Tips for passengers
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Tips for passengers
With a little preparation, there's a lot you can do to make your journey through Gatwick easier and more enjoyable, saving you time and inconvenience. Follow our tips to help your journey through the airport:
1. Check-in
- Where offered by your airline please check in online, or use the day before check-in facility or self service check-in at the airport.
[More check-in information] - Check your airline’s baggage allowance before travelling as this differs between airlines.
[Airline contact details] - Don't carry more than you really need in your hand baggage. The more items you pack in the luggage you hand over at the check-in desk, the easier it'll be to go through security.
- You must pack liquids, gels, creams and pastes over 100ml and any sharp items in the luggage you hand over at the check-in desk.
- Please check with your airline for their hand baggage policy as this varies between airlines. Some airlines will charge you if your baggage does not comply with their policy.
- Only liquids, gels, creams and pastes in containers under 100ml are allowed in your hand baggage. You must put these into a transparent re-sealable bag (maximum volume 1 litre). You may only carry one plastic bag which must be kept separate from hand baggage at security.
- Don't forget most drinks (especially water) are over 100ml. These are not allowed through security.
- No sharp items are allowed in hand baggage. Please remember to pack these in the luggage you hand over at the check-in desk.
[Download our security guidelines leaflet (114KB PDF)]
- Once through security, relax and enjoy the wide range of shops and restaurants in the departure lounges, which are open 24 hours a day. Here you can fly with everything you buy, liquids included!*
- Why not register for IRIS to speed up your return journey through immigration?
[More information at www.iris.gov.uk] - Please remember to get your to your departure gate in good time. Walking times to gates are shown in the departure lounges.
More details about airport shopping
*Certain restrictions will apply to liquid purchases for some destinations. Please ask in store for details.
Plan your journey to and from the airportFrom 28 September 2009 to May 2010, please allow 20 minutes to transfer between terminals at Gatwick. As part of the airport's £1 billion investment programme, we are installing a new inter-terminal transit system. A replacement bus service will operate every three minutes during the day (04.00 to 18.00) and every six minutes at night from the upper forecourt of both terminals.
Find out more about getting to and from Gatwick, including different transport options and parking.
Plan your journey