The short answer
- European flight, hand luggage only, checked in online: about 2 hours before departure.
- European flight with a bag to drop: 2 to 2.5 hours, more at peak times.
- Long-haul: about 3 hours.
- Early mornings (roughly 5 to 8am) and school holidays: add 30 minutes or more.
These are the timings most airlines and travel guides suggest for Gatwick. The deadlines that actually matter, for check-in, bag drop and boarding, are set by your airline and shown on your booking. We checked this advice in October 2026; procedures change, so always look at your airline's and Gatwick's current guidance before you travel.
North or South Terminal?
Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, and going to the wrong one is the most common way to lose time. They're linked by a free shuttle train that takes about two minutes, plus the walk at each end and any wait, so allow 10 to 15 minutes if you get it wrong.
When we checked in October 2026:
- easyJet, Gatwick's biggest airline, uses the North Terminal.
- British Airways uses the South Terminal.
- Wizz Air and Jet2 use the South Terminal.
- TUI uses both, depending on the flight, so check your booking carefully.
Airlines have moved between the terminals several times in recent years, so check your terminal on your booking or the airline's app the day before, especially if you last flew from Gatwick a while ago. Gatwick's railway station is at the South Terminal, so if you're flying from the North, you'll need the shuttle.
Bag drop deadlines
If you're checking a bag, the bag drop deadline is the time to plan around. Airlines are strict, and turning up a few minutes late usually means you can't fly with your bag.
- Short-haul airlines typically close bag drop between 40 and 60 minutes before departure.
- Long-haul airlines usually close check-in at least 60 minutes before, and some earlier.
Work backwards from that deadline, not from the departure time, and allow for a queue. On a busy summer morning in the North Terminal, the bag drop queue for the first wave of flights can take a long time on its own.
Security and liquids
Gatwick finished installing new CT scanners across all its security lanes in spring 2025. Its own guidance now says liquids no longer need to be in containers of 100ml or less: each container can be up to two litres, and you can usually leave liquids and laptops in your bag. A few things to know:
- Metal, insulated and double-walled bottles must be empty, including many reusable water bottles, vacuum flasks and travel mugs.
- Coats and belts with buckles still need to come off.
- Your return airport may have different rules. Not every airport has the new scanners, so pack for the strictest airport on your trip, or you could lose a bottle of sun cream on the way home.
Security is busiest in the early morning, when lots of holiday flights leave at once, and during school holidays. If you're flying at 6am in August or at the start of half term, Gatwick's paid Fast Track lane can be worth it; on a quiet weekday, you probably won't need it.
How long to allow, worked out
Here's how the timings add up for a few typical trips:
- City break, hand luggage only, Thursday lunchtime flight: arrive about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours before. Allow time to walk to your gate, as some at Gatwick are a long way from security, and gates usually close 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
- Family holiday, bags to drop, 6.30am flight in August: arrive about 2.5 to 3 hours before, so around 3.30 to 4am. Bag drop and security are both at their busiest then.
- Long-haul to Barbados, Orlando or Dubai: arrive 3 hours before, more in the school holidays. Make sure passports, visas and any travel authorisation, like the US ESTA, are sorted well before the day.
- Winter sun to Tenerife or Madeira on a Saturday: treat it like a busy summer day, about 2.5 hours with bags. Saturday mornings are popular for holiday flights all year.
Getting there
Gatwick is one of the easiest London airports to reach by train:
- Gatwick Express runs non-stop from London Victoria in about 30 minutes.
- Southern and Thameslink trains run from Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars, St Pancras and towns across the south east, often for less than the Express. Thameslink can be a good option from north London and Bedfordshire.
- By car, Gatwick is just off the M23. Pre-booked parking is much cheaper than turning up, and the drop-off areas outside both terminals charge a fee, so check the current price before you go.
Very early trains are limited, so if you're on a 6am flight, check the first train will get you there in time, or think about a hotel at the airport the night before.
Five ways to make it easier
- Check in online as soon as it opens, and save your boarding pass to your phone.
- Check your terminal the day before.
- Travel with hand luggage only if you can, so you can skip bag drop entirely.
- Know the liquids rules for both airports on your trip.
- Head to the gate when it's called, not when it says it's closing. Some of Gatwick's gates are a long walk from the departure lounge.
If you haven't picked where you're going yet, our guides to where to go in winter, city breaks and beach holidays are a good place to start. And if you're flying from the north instead, see how early to arrive at Manchester Airport.
