To think it may be possible to land in Gatwick from a Transatlantic flight...

[Iffy2014]

... and be on time for a departing internal flight two hours after?

Is DP mad to think he may be able to do this? Or is it reasonable to believe you can make it through the Gatwick arrivals procedure, collect hold baggage, and make it on time to an internal flight which leaves exactly two hours after landing? (assuming no delays on the transatlantic flight)

I've not had much experience of Gatwick, I just know it's VERY BIG. Would he be unreasonable to book this flight, or should he put up with waiting ten hours at Gatwick for the next internal?

I've done transatlantic to internal in less than 2 hours in Heathrow. Never been to Gatwick though.

Thanks for all your expertise, Summerisle! I'll keep it all back to refer to it later. He reckons he's going to book the two flights and just take hand luggage and hope for the best.

Airports are easier for him, and he's done Gatwick alone a few times now. It helps that you know beforehand which terminal/s you will be using, so can plan (whereas using a train, you only tend to know the platform when you turn up), and also that the flights are labelled with the final destination, unlike a train which will have many stops (DP can identify the correct flight on a departure board no problem, but because the trains are never "named" as his destination, he finds it very difficult to get his head around).

you usually end up getting bused from the plane to the terminal when you land which takes a while.

I've never been bussed from a longhaul flight at Gatwick, it's always been the air bridge thing.

I think it is doable but only just. Coming back this summer there were long delays at passport control but if he can use the self service gates with his passport this may speed things up (I had children so couldn't). Our luggage arrived quickly and all together but this is a rarity - hand luggage would be safer.

I think it is also only doable if both flights are at the same terminal. If one is North and one south, I think it would be far too tight for time.

Oh, and will the connecting flight have online check in? If he needs to go to a desk to check in and/or print a boarding pass, that will slow it all down.

Looks like there is a new connections service at Gatwick - includes flybe - may be worth checking out - think it means you don't need to go through passport/customs twice connections at gatwick

And this site suggests 2 hours will be ample connection time from int'l to domestic flight even if you need to change terminal.

Virgin's LA flight arrives to South terminal, Flybe also flies from South. If he really flies only with hand luggage and there are no delays then 2 hours should be plenty.

When I booked to fly out to Vegas last year with Virgin, we flew Manchester to Gatwick, then Gatwick to Vegas, booked all through Virgin, we had to allow 3 hours for connecting flights. Hope that helps!

It depends on the time of year. Around Christmas, Easter, summer hols, I wouldn't chance it, quiet weekday in February I would. Easier if you have one of the electronic passports. Gatwick also much better than Heathrow, baggage seems to be quicker if not BA in my experience.

No chance.

Are you completely wedded to Virgin? BA code share on the Flybe route to newquay, so you could book it as a single ticket, meaning that if it is delayed, getting on the later flight shouldn't be a problem. That will also allow him to take more luggage.

Two hours at Gatwick though and I'd probably be happy with attempting though, but not if the cost of missing was likely to be high, and I don't think Flybe have a great reputation for helping you out when missing a flight.

Only if an official transfer otherwise he won't be checked in within the time limits. With hand luggage only then perhaps but I think it is risky and the ticket would prob be wasted.

Don't transatlantic flights to the UK often land early though, because of the jet stream?

It should be fine. Especially if he's no luggage, Gatwick is miles quicker through passport control than it was.

I do a lot of this type of travel for work.

If he can check in and print a boarding pass for the flybe flight beforehand, and do it with carryon (remember you are allowed two pieces of carryon luggage - so he could have a small suitcase and a suitbag) only, and the two flights are from the same terminal then I'd do it.

Definitely not a good idea if he needs to collect baggage and re-check it.

Airlines don't want you to miss a flight. It's a pain for them. So if I were him, when I got off the Virgin flight I would collar a staff member and explain the time pressure. They'll likely help him make the connection.

Alternatively, if they tell him he has plenty of time, and at a later stage that time starts to run out, tell him not to be afraid to ask staff for help again. You'd be surprised how quickly you can get through airport admin if you need to.

flybe has internet check in, so all he needs is to show up before gate closes.

I wouldn't risk it. I've had far too many experiences of nearly or actually not making internal flight connections. Last time I flew out of Las Vegas my flight was delayed 5 hours because of bad weather on the US east coast and I spent a night in a JFK terminal on a bench.