Want to hear stories of transfers between Dover and Gatwick.

[TikiThunderPirates]

I'm waiting to here experiences of taking a bus or car service between Dover Cruise Terminal and London-Gatwick airport. How long did it take, did you hit traffic? How early was your flight? Was check-in /security at Gatwick terrible or great?

Is DCL's "don't fly before this time" necessary here or a wide margin guideline?

I know and have used the train options. Curious about roadway options.

 

[Marc D]

The main road between Dover and London, either Gatwick or LHR, is prone to massive trafic, especially on weekdays. A simple accident and everything can come to a halt. When we did use the DCL bus on a weekend, it took us about 2 hours to get to the Gatwick exit and 30 minutes more to get to LHR. We arrived at 11 AM for a 5:40PM flight and we were glad we didnt have to worry about making an earlier flight. We didn’t really have a choice anyway since direct flights were all between 4 and 6PM.

I think that the 1:45PM recommandation as the earliest flight is conservative but justified because of the M20. There will be less busses going to Gatwick than LHR so you might have to wait a bit to depart. I wouldn’t book anything before 1:30PM.

Everything being relative, security at Gatwick is worst than at LHR terminal 5, but better than other terminals at the same airport, and can still be very long on a busy day if you don’t hold a UK/EU passport. Maybe Brexit will move all the EU passengers to the ‘others’ line before you fly ?

 

[magickate]

I'd always go with train over bus for getting in and out of London airports.

Expect Gatwick to be very busy. We fly from there a couple of times a year as though it's not our local airport it it generally cheaper. If it isn't then you're lucky & have time to enjoy an extra coffee.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I'd always go with train over bus for getting in and out of London airports.

Expect Gatwick to be very busy. We fly from there a couple of times a year as though it's not our local airport it it generally cheaper. If it isn't then you're lucky & have time to enjoy an extra coffee.

How many hours would you give yourself before a flight out of Gatwick?

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

Marc D,

Thanks that was really helpful.

 

[magickate]

How many hours would you give yourself before a flight out of Gatwick?

We always stay over the night before but 3 hours if we need to drop off luggage or 2 hours if we've done already done bag drop. The lounge we book gives us premium security passes but It doesn't usually save us much time really.