How long before take off do you go through to departures ?

[Lisa]

Hi

We haven't flown out of Gatwick for a few years and are considering twilight check in (we are flying PE with VA)

I'm just wondering if it's worth doing that and going through very late in morning ... or should we just do the usual drop bags in morning 3 hours before etc

We are going to prob book fast track security too and are staying in the sofitel the night before ...our flight is 10.10am

Would just welcome people's thoughts and experience 😊

Thank you !

[JoJoBell]

Personally I would still be there around 7am then have a nice relaxed time going for breakfast, going around the Duty Free etc

[duchy]

I wouldn't cut it too fine , there's plenty of eating places and shops to mooch around in airside.
I prefer not to though so book a lounge airside so we are through security and breakfast there , with the various codes it's usually just as cheap to book a lounge with food and drink included as to pay the Sofitel's expensive breakfast prices and you have somewhere more comfortable to sit too.
I'd do Twilight the night before regardless though , no reason not to and there's never a queue. No point in queuing needlessly the next morning to check in when you are already there steps away at the Sofitel the evening before.

Fast track is included with some (all?) of the lounges too so don't buy it separately until you've decided. We are using My lounge in a few weeks , we got it for a vastly discounted £13 pp and it includes fast track so as we will breakfast there , watch a bit of TV , have a drink if we want (coffee for me but OH will probably have a beer just because he can and it's free) and be more comfortable with their comfy sofas rather than fight for a less comfy seat in the terminal.
It's just a nicer way to start the holiday , and if one of us wants to check out duty free we can as it's right there .
We got our code for the lounge from tastecard but I've seen deals for the lounges on groupon too and a slightly less discounted deal on mygatwick too.

[Peko]

In your scenario, I’d be having the relaxed breakfast in the hotel (especially if you have it included). Unless you love hanging around airside in airports, there is really no need to get there more than 2 hours before the flight departure time, arriving at security around 8am would be plenty of time.

[youre-nicked]

I always arrive 3 hrs before, last time we flew from Manchester it took an hour to check in then nearly the same to get through security, never seen an airport so busy before.

Id sooner get through everything then start to chill

[mick]

Whenever we can we always do twilight check in with BA and VS at LGW or MAN. Used to do it with TC as well at MAN until they stopped it last summer.

Nice leisurely buffet breakfast at on of the on-site hotels then straight to security next morning. When we've done twilight we normally aim for 2 hours before flight time.


Mick

[Mr Tom Morrow]

OP. Flying PE from Gatwick you get a silver sticker on your boarding pass (if they have them!) If they have run out they hand write it instead.


That allows you to use the Premium Security line

[disney332]

Using the Virgin Clubhouse, I would be happy to be there for a week or so before departure

Disney332

[Excited2019]

Originally Posted by youre-nicked

I always arrive 3 hrs before, last time we flew from Manchester it took an hour to check in then nearly the same to get through security, never seen an airport so busy before.

Id sooner get through everything then start to chill

See more...

Same this morning. Arrived at 6.42am and was through everything at 8.20am. Longest it has ever taken me to check in baggage and get through security!

[taker]

We're flying at 09.55 from MAN. Setting off at 06:00 and we only live 20 mins from the airport. Hopefully we will be through security by around 7.30-08:00 then plenty of time to chill, eat and shop.