Can’t access lounge while in transit at Gatwick
Aug 27, 2024 | 12:46 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Diamond Elite, BA Nothing
Posts: 8,898
Not sure this is correct? LGW doesn’t have dedicated check-in desks for each flight so any desk can be used for any flight. I’m not aware of a T-2 hour rule for luggage check-in either for each flight at LGW?
Aug 27, 2024 | 1:12 am
#17
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Exec Club (Gold - Thank-you BAHs)
Posts: 517
It appears that OPs complaint is that they’ll only get to spend 5 hours in the BA lounge rather than 7 to 8 hours.
My advice would be to get the train to Crawley or somewhere else within easy reach of Gatwick. Have a nice breakfast and a walk around and then head back to Gatwick after a couple of hours. Regardless of how luxurious an airport lounge is, spending roughly 8 hours in one is never going to be the most interesting and enjoyable experience.
My advice would be to get the train to Crawley or somewhere else within easy reach of Gatwick. Have a nice breakfast and a walk around and then head back to Gatwick after a couple of hours. Regardless of how luxurious an airport lounge is, spending roughly 8 hours in one is never going to be the most interesting and enjoyable experience.
Aug 27, 2024 | 3:47 am
#18
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 20,629
The whole story we have not been told. Why this "a certain route" mystery is compounded with a 9 hour hour over? I would definitely booked one of the more reachable hotels - the PremierInn comes to mind. Presumable he\she had made his\her and gone. God alone knows that they were told and we will never know as he is going to take his\her business elsewhere.
GlasgowBlue Darling - have you actually been to Crawley recently?
GlasgowBlue Darling - have you actually been to Crawley recently?
Mar 27, 2026 | 6:15 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,143
Does anyone know if this is still 6 hours? The post from Gatwick in the below (from 2025) seems to suggest it was reduced to 4 hours, but interested if anyone has seen it first-hand on a BA ticket?
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
Mar 27, 2026 | 6:40 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL; TK Elite; FB Platinum; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 7,701
Depends on baggage, but Brighton is 35 minutes away or so, and all you could ever wish for, whatever it is, awaits you there. However good the BA lounge in the South Terminal is, it's not worth 6 hours of anyone's time.
Mar 27, 2026 | 6:44 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Leeds
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, BD Blue (RIP)
Posts: 2,987
Does anyone know if this is still 6 hours? The post from Gatwick in the below (from 2025) seems to suggest it was reduced to 4 hours, but interested if anyone has seen it first-hand on a BA ticket?
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
Mar 27, 2026 | 6:59 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,143
That said, for various reasons I have 10 hours in the Flounge coming up this month as I'm meeting up with a couple of people at different times. So I'll be fully lounged-out!
Mar 27, 2026 | 7:34 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Gold, OneKey silver :)
Posts: 1,887
Fantastically usefully thread. The essence of flyertalk.
How weird, I had always taken it as read that I can get to a BA flight any time I choose on the day (assuming status) except at outstations where only limited flights operate and even then the likes of JNB and SFO are t-4. So t-4 (or even t-6) seems a major own goal by my local airport LGW.
How weird, I had always taken it as read that I can get to a BA flight any time I choose on the day (assuming status) except at outstations where only limited flights operate and even then the likes of JNB and SFO are t-4. So t-4 (or even t-6) seems a major own goal by my local airport LGW.
Mar 27, 2026 | 7:35 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,772
Ten hours …… ?!?! OMG - you really deserve some sort of medal !
That’s equivalent to five separate visits for me ! My ‘default’ at any airport is to schedule around 90 mins to two hours for pre-flight lounging, because that allows a) plenty of time for a meal and a number of drinks, and b) a cushion for any (minor) departure delay which might take me up to say three hours (that being close to my boredom threshold). Might extend by 30 mins if in need of a shower and / or accessing special lounges such as CX @ HKG.
Mar 27, 2026 | 7:57 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 252
id rather spend six hours in the BAlounge at Gatwick than go to Brighton!
Mar 27, 2026 | 8:55 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,143
Haha, I've got the day off and a 9pm flight, so offered to meet a nervous flyer friend in the morning for his flight out. Keep them away from all the T5 noise. And then I've discovered someone else I know is leaving (but also has their own access) in the afternoon, so at least it won't just be me biding my time/drinking.
Mar 27, 2026 | 9:48 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MAD
Programs: BA Gold; LH Senator; SAS Gold; Bonvoy Gold; Radisson VIP
Posts: 1,814
Does anyone know if this is still 6 hours? The post from Gatwick in the below (from 2025) seems to suggest it was reduced to 4 hours, but interested if anyone has seen it first-hand on a BA ticket?
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
How early can you go through LGW security? - FlyerTalk Forums
I'm possibly being dumped there with a 5-6 hour wait in the next few weeks, so I thought best to check whether to head straight to the terminal or wander off somewhere else first.
Mar 27, 2026 | 9:49 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,906
Missed this thread at the time. But if in this situation and the staff at Premium Security had declined to let me through, I would go downstairs and have a word with BA staff on Club check-in. I would guess that if on a long BA single ticket connection they would hopefully do their best to help.