BA announces biggest Gatwick summer schedule in 10 years
Jan 4, 2018, 5:07 pm
#61
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,444
Maybe I'm spoiled by the T5 First Wing experience, but every time I've been through Gatwick South since the move from North, the experience has been anything but decent. (Better than North was with no lounge, mind you, but still a long way off T5/T3)
My biggest gripe is "premium security". They always seem to insist on feeding 75% non-premium customers in the queue from round the side, which means there's always a wait, always too many trays trying to get through, and importantly always loads of non-regular travellers who don't know + don't listen to the rules. Every time one of my trays is selected for secondary inspection, which means a 20+ minute wait because there's so many waiting to be scanned. Last time, my tray with coat + ipad + laptop had been bumped a lot waiting to get through the x-ray, and my coat had ended up partly covered the ipad. Apparently that was enough to mean it got sent to secondary and a very long wait and a re-scan! In general through, bags which routinely get through all Heathrow terminals (any many other EU airports) without problems are pulled for secondary at Gatwick, and somehow the Gatwick staff make the T5 security staff seem friendly and efficient...
Add in the late opening of the First lounge at LGW, to my ever raised blood pressure when dealing with LGW "premium" security, and you'll see why I pick LHR over LGW when Heathrow is anything up to 50 quid more, and why the other half prefers Heathrow to nearer a hundred quid price difference!
My biggest gripe is "premium security". They always seem to insist on feeding 75% non-premium customers in the queue from round the side, which means there's always a wait, always too many trays trying to get through, and importantly always loads of non-regular travellers who don't know + don't listen to the rules. Every time one of my trays is selected for secondary inspection, which means a 20+ minute wait because there's so many waiting to be scanned. Last time, my tray with coat + ipad + laptop had been bumped a lot waiting to get through the x-ray, and my coat had ended up partly covered the ipad. Apparently that was enough to mean it got sent to secondary and a very long wait and a re-scan! In general through, bags which routinely get through all Heathrow terminals (any many other EU airports) without problems are pulled for secondary at Gatwick, and somehow the Gatwick staff make the T5 security staff seem friendly and efficient...
Add in the late opening of the First lounge at LGW, to my ever raised blood pressure when dealing with LGW "premium" security, and you'll see why I pick LHR over LGW when Heathrow is anything up to 50 quid more, and why the other half prefers Heathrow to nearer a hundred quid price difference!
I have not experienced this. As I said earlier unless you’re flying in July or August then you can get through most security etc in 10 mins. Sure, it can vary but with status or cabin it’s pretty speedy.
I find the LHR premium lanes worse as it’s just Premium. Whereas premium security mixed with general will work slightly better as the staff are congregated to keep everything moving. It’s a shame if this is your experience.
As for getting to LGW, the argument is the same, if travelling to LHR its a nightmare from southeast or Kent. So this is rather just a debate on how transport can be or will improved to connect Greater London. If you have ever tried to move from Kent to Surrey on TFL. It’s a bloody nightmare. Anyway I didn’t want to discuss all this as we are discussing LGW summer schedule.
So. LGW is looking a lot brighter in the future with all the changes to come. JER to LHR would be great to help the Ex-JER...
Jan 4, 2018, 5:13 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
If BA expand there would be more flights to feed int. I’ve got to LH and one MH out of LGW this year and I’m dreading the five to six hour drive from Manchester
Jan 4, 2018, 5:25 pm
#63
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quite close to NQY
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 9,488
cs
Jan 4, 2018, 5:26 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,774
Jan 4, 2018, 6:10 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, Priority Club Gold, Herts Pres Circle
Posts: 492
I am happy to be corrected but I believe there is an agreement with pilots in place that doesn't allow BA City Flyer to operate flights on a regular basis from London Gatwick or London Heathrow.
I also believe that is the reason why BA E190s operate with only 98 seats.
I also believe that is the reason why BA E190s operate with only 98 seats.
