[Cargoman]

I am flying out of Gatwick next week on a business trip.
I keep reading horror stories about waiting times at various airports for check in and security.
Can anyone advise ?
I am flying J so will have fast track

[DavidSmith2]

I think it really is unpredictable but I an my family flew out of Gatwick North 3 times at the end of April, all with Easyjet. On all occasions the security queues were fine – 10 mins average – and immigration on return was also ok. no guarantee you will be as lucky though, but good to know that it can be ok, if you’re lucky!

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Bullfrog, Cargoman

[peter]

Flew out of the south terminal with BA last week went through in 10 mins drove down from Manchester rather than go through the gateway of the north. !! Was very impressed with the whole operation well done Gatwick !

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Bullfrog, TerryMcManus24, Carooline, Cargoman

[Carooline]

We live in Manchester but are flying out of Gatwick in a few weeks, good choice methinks!

[SimonS1]

Flown out of Gatters 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Maximum it took me was 20 mins landside to airside. Security was well manned.

In fact on one occasion I had an email from Wizz to get there early for checks as it was busy. Arrived 3 hours before, check in deserted and through in 15 mins. Then the flight was delayed 2 hours so 4.5 hours of tedium.

On return the most it took was 3 minutes at the eGates.

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Cargoman

[MartynSinclair]

THE GOOD NEWS

** People are certainly travelling again

** Security is an utter mess, BUT – well staffed and through in 15 minutes. The sooner UK airports implement a more modern approach to liquids and computers, the better. This should ease passing through security.

THE BAD NEWS

** Heaving like FA Cup final day at Wembley (well that’s what it feels like)

** Lounges, tried 2 lounges, very difficult to get seats, staff were apologizing to business class customers but the airport was selling access to all and sundry, including certain types of rail tickets, just for get revenue. Band width for wifi was very poor ended up hot spotting.

** Tables not being cleaned as the ‘piranha’ are swarming the food stations as if they have not eaten for weeks – staff can not keep up.

** Gatwick is an extremely unpleasant experience, BUT – at least I got through in under 15 minutes.

For those interested in mask wearing numbers – virtually nobody. I elect though to wear one.

Still hearing about plenty of travellers still testing positive on arrival into the UK.

I admit to being totally spoilt by the First Wing at Heathrow

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Abidjan

[SimonS1]

MartynSinclair wrote:

THE GOOD NEWS

** People are certainly travelling again

** Security is an utter mess, BUT – well staffed and through in 15 minutes. The sooner UK airports implement a more modern approach to liquids and computers, the better. This should ease passing through security.

THE BAD NEWS

** Heaving like FA Cup final day at Wembley (well that’s what it feels like)

** Lounges, tried 2 lounges, very difficult to get seats, staff were apologizing to business class customers but the airport was selling access to all and sundry, including certain types of rail tickets, just for get revenue. Band width for wifi was very poor ended up hot spotting.

** Tables not being cleaned as the ‘piranha’ are swarming the food stations as if they have not eaten for weeks – staff can not keep up.

** Gatwick is an extremely unpleasant experience, BUT – at least I got through in under 15 minutes.

For those interested in mask wearing numbers – virtually nobody. I elect though to wear one.

Still hearing about plenty of travellers still testing positive on arrival into the UK.

I admit to being totally spoilt by the First Wing at Heathrow

Indeed Martyn, Gatwick still has that ‘bucket and spade’ feel to it particularly in the South Terminal. I moved away a couple repeatedly calling each other hun, doll, babe, sweets etc. On the other hand it is functional and probably alone of the bigger airports they have managed to keep people moving. Certainly none of the rude security types you find at LHR.

They are trialling new security equipment, the first machine on the right at South Terminal is a ‘remove nothing’ machine. Fingers crossed.

Like you I had a mask on. I was in a minority of 5% I would estimate.

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Abidjan

[DavidGrodentz]

Flew into Gatwick on 14 May with Emirates, our first trip out of HK since Jan 2020.

Through immigration, using eGates in minutes. Business class luggage retrieved after 20 minutes.

We wore our masks, no one else seemed to be doing so

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Abidjan

[Author]

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