- Heathrow is the world’s gateway for romantic gestures, welcoming an extra 1,000 tonnes of flowers in February
- New York, Vienna, Venice and Reykjavik are top destinations for passengers travelling from Heathrow, this Valentine’s Day
- Heathrow reveals expert travel tips and tricks for couples ahead of romantic Valentine’s getaways
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Heathrow is preparing to welcome loved-up couples embarking on romantic adventures across the globe – with this year’s most popular romantic hotspots revealed as New York, Vienna, Venice and Reykjavik.
A dream trip with your other half can be just as much about the journey as the destination. To ensure couples get their romantic getaways off to a flying start, Heathrow is revealing top travel tips from insider experts in both travel, and love.
Heathrow is a hub for lovebirds heading to the world’s most romantic destinations. In the week before Valentine’s Day, Heathrow forecasts a 12% increase in passengers travelling to North America and a 17% growth in routes to New York, in comparison to the same week in 2024. This year’s popular European romantic hotspots are Vienna, Venice and Reykjavik, with Heathrow predicting an almost 20% increase in passenger traffic to those destinations compared to the week before.
Responsible for connecting people across the globe, Heathrow is an international gateway for romantic gestures. The month leading up to Valentine’s Day is particularly busy for Heathrow cargo, with more flowers being imported into the airport than any other month of the year. In February 2024, Heathrow received an impressive 3,471 tonnes of flowers transported from around the world, 1,000 tonnes more than in any other month.
Heathrow Security Officers, real-life couple, and expectant parents, Bilal and Hira Messahel see hundreds of couples face the unique challenges of travelling through the airport each day. To make every passenger’s journey even better this Valentine’s Day, the airport has tapped into their blend of expertise in travel and love by gathering insider tips for couples looking to start their holidays on the right foot when flying from the UK’s extraordinary hub airport.
1. Plan ahead
Bilal said: “In any time-sensitive situation, couples can fall at the first hurdle by not setting themselves up for success. Take the time to check in for your flight and save your boarding passes electronically the day before take-off. Remind yourself of your travel itinerary, brush up on Heathrow’s packing guidance and research the services available at the airport that could make your journey even more enjoyable.”
2. Rest up
Hira said: “The best way to start a trip is well-rested. Feeling fresh and having a positive mindset will help you stay relaxed and patient with one another. The time between security search and boarding is an underappreciated opportunity to enjoy one another’s company without any interruptions from the outside world. With more energy, you can make the most of your time in the departure lounge by chatting through the exciting plans ahead of you over a romantic meal or drink.”
3. Pack smart
Bilal said: “When you are in a rush and two people are in charge of packing, it’s easy to lose track of what’s in your bags. Before setting off for the airport, look through your bags and make sure you haven’t forgotten the essentials or packed any prohibited items. Precious things like gifts, are best stored unwrapped in your hold luggage so that they can sail through security screening and be safely transported to your final destination. Passports and boarding passes should be kept in a separate, secure carry-on bag to avoid panicked searching at security or quarrels at the gate.”
4. Communication is key
Hira said: “The key to a smooth airport experience is communication – with each other, and with the staff in each terminal who are there to lend a helping hand. The airport can be overwhelming, and there’s no shame in asking for support from your partner or a staff member when you need it. Think of your other half and the terminal staff as teammates working with you towards the same goal.”
5. Time flies at the airport
Bilal said: “There’s nothing worse than arriving at the airport feeling stressed and frustrated because of an unexpected travel delay. Situations like that can spiral, so, we always factor in plenty of extra time to allow us to tackle any unexpected challenges as a team. With Valentine’s Day landing on a Friday this year, lots of couples will be jetting off for a weekend escape, so allow yourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and take a leisurely browse through Duty-Free.”
Bilal and Hira know first-hand how many curveballs can come your way when travelling – even for the professionals. During a recent trip abroad, a large tub of hair gel that Bilal had forgotten he had packed was confiscated from him at security. “It was embarrassing, but it shows that no matter how prepared you think you are, it’s always worth double-checking your bags!”.
In celebration of one of its biggest imports and exports – love – passengers travelling through Heathrow will have a brand-new photo opportunity to enjoy, for a limited time. On 13 and 14 February, capture the perfect pre-flight memory with your Valentine by looking out for purple, heart-shaped selfie frames available in each terminal.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Heathrow is here to help couples make stress-free travel memories from the moment they arrive at the airport.
For more travel tips and tricks, visit www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/travel-tips.
About Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s international gateway and the largest airport in Europe – connecting to 239 destinations across 89 countries. The airport welcomes over 200,000 passengers on roughly 1,300 flights each day, and serves as Britain’s hub for trade, tourism and investment. Over 80,000 colleagues work at Heathrow – the airport directly employs about 10% of them, with the rest working for Team Heathrow partners including airlines, ground handlers and retailers.
