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Original poster

Gatwick … how bad are queues etc?

21 replies

sheeplikessleep · 04/08/2022 20:51

We travel out the week after next and wondered if anyone has flown out recently and how bad the queues / general chaos is? 🙈

Also read on another thread that people turning up too early is creating more chaos! So not sure when is best to turn up. We have an early morning flight (5.30am). Thanks

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Playgrind · 04/08/2022 20:54

We flew from Gatwick a couple of weeks ago, the day school broke up(for us). Id allow a little longer to get through security but otherwise was fine. How ever our flight was cancelled so would advise you to book insurance even if you dont normally usr it.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 04/08/2022 20:56

Thanks playgrind, that’s reassuring and yes, got insurance sorted 👍 Thanks for info

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GrandSlamFinalee · 04/08/2022 20:59

If you need to check luggage or get boarding passes at the counter, I’d allow for 3 hours.

Hand luggage only and if you’re fairly organised (pack liquids and electronics at home etc) - 2 hours should be enough. Maybe 2h 15/30 if you want to be on the safe side but honestly, there’s no need to be any earlier than that. You’ll just be contributing to the masses of people looking for a seat as they wait for their gate to be announced.

QueenOfWeeds · 04/08/2022 21:02

We flew into Gatwick last Saturday morning, and passed close to the check in area on our way to the station. There was a huge queue snaking round, but it all seemed fairly well managed. Didn’t notice anything bonkers heading towards security (but I wasn’t really looking). If you have checked luggage and can do bag drop the night before, I would recommend that.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 04/08/2022 21:29

Thankyou. We have a couple of hours drive to the airport so can’t drop bags the night before. I was thinking 3 hours (we are also parking off site and shuttle bus which took ages when we went 4 years ago!)

Thanks for posting all.

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cinnamonbiscuit · 04/08/2022 21:31

I flew to Pisa from Gatwick last week, we were worried about potential queues but it was totally fine. We checked in our bag 3.5 hours before the flight (although it had said 2.5 online) and barely queued there or at security. Was expecting much worse for the first Monday of the summer hols!

2catsand2kids · 05/08/2022 05:46

We flew out from Gatwick on Wednesday, it was very well organised. We flew easyJet and they weren’t letting you drop your bags until 2.5 hours before flight, the queue to do that took about ten minutes, getting through security took 10-15 minutes so all very quick and straightforward.

Mrswalliams1 · 05/08/2022 05:48

I flew out yesterday. It was busy but perfectly fine. Just leave extra time

BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/08/2022 08:02

The Tui queue was horrendous when we went, took 2 hours to drop our bags. Easyjet and BA looked much better. Security was a breeze, straight through.

Luckydip1 · 05/08/2022 08:07

@BigSandyBalls2015 so if you're flying Tui how early should you arrive?

BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/08/2022 08:10

We got there 3 hours before our flight and ended up rushing to get some takeaway food then dash to the gate. So I’d recommend 4 hours.

Might be fine though, you just can’t tell.

I was a bit miffed I couldn’t have a leisurely breakfast and a mooch round duty free.

hockeygrass · 05/08/2022 08:14

I flew out yesterday too, it was fine if you allow 3 hours but we sat on our plane for 2 hours before we took off waiting for the bags to be loaded. The cabin crew said the problem with Gatwick is the lack of baggage handlers. All the bags did arrive at our destination which is good.

Wartywart · 05/08/2022 08:29

We flew last Friday, easyJet from Gatwick. It was fine. We had a large suitcase to drop (had already checked in online) and the bag drop doesn't open until 2.5 hours before your flight, so no point trying to drop earlier than that. It was all fine.

Russell19 · 05/08/2022 08:31

I've also heard you can't check in until 2.5 hours before, not sure how true.

Kta7 · 05/08/2022 08:53

Sunday morning at north terminal (admittedly with just hand luggage and online check-in) was easy peasy. You can pay £5pp to get through security quicker which we’d booked but didn’t actually save us much time compared w normal queues.

Allthegoodusernamesareused · 05/08/2022 09:00

Flew from Gatwick last Thursday. Easyjet bag drop opened three hrs before flight (they tell you 2.5hrs but it has changed to 3). I'd booked priority security and a lounge, both well worth it. No issues, no rushing, no stress.

Grissini50 · 05/08/2022 09:02

We flew out of Gatwick last Saturday. EasyJet bag drop queue took an hour but security was only 5 minutes. If you are going easyJet I’d allow extra time but no queues at the other bag drops. This was for an 0830 flight.

Grissini50 · 05/08/2022 09:04

We got there 3 hours before flight and it was not stressful. Family got there 2 hours before and had a mad rush.

Remmy123 · 05/08/2022 09:19

We are flying Monday - I was going h to try and just do hand luggage but seems insane as I just can't fit it all in!

feeona123 · 05/08/2022 18:43

We checked in less than 2 hours before our flight. Walked straight through security, no queue at all.

The restaurants were packed so we had to make do with a boots meal deal which wasn’t ideal but at least we got food!

On the way back, passport control took a little while but not too bad. Luggage came out fairly fast as well.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 07/08/2022 19:04

Thanks all for posting. We are flying EasyJet so good to hear some positives, but enough negatives to be cautious as well. Thanks

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