how quick - train to north terminal gatwick

[loltolhurst]

sooo the earliest train i can get arrives at 6.56.

gate closes at 7.35

have checked in online and only have hand luggage

will i make it or is that just too tight esp as there are now buses to the north terminal from south?

[PulsatingStar]

First bus you can get would be 7.06 so 10 mins to get to the bus stop.

Probably ok if you know where you need to go. Directions in the airport were awful if you dont know where the bus stop is though.

That would get you to the North Terminal at 7.10. Not sure where the bus stop is that end but should be enough time?

If you missed that bus you probably wont get to the North Terminal till 7.20

[miniman]

6:56 train, into south terminal, should get to the shuttle train thing by 7:10 without any trouble, 3 minutes on the train, you should be at check-in easily inside 30 minutes.

[PulsatingStar]

miniman said:

6:56 train, into south terminal, should get to the shuttle train thing by 7:10 without any trouble, 3 minutes on the train, you should be at check-in easily inside 30 minutes.

http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/news/hx-travel/gatwick-monorail-replacement-bus-11700.html

infact forget what I said as it looks like theres a proper replacement service rather than using the local buses

[miniman]

Ah. The official Gatwick website says to allow 20 minutes to transfer, so it should be do-able.

[loltolhurst]

thats 7.35 gate closes though not check in - will i have time to get to security then the right gate? ( i'll try not to stop at mcds )

[miniman]

loltolhurst said:

thats 7.35 gate closes though not check in - will i have time to get to security then the right gate? ( i'll try not to stop at mcds )

I would say unlikely.

[oldskool]

miniman said:

loltolhurst said:

thats 7.35 gate closes though not check in - will i have time to get to security then the right gate? ( i'll try not to stop at mcds )

I would say unlikely.

Yeah, that's cutting it a bit to fine... likely scenario is thus:-

7.06 Get off train, which arrived 10 mins late due to "leaves on the line".
7.09 Get on overcrowded shuttle bus.
7.14 Wait for bus to reach double legal capacity before departure.
7.17 Bus arrives at North terminal.
7.18 Get off bus.
7.22 Transit through maze of north terminal trying to find security.
7.24 Smile/Pose for photo.
7.26 Queue for x-ray behind the other sheeple.
7.33 Take off belt, shoes, jacket, other associated crap in pockets.
7.35 Go through metal detector.
7.36 Oops, forgot to take mobile phone out of pocket, get frisked by jobsworth and have mobile battery forensically examined with explosives scanner.
7.42 Put belt, shoes, jacket back on, refill pockets with crap.
7.45 Make your way through duty free slalom course being sure to punch slow moving sheeple in the back of the head while overtaking.
7.47 Enter departure lounge, attempt to determine gate number.
7.49 Go for a quick wee in the stinkiest airport toilets known to man.
7.54 Discover gate is approx 1/2 a mile away from the departure lounge on furthermost pier, sigh with dismay.
8.00 Reach gate at in time to watch plane being pushed back.

[Andy Zarse]

You won't do it, especially as the shuttle train is closed.

Firstly you are relying on your train to arrive on time, that is a massive leap of faith. The roads round N terminal are a bun fight, the queues at security are awful and the gate will be miles away.

Don't risk it, you stand a better than 50% chance of missing your flight.

[loltolhurst]

hmmm ok sounds like its up early and pay a fortune for a car park

any suggestions on car park - baa long stay north looks reasonable?

[Andy Zarse]

How long you going for? It's about £8 a day. It should take about 15 mins to get to the terminal from the car park... buthere was nearly a riot there a couple of weeks ago. I was there at 7am according to my ticket. Still no bus by 7.20. Over a hundred people waiting in and around the shelters for the bus to turn up. Eventually I phoned the car park office to chuck some fks into them... then three buses turned up. Useless fkers.

[sjg]

I use Maple Manor - http://www.gatwickparking.net/ . They meet you at the terminal so you just unload your bags, hand over the keys and walk straight into the terminal. On the way back you give them a call when you get off the plane and they're at the terminal with your car by the time you get out. No faffing about with buses or finding your car somewhere in an expanse of tarmac.

Depends on how precious you are about someone else driving your car really.