In mid-September I am flying into Gatwick, arriving around noon with a carryon (assuming Icelandair allows it. I see they are getting tougher). Any suggestions for how long it will take me to get though?
I have a Thameslink ticket to St Pancras good any time that day but then need to commit to a specific train out of Kings Cross. I don't want to build in too much extra time as I will have been travelling for many hours already by then.
I realize that these days it can be hard to tell but if someone has recently done it, that would give me some idea. Thanks
Posted by
Hampshire, UK
406 posts
The simple answer is probably "nobody knows". I've arrived back into Gatwick several times in the last few years, and times have ranged from between 25 minutes from the time the plane touched down, to 2.5 hours. I would normally estimate 45min to an hour
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Gatwick is my local airport. Some gates at Gatwick can be a 20 minute walk to passport control. Sometimes the e-gates are quicker, sometimes it’s quicker dealing with a person. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for luggage at Gatwick, so you may not be save much time travelling with just hand luggage.
I would allow about an hour from landing to leaving the airport, although if you catch it at a bad time, it could be 90 minutes. The quickest I have been through is 40 minutes - usually at midnight when it’s quiet.
Posted by
San Francisco
14976 posts
Flying into Gatwick is very convenient , much more preferable than to LHR on a flight from SFO or Oakland. Since I stay at Kings Cross, that direct train connection to St. Pancras is the primary incentive.
I count the wait time once I start standing in line at Immigration, which most likely did not take over 30 mins, hardly even noticed it. If the wait time is 20 mins or so, hardly noticeable as London is my final destination. I believe one main reason for the short wait time is my arrival time, always between 9-10 AM , one of the advantages of an overnight flight.
Count on the train ride from Gatwick to San Pancras Station taking one hour.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
Thank you. This has been very helpful.