Britain’s biggest scheduled airline and two train companies are making international travel easier for their customers in Wales and the West of England.

A single booking will now combine air and rail travel, with hassle-free connections, thanks to a new partnership between British Airways, Heathrow Express and First Great Western.

From December 5th these tickets will be available to book through travel agents for travel from 11 First Great Western stations. 

Stephen Humphreys, British Airways head of UK&I sales and marketing, said: “This is a great new way for our customers living in Wales and the West Country to get on track right from the start to enjoy a terrific trip with British Airways.

“Our partnership with First Great Western and Heathrow Express will make flying more accessible and convenient for customers travelling from regions in the UK without local airports.”

Customers will be able to travel from St Austell to St Petersburg or Bath to Boston, with ease and journeys on the Heathrow Express, which departs every 15 minutes from Paddington for Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and Terminal 3, will also be included in the cost of the ticket.

The combined booking takes away the stress and fear of missing a flight, if a train is delayed or a connection missed, by giving customers the peace of mind they’ll be on the next available flight – and even get overnight accommodation if the next service isn’t on the same day.

Keith Greenfield, managing director of Heathrow Express, said: “This partnership removes a layer of hassle for customers and affords them extra protection against possible problems.

“This kind of joined-up travel is what today’s leisure and business travellers expect.”
Customers will also be able to get on the next available train service, if their flight is delayed.

Mark Hopwood, managing director of First Great Western, said: “This is all part of our work to make journeys easier and simpler for our passengers.

“For many of our customers travelling to Heathrow by train already saves time, hassle and money.”