If you have flown from Gatwick fairly recently

[opulentalligatorsalt]

We are going on our first family holiday abroad in a few weeks - flying a few days before half term starts. I haven't flown in almost 7 years and am getting a bit anxious so trying to walk it through and work out the logistics. It'll be me, dh and our two boys who are just turned 5&7. We are flying with easyJet.

We are staying in the premier inn the night before which is right opposite the terminal. Our flight leaves at 7am and easyjet say their 'bag drop' opens at 5.

So my first question is, how long do we need to do all the airport bits? Should we aim to be at the airport for 5am? Bearing in mind we are staying pretty much nextdoor so no need to worry about traffic etc. We are not planning to have bags to check in as we can each take a big cabin bag and a small one too. We also have speedy upfront boarding. Is arriving at 5am too early? I literally have no idea how long anything takes. I guess we'd like time to buy breakfast to take on the plane or to have a quick bite before we board. But I don't want to arrive at 5:15 and be in at the gate at 5:30 thinking I could have had an extra hr in bed 🤣.

Secondly, we have not planned to check in any bags. This means we will have four large cabin bags - the max sized hard suitcases - and 4 largeish backpacks. The kids will take their backpacks but we will have to carry two roller suitcases each. Should we pay £30 each way to check in a larger bag? Is it worth it? Can we have a luggage trolley basically to the gate or will we be wrangling kids and suitcases the whole time? I'm not worried about space we can pack light, more just the logistics.

I'm really trying to be organised about this as it'll help me feel more relaxed so all your advice is very welcome. Thanks!

When I flew at Gatwick recently they didn’t ask to see any covid documentation at all!

Also to add sorry that we ended up having to take lateral flows just before boarding which was stressful (no where anywhere on any website said we needed them and the embassy also said we didn't need them but TUI staff there forced us) so we did get there earlier anyway as there wasn't any traffic thank goodness so we had time to grab food etc even with that so it was quick but coming back to Gatwick north there were about 5 other flights landed same time and it took so long in the queues and by that point we were all knackered and tensions ran high ! But apart from that was fine. You will be fine for 530am and I think you should definitely just get and pay for a 23 kg check in bag to make your life easier. If you say you travel light anyway 23kg should be enough for 4 of you for a week. Enjoy!

Yes I think its quite random. I also flew from Gatwick In February for a week's holiday and no one checked my covid documentation. But for my Easter trip they checked everything. I think it depends on the airline and on the staff. For my easter trip we were going to Italy so also needed to show that we had the authorised PPE mask before boarding.

23 kg is quite a lot, it's a large ish suitcase full enough that it's hard to lift. 32kg is too big to lift, don't do that!

If 50% of the plane have paid for speedy boarding it can't be much faster. I don't care if I don't have my case near me- they'll have to find space for it somewhere. It's just another fleecing tactic by budget airlines. Most of the planes are so small they deplane in less than 10 minutes anyway (and of course sometimes from the back...). You're either on it at least 10 minutes earlier or off it up to 10 minutes later, it all nets out the same...

I flew into gatwick and out of stansted last week and only had my covid pass looked at on checkin and it was just a brief glance. I travelled all through covid for work and it's all so much smoother now. Stansted was like the third circle of hell but it always is; Gatwick was totally fine.

Just came in to say definitely definitely check bags. If you both have two wheelie bags you have no hands free for kids. Ideally check bags and only have rucksacks each -no wheelie bags at all. You will be soo grateful for that when you go through security/to the bathroom/get on and off the plane/need a free hand to hold passport boarding pass /child’s hand.

This was all so helpful, thank you!

We have decided to do one or two cabin cases and check in a big bag. That way we have hands free to wrangle children 🙌. Going to arrive at 5:30am and hope for the best. It's before the half term rush so hopefully we will be ok.

If you are able to check in online then arriving at 5:30 is probably fine - BA recommend leaving 2 hours for short haul and 3 for long haul. If there is any issue with checking in or you decide to check luggage then I'd be there by 5am at the latest. We flew to the US from Gatwick South recently, my daughter was picked out for extra security, meaning we couldn't check in online and had to queue for 2 hours at check in - I know that others have had no issues at all at Gatwick recently - but it really depends on their staffing on the day and how many flights are being checked in at the same time as you - we were really unlucky - ended up having to run for the gate! Literally only had time for a quick wee.

Security was fine - just a nightmare at check-in. Have a great trip.