Gatwick airport

[Sue F UK]

Im in full planning mode now.... only 26 more sleeps!!!!!

This year, for the first time, we are travelling out of Gatwick airport with Virgin. We will be arriving on the shuttle from Manchester at North terminal and then getting the 11.15 from South terminal (I haven't got the tickets to hand so terminals may be the other way round )

We will be arriving at 7am so this means 4 hours in Gatwick and, (hopefully) being near the front of the Virgin check-in queue when it opens.

So has anyone got any tips for us. Places to have our full english 'going on holiday' breakfast? Places to avoid for same!

Also, is there any play facilities for DD (8) to burn off some excess energy before being locked up in a metal tube for 9 hours?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[signtalker]

Are you aware that when you fly with Virgin, you can use twilight checkin the day before(3-9).That way you wont have to worry about turning up to the aiport untill 50 minutes before your flight,on the day

Jules

 

[amf]

Originally posted by Sue F UK
We will be arriving at 7am so this means 4 hours in Gatwick and, (hopefully) being near the front of the Virgin check-in queue when it opens.

If you are flying a full service airline from MAN - LGA, you may well be able to check yourselves and your luggage right through from MAN - MCO

Have a great time

 

[Sue F UK]

Hi, Jules,

Unfortunately, due to a function we have to attend the previous evening we cannot travel to Gatwick the previous evening, hence the ridiculously early shuttle from Manchester.

The shuttle is also with BA so through check-in is a no-no, we have to collect our luggage from the shuttle and then re-check with virgin.

It will all be worthwhile though, when we fly back direct in to Manchester on our way home and get to use Downtown Disney Check-in (at least that's the theory........... )

 

[amf]

Sue....have you checked with BA that through check in is not possible? I would have thought it very likely, connecting BA - VS. FIL through checked with bmi when flying GLA - MAN (bmi) connecting to MAN - MCO (VS) a few hours later in October.

I have through checked luggage when changing full service airlines on a number of occasions....as a rule its OK so long as the change doesn't constitute a stopover (period in excess of 24 hours at changeover airport).

 

[Goofyish]

We had a very nice full English breakfast at Garfunkels in the South Terminal departure lounge.

The Virgin check in desks do get very busy, so head there as soon as you arrive.

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for the tip Amf, we just assumed that, as we had booked the flights and shuttle separately checking luggage through would be impossible.

I am off to enquire with BA and will let you know the outcome.

 

[amf]

Good luck Sue

Being a frequent flyer I'd stake my Gold Card that you'll be able to check in straight through.....beats waiting in the VS check in queue

 

[wendy_uk]

When we go on an early flight we always to go Garfunkels in the south terminal for our breakfast. As to childrens play facilities I am sure there is one, but mine usually want to look around at all the shops and go on a couple of arcade games. Sue what day is your flight on? We fly at 11.15am on 5th feb.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We flew out of Gatwick at the end of December and sadly Garfunkels is no longer there, been replaced by Frankie and Bennys if I remember the name right.The menu looked similar but we didn't actually eat there.The post office as gone too.

Mick.

 

[Sue F UK]

Just my luck, I have phoned BA and they say that they can't book the luggage through due to 'different baggage handlers' so we will have to reclaim it at Gatwick. So Amf..... about that Gold card!


Wendy, we fly at 11.15am on the 8th Feb so will be a couple of days behind you - warm things up for us would you?

We have been to Frankie and Bennys at the Trafford Centre and, while it looked great, we though the food was rubbish and the drinks very expensive (£1.40 for half a coke - no refills!) Is there anywhere else!?!!?

 

[amf]

Sue.....gold card now cut in half and in the bin Fortunately I've got the other one to fall back on

The excuse seems rather weak to me....I've had connecting flights involving different baggage handlers and through check in hasn't been a problem. So if I may I'll give you one final suggestion on this matter......the staff at the coal face (in this case the check in staff) often know more than the desk pilots. Why don't you show the MAN check in staff your VS tickets, when checking in, and ask to be checked right through to MCO? If they say no, you've lost nothing, but if they say yes.......

Good luck and have a good one

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by mickg7dyd
Hi,
We flew out of Gatwick at the end of December and sadly Garfunkels is no longer there, been replaced by Frankie and Bennys if I remember the name right.The menu looked similar but we didn't actually eat there.The post office as gone too.

Mick.

The landside Garfunkels has gone, but there is still one airside

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for the tip Amf, I was thinking of the same thing, maybe the check-in staff at Manchester will be a bit more accommodating. You never know.

 

[amf]

Sue....bad news I'm afraid

I've done some asking about and BA will now only through check bags to one-world airline where the connection is part of the same booking. Even one-world on two bookings is a no-no now.

This compares poorly with the likes of bmi and reminds me why I choose not to fly Boggin Awfull unless its the court of last resort. I am sorry if I built your hopes up for a through check in....I didn't quite realise that BA are now even worse than I had previously thought!!!

Alex (eating humble pie)

 

[Sue F UK]

Don't worry about it Amf, at least we have plenty of time to re-check the luggage at Gatwick. It seems that the rivalry between airlines has now reached a point of complete non co-operation, obviously not a good thing for passengers, but then who cares about us. Believe me we wouldn't be flying with BA if there was any choice in the matter but it seems that they are the only ones who do the shuttle service to Gatwick from Manchester.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Sue - we had breakfast at Frankie & Benny's last October. DH had full English and it was so much better than anything we'd ever had at Garfunkels, wasn't swimming in oil Perhaps we were just lucky, but in all it was quite a nice experience