other airport train service in the world.

--
Colin Rosenstiel