London Gatwick Airport Passenger Reviews and Gatwick Airport Traveller Reports

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Flew Thomas Cook from south terminal. First impressions, seems lot of investment and positive opinion. Security queues very impressive, put other airports to shame. Main departures entrance via a building site before you reach the shops etc. Was disgusted to find very dirty toilets near McDonald's upstairs, yet pristine space age new washrooms exist in check in hall. No cleaner to complain to either. Poor impression, as yes even old washrooms can be clean. Landed back at beyond midnight, had the longest walk to passport control. Baggage delivered slowly and customs were out in force with dogs! Personal grumble but when asked for nearest smoking area we were directed to lower level and to a space that was obviously a staff smoking area outside an office block on a service road! Not really for passengers eyes I'm sure.

Terrible immigration for non eu passengers. 2.5 hour wait through customs. My medications were in my luggage. Told immigration I needed my medications from my luggage, as I didn't expect to be in line for over 2 hours. Was told there was nothing they could do. By the time I got out of immigration a different flight was having their baggage unloaded. Unable to find our luggage to the long delay I was informed that I had to go to lost luggage, another half hour and I finally got my luggage and medication. Not much fun when you have bad asthma. EU customs was maybe 15 minutes; Non EU only had 3 agents at their desk. I will never go to Gatwick again.

Gatwick Airport is very busy and at peak summer times is horrendously crowded. Even after checking in in advance by Internet, the queue for baggage drop off at N Terminal on 30th June 2012 was 45 minutes. In fact you queued until it was almost too late for your flight and then they called you to the front.

Although we've parked here before, we still managed to miss the car-park entrance for south terminal, then had to drive through by the Hilton to return. The road layout on the exit to do this is poor and potentially dangerous. Baggage drop was a complete disgrace. The word 'drop' doesn't match a 35 minute wait and the queue was as long as the regular check-in. A member of staff with an inadequate, unclear non-standard accent called for flight destinations and passengers arriving late were then bumped ahead of those who had been there before the 2 hours recommended. Passengers checked with each other which destinations had been called. On return, queues were held up by an Italian school group with immigration not allowing the teenagers through until their one adult in charge had collected them. Fine for them and their security, but had no-one the responsibility or initiative to direct them to the same desk to avoid others waiting unnecessarily? Gatwick, of course, is nowhere near London and best avoided unless there is no better option.

We flew in from Naples and had a 6 hour wait before our connecting flight to Aberdeen. On arrival at Gatwick we were unable to check-in our hold luggage until 2.5 hours before the gate of our connection opened. We were tired and hungry and was then very disappointed that the only sources of food were 2 pub grub sort of outlets. Unfortunately they smelt of fried food and we had a 40 minute wait for our food, the food when it did turn up was ok although it would not of been our first choice of food. We then went out to the seating area where it was very grubby and not much shops at all, of the shop that I did go into the staff were not all friendly. Once we got through to the departure side it was very nice and clean although a marks and Spencer's would of been nice so that we could of bought some food for the flight, a picnic box sort of thing would be very welcome.

The airport has vastly improved since it came under new management with extensive renovations having been carried out it now has a cleaner, less chaotic feel and look. The family security lane are brilliant, especially considering that we were travelling at 5am with 6 tired children, the staff were very nice and made the experience very easy. The range of shops is good however it could do with some new restaurants. The gate departure lounges are spacious yet all the windows (or should I say window) was covered with no views across the apron. All in all aside from the frequent construction sites dotted around it is miles more efficient and cleaner than it was a few years ago under BAA's management.

Departed South Terminal 22/06/12, baggage belt had broken again and there was no communication from the staff. Finally got to the check in desk and greeted by rude and tired check in staff. The only bit that made me laugh, while standing in the queue for an hour was the slogan on the back of the polo shirts saying we hate queues! Credit where it is due though, the security staff in the families section were exceptional, funny and attentive, apart from that what an awful place.

