Shout out to Gatwick airport!

[Screenwash]

We love to bash our airports, and justifiably so in some cases. (I have had plenty of miserable experiences over the years!)

I had the pleasure of spending 9 hours between flights at Gatwick yesterday. Went to both terminals. Arrivals, departures, food, drink, … everything went smoothly and I didn’t see a grumpy employee anywhere. They were all mad busy with zillions of holiday makers coming and going but everyone seemed to be focused on getting the job done in a positive manner. Thumbs up!

Has the lovely summer weather improved people’s morale?!

(Mind you, the Brew Pub in the food court running out of most of its beers could have been a crisis!)

[philwhite]

Agreed! LGW is my local airport and I use it most months for work, as well as the odd holiday. I agree, it’s generally very good. They’ve invested heavily in new scanners, which means security is a breeze and makes the fast track option pretty much pointless. You can get to most gates in 5 minutes, there are decent food options! Plus, the e-gates on the way back are always quick. I'd take it over LHR any day.

The mid-stay car park at the North Terminal is also excellent, with a walkway straight into departures. On my last work trip, I timed it from the plane door opening to getting into the car at under 8 minutes! Admittedly, I didn’t have any checked bags, but I thought that was pretty impressive nonetheless.

I read in the news that apparently they’ve got approval to open their second runway. It’s not generally known, but LGW is actually 2 runway airport already. The runways are just slightly too close together to allow parallel operations, so it effectively operates as a single runway airport. Fingers crossed the additional capacity doesn’t affect their good service.

[FunkyGibbon]

Another vote for LGW security.

Came back from DXB to LGW on Monday, from wheels down to through security an into the taxi was less than 20 minutes.

Passport control e-gates worked very well, queue time less than a minute.

Incidentally Emirates Lounge at STN is very good indeed with direct access to the gate.

It is nice to see that service levels at UK airports are catching up or even overtaking middle and fast east destinations.

[Doesitdrive]

OK, been avoiding it , I mean really avoiding it, looks like mistakenly.

[Essarell]

It’s an uncomfortable shopping mall next to a long strip of tarmac located at the southernmost point of two of the UK’s best traffic jams, have vowed never to use it again.

[The G Kid]

I fly through LGW at least once a month, generally the South Terminal, and I'd say it's the best main UK airport for getting through security. Streets ahead of LHR.

[redrabbit29]

It's my favourite airport - not that I've been to many. But Stansted, Luton are abysmal.

Heathrow T2 and T5 were really disappointing. Just felt so overwhelmingly busy.

Gatwick is the one we go to almost every time we go abroad

Shout out to Southampton too. Only been twice but so quick and simple

[DJC76]

redrabbit29 said:

It's my favourite airport - not that I've been to many. But Stansted, Luton are abysmal.

Heathrow T2 and T5 were really disappointing. Just felt so overwhelmingly busy.

Gatwick is the one we go to almost every time we go abroad

Shout out to Southampton too. Only been twice but so quick and simple

Southampton is great because it’s essentially a shop with a pub above it. Not that you can really fly anywhere from SOU any more sadly. Also gets hit pretty hard when it’s foggy.

I don’t like Gatwick, it’s not that it takes long to get through security or anything, I can’t really put my finger on it but I just don’t like it. Heathrow would be my choice every day of the week. I have lounge access through a couple of airline loyalty programmes so that’s probably a factor, also I find Heathrow to just be airier and smoother (T4 excepted). The lounges at LGW are zoos, that might be one reason I don’t like it.

[havoc]

DJC76 said:

The lounges at LGW are zoos, that might be one reason I don t like it.

Any recommendation for least-worst?

We're flying out of there later this month (North terminal), and are thinking of avoiding the mayhem of the main concourse and shelling out for a lounge.

[catso]

Essarell said:

It s an uncomfortable shopping mall next to a long strip of tarmac located at the southernmost point of two of the UK s best traffic jams, have vowed never to use it again.

Not to mention, ten quid to drive through the drop-off zone after having sat in and, now facing the prospect of sitting in again, said traffic jams.