Is Gatwick airport likely to be busy?

[Fashionista22]

I'm feeling quite nervous about flying but just want to get it done at this point. We'll be flying from Gatwick, either 16-18th July just before the schools break up or 31st August - 2nd/3rd Sept, though I'm not sure if it will be extra busy then as people will be coming back?

Anyone have any experience of flying during these times? Thank you

It will be busy, but Gatwick is a really good airport by world standards, so you may not notice it too much. It consistently comes in the top 2 or 3 of polls of the UK's 24 international airports. The UK airport that DP and I use most often is Stansted, which consistently comes in 24th. 😬

Gatwick is always “busy” in terms of lots of people milling about. I don’t usually find the queues to be so bad - they are much more efficient than eg Stansted, or some foreign airports like JFK or Munich (security is hell on earth during half term). Not quite as speedy as Heathrow T5, which is always freakily efficient.

Security are very good at waving you to the front if you look like missing your flight - it’s in nobody’s interest for the gate to close without you.

Can you travel with just hand luggage? The baggage check-in always looks hideous.

You are worrying about something you can't really control. Passport control could be busy at any time - all it takes is a couple of big flights to land at the same time or for the egates to be playing up and the lines can be long.

Do what I'm saying is - that it will be what it will be. The day or the month may make no material difference.

I would focus on making travel plans for a date and time that suits your family and strategies for coping if you do have to stand in a big line. You've not mentioned your arrival destination, my experience is some can have very big waits on arrival so again a strategy you can do something about is the best thing.

Not quite as speedy as Heathrow T5, which is always freakily efficient.

Agreed. T5 is the best large airport in Europe.

I don’t think it makes that much difference when you travel in the summer. The first week of September is really popular with couples and in mid July there still be private school kids, families from Europe and preschool kids.
Arrive in plenty of time and consider booking a longer if you don’t like busy environments.

They must only have visited the North Terminal - Gatwick South is one of my circles of hell, and seems to have been designed to amplify noise. It's also always hotter than the face of the sun. Really hoping the OP is in and out of the north terminal as it's much better.

Yes

I live in scotland and our schools finish end of June. We often fly from Manchester or London airports early July as it's cheaper. Than Glasgow or Edinburgh

Lgw is alway busy. Buy premium security on way out.

On way back if your children are under 13 u will go through family lane.

Queuing is just something you have to deal with if you want to fly.