Recently used LGW (South Terminal) for first time in 18 months. Pleasantly surprised by the improvements. No queues at security so got through in about 5 minutes (previous record - one and a half hours). Still a bit of construction work to be completed in the Departure Lounge but not a problem. On return passport control was reasonable and suitcases appeared quite quickly. My only complaint would be the extortionate car parking costs, seems to have doubled in the last 18 months. On personal note I would like to see a Smoking Area in the departure lounge. It can't be that difficult to find an open roof top somewhere - even little Bristol Airport has managed it.

Been out and back from North terminal 3 times in last month. Definitely starting to improve. Two new security areas opened and staff certainly more upbeat than LHR. Each time I was checked in and airside in about 15 mins. Immigration lines also noticeably shorter than a few months ago. The only issue I had is that for bigger flights (Emirates) they sometimes use two baggage belts and it isn't always announced what's going on.

Coming back from Cyprus 9/6/12: Baggage handling, non-existent: no communication about this issue except informal view from member of staff that many had not shown up for the night shift. No manager prepared to talk to passengers. Problem eventually resolved one and a half hours from landing.

Regular user of this airport, small but well signed, facilities are OK, but shops are limited. Border control has long delays.

Used this airport last month. Found the 'new' Gatwick a very good experience. The new security and passport area was excellent and having gone through Gatwick during the snow last February the contrast was stark. Seating areas were good especially the loungers in the upstairs area of South Terminal.

Have used London Gatwick (both the North Terminal with BA and the South Terminal with Easyjet) in the last few months and I agree with earlier comments that the overall experience and quality of service has improved under the new ownership. South Terminal security area is now much larger and brighter and I have never waited more than 5 minutes recently to pass through security. Selection of shops and restaurants is good and the departure lounges have always been clean and reasonably presented (notwithstanding a rather outdated feel and appearance overall). On my return from Italy on Sunday 27 May to the NT, I was pleasantly surprised to find a very short EU immigration queue and clean bathroom facilities. Only criticisms would be a relatively long wait for baggage (which may actually be BA's fault) and the lack of a rail connection directly from the North Terminal.

Had a delayed flight of nearly 24 hours last week. The air-conditioning was too cold with a number of people complaining and trying to find warm spots around the seating area. The public address system was inaudible. We were having to guess what the messages were and hoping someone else on the same flight had managed to understand what was being said. For the size of the airport there was queues at the ladies toilets as there was very few cubicles. I've seen more cubicles at a cinema than in Gatwick airport.

My first trip from here for 4 years, I was impressed. Based on my experience it is easily the best of the major London airports. Travelling out of and into North terminal was very easy, no queues at check-in or security (early Saturday morning) and a couple of minutes at immigration (weekday afternoon), luggage arrived in the hall soon after we did. Buses to and from the long-stay car park also efficient. A good experience.

Out and back through North terminal en route to UVF with BA. Gatwick seems to be improving all the time under its new owners. New BA check in area excellent, no queues at security, excellent retail offer and short walk to gate. Staff all friendly, much better than LHR. On return, waited less than 5 mins at passport control - miraculous in the current climate - and bags delivered promptly. Very handy to know that if you're being picked up, cars can drive into the short-term car park at N Terminal for 15 mins free of charge. Recent flights from S Terminal have also shown a big improvement in security queues.

Gatwick to Cologne last week. I am handicapped and used the disabled service. Staff were really helpful with my wheelchair. The one negative is that the waiting area for disabled people in the departure lounge seems to have been taken over as an extension of McDonald's. It became quite crowded. There were only 3 of us wheelchair people wearing "beepers" round our necks, plus our spouses. I assume other passengers are not told who this area is prioritised for. It made wheelchair usage cramped and awkward. Service was friendly and efficient, from the pleasant checking in point right up to help getting onto the plane.

I arrived with my elderly parents 21.4.12 at midnight from Malaga airport to a 100 minute queue for passport control. It was an absolute disgrace and a poor reflection of how the UK functions, clearly a lack of leadership. No prioritising of children, families or the elderly. A clear lack of boarder agency staff on the counters. I noticed at least 5 empty passport control stations - honestly what I experienced last night at Gatwick was a shameful indictment both to Gatwick Airport and it showed the boarder agency in a dreadful light. What on earth is it going to be like in the Olympic summer of 2012?