Jan 5, 2018, 3:20 am
#66
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
They are but but BGI is in first and others are club. I’ve had terrible experiences with VS plus the MCO is a freebie paid by our son. Surely BA could run smaller aircraft like Iberia do with Air Nostrum to feed the two main hubs.
Jan 5, 2018, 4:09 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Do you live near LGW?
I have not experienced this. As I said earlier unless you’re flying in July or August then you can get through most security etc in 10 mins. Sure, it can vary but with status or cabin it’s pretty speedy.
I find the LHR premium lanes worse as it’s just Premium. Whereas premium security mixed with general will work slightly better as the staff are congregated to keep everything moving. It’s a shame if this is your experience.
As for getting to LGW, the argument is the same, if travelling to LHR its a nightmare from southeast or Kent. So this is rather just a debate on how transport can be or will improved to connect Greater London. If you have ever tried to move from Kent to Surrey on TFL. It’s a bloody nightmare. Anyway I didn’t want to discuss all this as we are discussing LGW summer schedule.
So. LGW is looking a lot brighter in the future with all the changes to come. JER to LHR would be great to help the Ex-JER...
I have not experienced this. As I said earlier unless you’re flying in July or August then you can get through most security etc in 10 mins. Sure, it can vary but with status or cabin it’s pretty speedy.
I find the LHR premium lanes worse as it’s just Premium. Whereas premium security mixed with general will work slightly better as the staff are congregated to keep everything moving. It’s a shame if this is your experience.
As for getting to LGW, the argument is the same, if travelling to LHR its a nightmare from southeast or Kent. So this is rather just a debate on how transport can be or will improved to connect Greater London. If you have ever tried to move from Kent to Surrey on TFL. It’s a bloody nightmare. Anyway I didn’t want to discuss all this as we are discussing LGW summer schedule.
So. LGW is looking a lot brighter in the future with all the changes to come. JER to LHR would be great to help the Ex-JER...
I wonder if overall there is still an image and status problem that Gatwick hasn't really overcome under its new ownership. In the old BAA days it was simply second placed to Heathrow. In recent years Heathrow has invested so that now only Terminal 3 looks like the Gatwick terminals. But Gatwick's new team market themselves as the local, friendly, tourist airport and not the fashionable, fast or business-oriented airport. So it just feels somehow suburban and sub-optimal. But the fact is that it is easy to get to and fast to get through if you know what you're doing (and have a fair wind through security).
Jan 5, 2018, 4:10 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,406
I wondered why BA had come up as an attractive option for direct flights to Alicante this summer. I'm all booked now, but it's been way more than a decade since I last flew with BA on this route (without a detour through Madrid)
I live a 15 minute walk from Kings Cross/St Pancras so I LOVE using Gatwick. I hope the new Cambridge Service means that there will be even more Thameslink trains.
My parents actually prefer FR/U2 - they didn't like the BA flight times and prefer using Stansted or Southend. I am coming back alone with my travel hardened 8 year old on a BA flight arriving LGW at 2am (it's like going back to the old days - middle of the night flights to and from ALC with Dan Air.)
My parents are free from the School Term dates, so they decided on an FR flight departing at 10:30am or so.
Anyway, I'm glad that BA are finally a feasible choice again.
I live a 15 minute walk from Kings Cross/St Pancras so I LOVE using Gatwick. I hope the new Cambridge Service means that there will be even more Thameslink trains.
My parents actually prefer FR/U2 - they didn't like the BA flight times and prefer using Stansted or Southend. I am coming back alone with my travel hardened 8 year old on a BA flight arriving LGW at 2am (it's like going back to the old days - middle of the night flights to and from ALC with Dan Air.)
My parents are free from the School Term dates, so they decided on an FR flight departing at 10:30am or so.
Anyway, I'm glad that BA are finally a feasible choice again.
Jan 5, 2018, 8:18 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,532
This will be BA's leased Titan A320 operation:
British Airways in summer 2018 season is leasing Titan Airways A320 aircraft to support its operation at London Gatwick, operating on short-haul routes between late-May and late-September 2018. Following routes will see a mix of British Airways and Titan Airways A320 operations.
