London Gatwick Airport

Customer Reviews

3 star Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 541 reviews
4/10
3 star Skytrax Rating
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3/10

"endless walkways between terminals"

(United Kingdom)

Gatwick is the worst airport in the UK for arriving passengers. Miles upon miles of endless walkways between terminals, particularly annoying when you've been given a stand at the opposite end to where you needed to be. With all the wasted space inside the terminal you already have enough room for a new runway. Buses to car-parks are equally as annoying - long stay bus did exactly that, stayed for a very long time outside the terminal, again not ideal at midnight when you want to get home. Its a shame, because departing from LGW is actually very good, but all that work is undone when you arrive.
Experience At AirportArrival Only
Date VisitOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
7/10

"check-in was fast"

(United Kingdom)

Used Gatwick South Terminal for first time in September for night-before check-in, then flight the following day. Check-in was fast. Transport to hotel very good. Security the next day was busy but did not experience any rudeness from staff. Was redirected as went to join the wrong queue. When I said it was my first time there, the security man said no worries. Booked No1 Lounge for breakfast, facilities good but rather busy. Good view of apron. Long walk to gate but moving walkways helped. Return on Thursday morning was fine, except for long walk to immigration and baggage hall. Used ladies toilet in check-in area to freshen up and change, glad to see wash basin also in the cubicle. Easy action to station.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
2/10

"a stressful and exhausting experience"

(United Kingdom)

I’ll keep reviewing LGW negatively until I see it making any kind of move to become a more streamlined, customer-focussed product. At present it’s the contrary, a stressful and exhausting experience whose sole aim is to squeeze money from passengers without providing any kind of service along the way. Latest experience was flying to EDI from North Terminal which started badly with half of the land-side terminal in construction disarray and the only option for a coffee seemingly being the ubiquitous, overpriced and tired Jamie Oliver brand- no thanks. Air-side we opted for Yo! Sushi; what an abysmally run outfit. My full review is on a certain travel review website but we mistakenly thought we had enough time to (attempt to) get a meal here, as our flight was delayed with boarding information to be provided at a later time. When we left the restaurant in what we thought was good time, information screens were showing our flight as ‘gate closed’. We ran to the gate, worried that our weekend’s plans were now in tatters- only to find that the gate had never been open in the first place and in fact, the inbound aircraft had not even arrived. WHY did Gatwick Airport insist on scaring us into sprinting to a boarding area where there were no free seats (or even an aircraft!) and passengers had to resort to sitting on the floor? On the way back, our bus journey from aircraft to terminal took about 15 minutes; our plane literally seemed to have parked in the middle of nowhere. Not great for a domestic flight on a Sunday evening with many passengers only carrying hand luggage and aiming to make tight onward travel connections. My advice to would- be passengers? If you’re a domestic traveller, fly regional. Gatwick is an absolute disgrace, treats its customers with a blatant disregard and offers a poor first/ last impression of the UK.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
7/10

"had upgraded to speedy boarding, so no queue's"

(United Kingdom)

Flew out with easyJet, had upgraded to speedy boarding, so no queue's. Young lady on check in was extremely pleasant as was the one checking boarding passes before security. Set off alarms on security as I always do but had pleasant chat with security guy and even got a laugh out of his female companion. Perhaps its how you yourself approach them. Wasn't asked for boarding cards at Smiths or Boots. Had a nice meal and couple of pints and ambled over to my gate. Couldn't have been nicer. Only negative observation why is alcohol in duty free more expensive than my local super market? On return we were unloaded at Gatwick South instead on Gatwick North. I thought this is going to be a problem but I was phoning my car park company from Gatwick North after riding there on Mono Rail in 45 mins. No minimal wait at passport control and no wait for baggage. Last time I arrived Gatwick north took 1.30 minutes. Both passport control and baggage a nightmare. Why is South so much better than North?
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
2/10

"the next major stress was getting to the gate on time"

(United Kingdom)

Security at the South terminal was stressful. After scanning boarding passes to go through to security, and waiting for other members of our party who could not get the scanner to work, we were told to "hurry up" as we were apparently in a timed zone. No explanation or notice about this. Security was stressful with staff rude, patronising and in one case, sarcastic. We were split up and sent to numbered bays (caused problems for us as all our liquids in bags were with one of our party) and then pick up the tray and place it on the conveyor (not easy if you have a bad back). What followed was chaos. Because luggage is placed on the conveyor in a random order due to the numbered bays, you did not know when your items were coming through the other end. Potential here for things to go astray - we were worried about our iPad for instance. Staff expected you to lift the trays off the conveyor with luggage in it - much too heavy. Happily most people were ignoring this and just took their belongings, but this meant that the conveyor was clogged up with empty trays. The next major stress was getting to the gate on time. The gate number was issued 10 minutes before it was due to close and it was a long walk, so we had to walk very fast indeed, and did make it in time, only to find there was a delay of 45 minutes. It is unacceptable to give passengers so little time to reasonably get to the gate and this caused us a lot of stress. Adding our experience yesterday to the fact that the terminal is not very clean (toilet cleanliness questionable), is loud and is tacky, we shall endeavour not to use Gatwick in future. Luckily we can fly to our destination from Heathrow.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"we had to wait nearly 2 hours"

(United Kingdom)

Shockingly bad airport. Had to queue so long to drop suitcases on way out that the gate would have closed had it not been for a delay. On our return we had to wait nearly 2 hours to get through passport control, it was total chaos. Only approx 8 passport people (who were rude, arrogant and very slow) with about the same amount of Gatwick staff strolling around trying thier hardest to look important whilst doing absolutely nothing. By the time we got through they had queued people in the ramps leading to the passport control Hall. What a fantastic advert for the UK.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"I was quite taken aback at security"

(United Kingdom)

Departing from the South Terminal, after a smooth transit from the station through to departures, I was quite taken aback at security. Security issues are important and as an experienced traveller, I'm personally accept that this must be done, and I'm happy to fully comply. What I didn't expect was the verbal tone and action of near aggression from most of the staff. Whilst I waited for my tray to come through the scanner, a staff member appeared from nowhere, and kicked an out of line empty tray on the rollers running below. I continued with my journey through the departure lounge feeling less than impressed and with difficulty to find someone to complain to.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"were in a queue for more than 1 hour"

(United Kingdom)

Checked in online as this is supposed to make bag drop quicker, well that was a joke. We were in a queue for more than 1 hour. On return we then had to queue for more than an hour again to get through the electronic passport control again a system which is supposed to speed up the process. Both experiences at London Gatwick Airport were a complete joke.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"this airport has gone from bad to worse"

(United Kingdom)

Followed the Car Hire return signs to the North Terminal only to be told on the 2nd attempt that all returns are at the South. Signs to the Hampton Hotel took you to dead ends, eventually found the way by leaving the terminal building and having to walk through the smoking area for the terminal really enjoyable experience. Return was just as bad, 40 minutes queuing in passport control as the e-passport machines were not working and only 6 desks open. Non EU passport holders were getting through quicker. Quite frankly this airport has gone from bad to worse, luckily I can get fly to me destination from Heathrow so goodbye Gatwick.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
10/10

London Gatwick Airport customer review

(United Kingdom)

Gatwick has always been a favourite of mine, and again it lived up to expectations, used the official Long Stay car park, pick up was quick. Terminal 1 was clean and clearly sign-posted, getting checked in was quick as was passing through security. Wide range of shops and eating establishments at not too silly prices. Walk to gate was not too long and there were a number of courtesy vehicles for those with walking problems. Everything was clean and bright, staff available and helpful.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes