Page 7 | Why is Gatwick such a big pain in the arse to get ro

Pavementworrier · 2025-12-13T23:47:19+00:00

And why does British airways put so many of its flights out of there?? Gets right on my wick

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/12/2025 00:35

What are you talking about?

It depends where you live surely?

For me, Gatwick is dead easy. Heathrow or Luton are doable, but Stanstead is an utter PITA. Won’t go there unless no other option and I really really want to go to my destination.

But I flew BA from Heathrow last week!

LighthouseLED · 14/12/2025 00:33

However the cost in total was £180 return for the four of us, and there was no option other than a fixed return so you had to know in advance precisely what train you wanted to come home on, which obviously we could not do.

Can’t comment on the cost but the fixed return only doesn’t sound right - who told you that? It’s almost always possible to get an open return or there’s always the option of a single each way that doesn’t tie you to a specific train.

intrepidpanda · 14/12/2025 00:31

Gatwick is easy to get to.
Stansted however.....

Swissmeringue · 14/12/2025 00:28

We flew out of Gatwick at October half term, what's genuinely insane is that we live on the London to Cambridge mainline, which now extends to Brighton and stops at Gatwick. So literally we can get a direct train from our village station to Gatwick. However the cost in total was £180 return for the four of us, and there was no option other than a fixed return so you had to know in advance precisely what train you wanted to come home on, which obviously we could not do.

Long story short it was cheaper to pay for valet parking, so we drove, then spent 3 hours driving home after an overnight flight. Absolute fiasco, the entire place.

LighthouseLED · 14/12/2025 00:27

It’s the easiest airport to get to for me.

No idea what you mean about “low expectations of connectivity” in the SE - I can get everywhere I need or want to go to without too much of a hassle, from four different airports that are all reasonably accessible. Actually five if you include Southampton, though I’ve never felt the need to use that one.

Stansted on the other hand really is a pain.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/12/2025 00:24

TinselTitts · 13/12/2025 23:52

Yes I was going to say this.

It's a 50 minute drive for me at most and very easy.

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30 mins for me

TheTaupeScroller · 14/12/2025 00:22

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:09

I forget people in the south east have such low expectations on connectivity

😂 as opposed to?

If London is so painful to you, fly from another airport.

Shedeboodinia · 14/12/2025 00:22

I won't go to certain airports due to annoying lenght of time and connections to get there.
Why are you booking Gatwick if its so hard to get to?

murasaki · 14/12/2025 00:16

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:10

Lots of routes only go from Gatwick and BA has cancelled it's regional connections to Gatwick so you have to get to Gatwick from London and it's the oldest, shittest connection going

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You can get the lizzie line from Heathrow to Farringdon and the Thames link straight to Gatwick. Easy. What a moan about nothing.

Babyenroute · 14/12/2025 00:15

Gatwick is one of my preferred airports! It's a breeze to get to as quick train from London Bridge

shesaysshestiredoflifeshemustbetiredofsomething · 14/12/2025 00:13

Where would you prefer they put their flights? Most BA flights are from Heathrow anyway, so it's not clear what the issue is

murasaki · 14/12/2025 00:11

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:09

I forget people in the south east have such low expectations on connectivity

Nonsense. I want an airport that flys to most of the places I want to go to, within half an hour of my front door. And I have one. Lucky old me!

TinselTitts · 14/12/2025 00:11

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:09

I forget people in the south east have such low expectations on connectivity

50 minutes in a car is a low expectation?

Blimey.

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:10

curious79 · 14/12/2025 00:07

T5 at LHR is all BA. What are you on about? City has loads of BA flights

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Lots of routes only go from Gatwick and BA has cancelled it's regional connections to Gatwick so you have to get to Gatwick from London and it's the oldest, shittest connection going

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nomas · 14/12/2025 00:10

I hate travelling to Gatwick but I also think the over reliance on Heathrow needs to stop. A third runway at Heathrow is an abomination.

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:09

I forget people in the south east have such low expectations on connectivity

OP posts:

suki1964 · 14/12/2025 00:08

I used to live Sutton and loved Gatwick

Just one jct on the M25, easy on the train

And so many cheap flights to anywhere. In the 90's we would often finish work on a Friday and be on a plane for 8pm

However now I no longer live in England - I hate flying into Gatwick

HeddaGarbled · 14/12/2025 00:08

This reminds me of when a friend of mine said they shouldn’t put fire stations and hospitals in towns because of the traffic 😀.

curious79 · 14/12/2025 00:07

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:03

I hate how British airways has just sacked off everyone north of victoria station

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T5 at LHR is all BA. What are you on about? City has loads of BA flights

TinselTitts · 14/12/2025 00:07

murasaki · 14/12/2025 00:06

Also, those of us in Croydon have a hard enough time already, looked down on by the rest of you, at least allow us an easy airport route out!

🤣🤣

murasaki · 14/12/2025 00:06

Also, those of us in Croydon have a hard enough time already, looked down on by the rest of you, at least allow us an easy airport route out!

murasaki · 14/12/2025 00:05

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:03

I hate how British airways has just sacked off everyone north of victoria station

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Hardly, you can get direct trains from Peterborough and Cambridge or, you know, change trains.

TinselTitts · 14/12/2025 00:04

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:02

Not really unless you are living in Croydon which most people are not

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But people are telling you it does really, and we don't all live in Croydon?

TinselTitts · 14/12/2025 00:03

Gingercar · 14/12/2025 00:01

If you live South of London it’s fine. For the rest of the country it’s a nightmare. I was cabin crew there for a few years. Lived in Brighton so it was ok. Now I live up north I’d choose to go to Amsterdam or somewhere for a flight before I chose Gatwick!

I live in East London/Essex border and it's fine.

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 14/12/2025 00:03

Gingercar · 14/12/2025 00:01

If you live South of London it’s fine. For the rest of the country it’s a nightmare. I was cabin crew there for a few years. Lived in Brighton so it was ok. Now I live up north I’d choose to go to Amsterdam or somewhere for a flight before I chose Gatwick!

I hate how British airways has just sacked off everyone north of victoria station

OP posts: