Free parking at Long Stay Gatwick do you have to book in advance

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Ive read on the website for Gatwick that the first 2 hours of parking is free in the Long Stay car park, this is ideal for what I need

But do you have to book it in advance because when Im going into the booking thing and only putting 2 hours in, its coming up with a charge of £37?

I've never seen 2 hours free. Airport parking is insanely expensive. I assume you're doing a pick up or drop off?

You just turn up I think. It’s long stay though so is quite far out

There is no free parking (wouldn’t that be nice!). I believe it’s a buffer window of sorts so if you book from say 1pm on Wednesday you won’t get charged extra if you pitched up at 11.05 am.

Long stay gatwick do two hours designed to pick people up - makes sense as you get there without going anywhere near the airport entrance so it keeps that clear (it says on the official airport site)

but you do need to get the 10/12 minute bus there

Not quite true - Gatwick does offer 2 hours free parking at the north or south terminal long stay car parks just for people dropping off or picking up passengers. There’s no need to book, to answer the OPs question, but you will be charged the long stay day rate if you take more than 2 hours. Use of the shuttle bus is also free, so you’ll avoid the soon to be £10 drop off charge, but you will have yo go on a bus :)

There is.

For longer stays we recommend parking in one of our Long Stay car parks, just a short free bus ride away with busses every 10 to 12 minutes all year round. The price is £38 per day for the first day and £32 for subsequent days. To avoid disappointment and secure the best rate it is cheaper to pre-book your Long Stay parking.

For those picking someone up from the airport, the first two hours are free.

Just turn up. As you aren't actually parking as a long stay.
They are pretty good at Gatwick. I have had the charge dropped when I drove down the departures at 3am by mistake and any parking issues at the barriers, I've paid and they have refunded later.

I drop people off in the long stay car park, you don't have to book. They then catch the free bus to the terminal. I was going to suggest doing this on the £10 for a drop off thread.

So we just turn up, go through the barriers as normal and then an hour or so later come out and it will know Ive only stayed an hour?

Yes, that's what I've done. It does it by numberplate recognition