London Gatwick – Alicante
London Gatwick – Bari
London Gatwick – Dalaman
London Gatwick – Dubrovnik
London Gatwick – Faro
London Gatwick – Funchal
London Gatwick – Lanzarote
London Gatwick – Larnaca
London Gatwick – Malaga
London Gatwick – Paphos
London Gatwick – Rhodes
London Gatwick – Tenerife South
London Gatwick – Thessaloniki
London Gatwick – Alicante
London Gatwick – Bari
London Gatwick – Dalaman
London Gatwick – Dubrovnik
London Gatwick – Faro
London Gatwick – Funchal
London Gatwick – Lanzarote
London Gatwick – Larnaca
London Gatwick – Malaga
London Gatwick – Paphos
London Gatwick – Rhodes
London Gatwick – Tenerife South
London Gatwick – Thessaloniki
Jan 5, 2018, 1:12 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: West Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC, Silver
Posts: 148
On some of these routes cabin baggage shouldn’t be an issue anyway as it’s all holiday makers (SKG, RHO, TFS).
the weekend break type destinations (ALC, BRI) may still be a problem . . .
Jan 5, 2018, 1:41 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,406
With FR/U2 the LON-ALC flights can barely cope with the amount of hand luggage - and that's with the old 1 piece only rules which demand smaller cases than BAs.
FR are getting around this by changing their rules so that only those who pay for priority boarding get to take their main cabin bags in the cabin with them - although a smaller bag is now also allowed.
Am not familiar with the Titan Airways cabins - am wondering if they can cope with the BA policies that now encourage people (like me) to use their maximum entitlement of cabin baggage (rather than pay an additional £30 + €40 for hold luggage).
My parents will have cabin luggage only for a 6 week stay, my daughter for a month stay, and me for a three week stay. We're not unusual!
Jan 5, 2018, 1:56 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: West Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC, Silver
Posts: 148
London - Alicante is a main route for me (my mother is Spanish) and, as I said, I haven't flown BA there for many years.
With FR/U2 the LON-ALC flights can barely cope with the amount of hand luggage - and that's with the old 1 piece only rules which demand smaller cases than BAs.
FR are getting around this by changing their rules so that only those who pay for priority boarding get to take their main cabin bags in the cabin with them - although a smaller bag is now also allowed.
Am not familiar with the Titan Airways cabins - am wondering if they can cope with the BA policies that now encourage people (like me) to use their maximum entitlement of cabin baggage (rather than pay an additional £30 + €40 for hold luggage).
My parents will have cabin luggage only for a 6 week stay, my daughter for a month stay, and me for a three week stay. We're not unusual!
From what I’ve heard Titan have larger overhead lockers and the crew are pro-active - however I haven’t flown with Titan so can’t confirm this.
You pack well to fit all that in cabin baggage!
Jan 5, 2018, 2:07 pm
#74
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,847
The Titan aircraft are a bit like stepping back in time with seat depth measure in inches rather than millimetres. The amount of storage space per passenger is generous, if they are the same aircraft used a year or two back. Moreover the gap between you and the seat in front means that even if the bag does go under the seat, it may not be much of an issue. In any case LGW is usually easier than LHR, in this respect.
Jan 5, 2018, 2:29 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,406
Brilliant! Good to know!
(Alough, on this route, stepping back in time would have its downsides. I remember seats that faced fellow passengers that shared a typical tight seat pitch floor gap. We had to sit facing other people with our legs literally interlaced between each others'. Ah, the "good ole days"!)
Hot weather, packing cubes and plenty of determination. And cheers, BA! You're letting me take my Züca this summer. ¡Qué bien!
(Alough, on this route, stepping back in time would have its downsides. I remember seats that faced fellow passengers that shared a typical tight seat pitch floor gap. We had to sit facing other people with our legs literally interlaced between each others'. Ah, the "good ole days"!)
Hot weather, packing cubes and plenty of determination. And cheers, BA! You're letting me take my Züca this summer. ¡Qué bien!