British Airways Moves Tampa and Costa Rica Flights from Gatwick to Heathrow: What Midlands Passengers Need to Know

From 25 October 2026, BA Tampa flights leave Heathrow instead of Gatwick, and so do British Airways’ flights to San José in Costa Rica. For Midlands passengers, the change usually means a more direct drive, a different airport to plan around and a timetable that needs rechecking before you book your transfer.

This guide covers the new schedules, the aircraft, the likely terminal and what the move means for the journey from Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and the wider Midlands. It also explains what to check if you booked a Gatwick flight before the change.

Details last checked on 23 October 2026. Airlines can change timetables, so confirm your own flight on British Airways’ booking pages.

What is changing for BA’s Tampa and Costa Rica flights?

British Airways is moving both routes from Gatwick to Heathrow as part of its winter timetable, which starts on 25 October 2026. The last Gatwick service to Tampa runs on 24 October, and the first Heathrow service follows the next day. Costa Rica moves on the same date.

The table below shows the new Heathrow flights side by side. All times are local.

UK clocks go back on 25 October, but US clocks do not change until 1 November. As a result, Tampa arrival and return times can differ by an hour during the first week. Costa Rica does not change its clocks.

Both routes leave Heathrow late morning or around lunchtime. For Midlands passengers, that sets an early start for the drive, which later sections explain.

BA Tampa flights from Heathrow: days, times and aircraft

The new schedule

BA211 leaves Heathrow at about 12:45. Some timetable sites list 13:00, so check the time on your booking. The return, BA210, leaves Tampa at 19:55 and arrives at Heathrow at about 09:15 the next morning. Both directions operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Five flights a week instead of seven

The Gatwick service ran daily until 24 October. The Heathrow timetable cuts that to five flights a week, so Tuesdays and Fridays no longer have a BA nonstop to or from Tampa. Fix your travel dates against the flight days before you book hotels or transfers.

A newer aircraft and a second airline

BA replaces the Gatwick Boeing 777-200ER with a four-cabin Boeing 787-10. Virgin Atlantic already flies nonstop between Heathrow and Tampa, so travellers now have two airlines using the same London airport on this route.

BA Costa Rica flights from Heathrow: schedule and year-round plans

Schedule and frequency

The Heathrow flight to San José leaves at 11:10 and lands at 16:40 local time. The return leaves San José at 18:40 and reaches Heathrow at 10:50 the next morning. The journey takes roughly 11 hours in each direction.

From 25 October 2026 to March 2027, BA operates five flights a week, up from three at Gatwick. The outbound flights run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Check BA’s timetable for your exact return day.

Year-round service from Heathrow

The route used to run only in the European winter. BA now plans to keep it flying through summer 2027, at three flights a week from April to September. For Midlands holidaymakers, that opens up Costa Rica trips outside the winter months without changing planes.

Aircraft and cabins

BA uses a 204-seat Boeing 787-8 on the route. It has 31 Club World seats, 37 World Traveller Plus seats and 136 World Traveller seats.

Which Heathrow terminal do BA’s Tampa and Costa Rica flights use?

Most British Airways flights at Heathrow operate from Terminal 5, and BA says it uses Terminals 3 and 5. Timetable sites list Terminal 5 for both the Tampa flight and the Costa Rica flight. Check your booking confirmation rather than assuming, because terminal allocations can change.

Terminal 5 has a main building and two satellite buildings, linked by a transit train. BA says it takes about 20 minutes to reach the B and C gates, so allow time to reach your gate. Our complete guide to Heathrow Terminal 5 explains the layout and what to expect there.

From the Midlands to Heathrow: what changes compared with Gatwick

The drive from Birmingham

Birmingham to Heathrow is roughly 110 to 120 miles, mostly via the M42 and M40, depending on where you start. Gatwick meant carrying on round the M25 to the M23, so the final stretch was longer and spent more time on the M25. Most drivers plan on two to three hours to Heathrow, depending on the time of day and conditions on the M25.

If you would rather not drive, our Birmingham to Heathrow chauffeur service covers the whole journey door to door at a fixed price.

By train

By rail, you would normally change in London and then make your way to Heathrow. That suits light luggage and a flexible schedule. A long-haul holiday usually means large cases and a fixed check-in window, so a direct road journey removes the connection and the carrying.

Working back from your departure time

A common rule of thumb for long-haul flights is to reach the terminal about three hours before departure, although you should check the guidance on your own booking. Add a journey allowance of two and a half to three and a half hours, which includes a buffer for the M25 and the drop-off. The table shows what that means for each flight.

These times are illustrative. If your Tampa flight is listed at 13:00, add 15 minutes. Your own check-in time, pickup address and traffic on the day can all change them.

Our guide to how early to arrive at Heathrow explains what happens between arriving and boarding.

Booked a Gatwick flight? What to check

If you booked before the move, your trip may now start or end at a different airport. BA is expected to contact passengers on affected bookings, but it is worth checking yourself.

1. Open your booking on ba.com and check the departure airport for each flight.
2. Check the outbound and return flights separately. A trip that straddles 25 October can leave from Gatwick and return to Heathrow, or the other way round.
3. Look for emails from BA about schedule or airport changes.
4. Update every booking tied to the airport, including transfers, hotels and parking.
5. If you booked a transfer with us for Gatwick, contact us so we can update the airport and pickup time.

Tampa flights on or before 24 October still use Gatwick.

Coming home from Tampa or Costa Rica

BA210 from Tampa is scheduled to land at about 09:15, and the Costa Rica flight at 10:50. Actual landing times vary, and immigration and baggage reclaim can add time after a long-haul flight.

Our airport collections include flight monitoring, meet and greet and 60 minutes of waiting time. Your driver follows the real landing time rather than the scheduled one. Give us your flight number when you book, and book the return leg at the same time as the outbound journey.

After an overnight flight, the drive home is a long final leg. A pre-booked driver means you can rest instead of navigating the M40 and M42.

Families and groups: Florida and Costa Rica luggage

Holiday luggage adds up quickly. Our Mercedes-Benz E-Class carries up to three passengers and three bags. For families or larger groups, the Mercedes V-Class takes up to seven passengers and seven bags, so everyone travels together in one vehicle.

Child seats and booster seats are available on request at no extra charge. Give us each child’s age and weight when you book, so we can provide the correct seat.

Practical checks before you fly

UK clocks go back one hour in the early hours of Sunday 25 October, the day the new timetable starts, which is worth remembering for an early pickup. HS2 also has a weekend closure of the M42 near Solihull scheduled from 9pm on Friday 23 October to 5am on Monday 26 October, with signed diversions. Check National Highways before you set off.

• Check entry requirements for the United States and Costa Rica in the GOV.UK foreign travel advice.
• Confirm your departure time, terminal and flight day in BA’s manage-booking tool.
• Keep passports and travel documents in your hand luggage, not in a case in the boot.
• Check live traffic on the M40, M42 and M25 before you set off.
• Agree your return pickup details when you book.

Book your Midlands transfer to Heathrow

National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers from Birmingham and the Midlands to Heathrow, using Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your flight number, terminal, group size and luggage, and we will plan your pickup around your departure time. Get a quote and book your Heathrow transfer online.

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