Gatwick airport queues

[ZibbleDibble]

Posting here for traffic

I’ve heard that people are missing flights due to delays at airport security at Manchester and it’s making me a bit worried about my upcoming flight from Gatwick to Nice at 0825 on Easter Friday (15/04).

Has anyone flown from Gatwick north terminal recently and can comment on the queues at security? I know it’ll be busier as it’s Easter Friday.

I think I will pay for fast track security and get there for fast track security opening at 6am. Do you think that’s enough time for an 0825 flight? I have already checked in online so it’ll be straight to security, the gate closes at 0755.

Everyone is paying for fast track. Manchester is our closest airport and fast track was 2.5 hours the other day.

Flew from there on Saturday, no issues at all. Queues were no longer than any other time. All very efficient.

Whilst it’s Easter, most families it will be the end of the holidays as they seem to be all off now for 2 weeks, so I should think it will be better by then. I would say 3 hours and fast pass would be best.

Thank you all for your responses. I’d rather be hours and hours early than even being a minute late!

Fast track security doesn’t open until 6am, 2 hours and 25 mins before the flight. Hopefully arriving at the fast track queue just before it opens at 6am will be plenty time…

We fly tomorrow, 7.25am departure and EasyJet said. being there 2.5 hours early.

I do hope all goes well but we have luggage to drop off and can't change to handluggage only due to lack of suitable bags.

@reluctantbrit thanks for your response, hopefully it all goes smoothly for you.

I’d be grateful if you could report back!

We flew from there 6 days ago and it was incredibly fast (faster than pre-pandemic). Obv will be slower with all the Easter families but I don't think you have anything to stress about! :) enjoy your hols!

[quote ZibbleDibble]@reluctantbrit thanks for your response, hopefully it all goes smoothly for you.

I’d be grateful if you could report back![/quote]
Arrived at 4.40, at the Starbucks queue after security at 5.20am.

We discovered we booked speedy boarding though. But normal queues were ok as well.

Staff very efficient and friendly.

Worth mentioning that many West Sussex schools don't break up until this Friday, so I wouldn't assume that because people have managed to get through in good time this week that it will be as uneventful next week.

Not trying to piss on your chips, and hopefully it'll be fine, but just forewarning uou!

@ZibbleDibble

Thank you all for your responses. I’d rather be hours and hours early than even being a minute late!

Fast track security doesn’t open until 6am, 2 hours and 25 mins before the flight. Hopefully arriving at the fast track queue just before it opens at 6am will be plenty time…

We fly this Saturday on an 8:25 flight from Gatwick North and been talking about what time we need to arrive at departures. The issue is for us though no matter how earlier we arrive, if bag drop isn't open for our flight we are not all going to be able to go through security. The earliest I am expecting bag drop to be open is 5:25, but it may be later.

Thanks again for your replies and thanks @reluctantbrit glad it was quick and painless for you.

We’re travelling from Glasgow the night before, staying in an airport hotel and flying out to Nice on the Friday - so two lots of security queues to navigate!

Luckily we are hand luggage only so don’t need to wait on bag drop

Admittedly it wasn’t in the Easter holidays but I few from the North Terminal a couple of weeks ago. Security was fine but the bag drop was incredibly busy, that’s where the delays were.

I think getting there a bit earlier is wise.

Hope all goes well. Have a great trip.

Nitpicking hat on, it is Good Friday, not Easter Friday.

@reluctantbrit this is reassuring. Were you panicked before you went about your flight being cancelled? We’re due to fly next week with EasyJet and am so worried the flight will get cancelled.

I flew out and Heathrow 13 days ago. No issues. No queues for check in or security.

No queuing for passport control on the way back.

My DS flew from Manchester last week. 1 hour queue for security. But they allowed plenty of time.

I had a friend fly out of Manchester this morning and they breezed through.

Friend just had a Heathrow flight cancelled due to COVID staffing issues apparently but she was put on an alternative the next day. Apparently it's affecting Gatwick too but presumably can't be too many flights else everyone on here would've been affected too.

Schools haven't broken up in my area either.

I read somewhere the other day that some airlines were recommending you allow three hours. We're travelling soon and the last flight of the day on our return journey is regularly being cancelled (and that's the one we're on). Our hotel is already booked that night, so no chance of staying on there - just going to have to sit it out at airport and hope there's a flight the next day. I had started to look forward to it, but wonder if it's worth it.

All the counties (Mids) where we are don’t break up till this Friday so as others have said don’t assume it will be quiet

I joined Twitter three days ago purely so that I could follow Dublin Airport, who are also having major issues with queues for security.

Not sure it has done much in terms of reassurance, just means that now I can see for myself the photos of the 3 hours queues that people are complaining about ... I don't fly until next week, but there's not much sign of improvement.
They have stopped selling the Fast Track passes, altough the people on Twitter don't seem to think it makes much difference.

The airport is saying issue is recruiting staff. The people on twitter say that the airport is offering 14 Euros/hour for working 20 hours a week - although you are required to be available to work 40 hours a week. And staff expected start work after midnight, even though there is no public transport overnight and no free parking for staff.
BBC says the issues could go on until June
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61007322

Queues at MAN are because MAG couldn't run a bath. The three airports they run are the absolute worst.

Unless MAG has taken over Gatwick recently (they haven't) you'll be fine.

We flew from Gatwick Sunday morning. We gad an email from easyjet suggesting we arrive 2.5 hours before flight so we did. Flight was 12.30am. We arrived at 10.05am and had checked in our luggage and cleared security by 10.30am. We arrived by train too which comes into South Terminal so that 25 mins includes getting the shuttle over to North Terminal. Seems to me that they're trying to create panic!

*12.30pm

@99victoria some people are almost incapable of being on time for anything (remember the now ex-Arsenal player?), so I can understand airlines suggesting earlier than usual arrivals.

I did feR what would happen if the flight was cancelled as we book flight and hotel separately.

On the other hand, I prefer sitting at the airport feeling useless than running to the gate.