Gatwick: moving up in my estimation
Nov 5, 2018, 12:07 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
Nov 5, 2018, 12:22 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: West Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold (11/Dec/18)
Posts: 262
For @uncleT & others you will be pleased to hear that Pier 1 is scheduled to be made fully duel level allowing for Dom' to be integrated into flows better and allow for gate rather than busses & GAL have acknowledged it to be an unacceptable issue( so I don't mis remember or quote i'll just direct y'all to the recently published master plan available from their website).
Nov 5, 2018, 12:59 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
My abiding thanks to C-W-S for escorting us and showing us the way!
BTW, I had been informed on here about the proposed changes ... glad to see it in print again. And as one of the 2,000,000 affected on a fairly regular basis, I'm looking forward to the change! I shall discover where the "Lower Zone B Check-in Area" is in due course, but it seems to be close to the BA desks.
Last edited by T8191; Nov 5, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Nov 5, 2018, 4:37 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,377
I’ve used LGW twice in the last year or so once to RAK and once to EDI.
Immigrstion and baggage reclaim from the RAK was a nightmare. I have to say I’ve recently breezed through T5 of late with no lines for egates and plenty working on Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday afternoon/evening.
LGW security is very efficient and the lounges are very nice, Tiny bug bear about the F lounge closing at 8pm if on the late EDI/GLA. Asked if I could take open bottle of Jeepers rose to J side was told very sternly no but I could take multiple glasses through... now I’m not that bad to take 2 or 3 or 4 glasses of Jeepers through but would it really have hurt them to take the open bottle through or indeed for the lounge hosts to refil our glasses.
Food very much improved and some items eg cheese and biscuits same quality as in Gatwick First lounge you just had to get it yourself.
Often some rediculousely low EDI GLA AMS NCE fares to/from LGW as well.
Other quality of LGW lounge is Uncle T and iwife is often there. Very enjoyable afternoon spent with them both talking all things BA and FT in F side..
Immigrstion and baggage reclaim from the RAK was a nightmare. I have to say I’ve recently breezed through T5 of late with no lines for egates and plenty working on Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday afternoon/evening.
LGW security is very efficient and the lounges are very nice, Tiny bug bear about the F lounge closing at 8pm if on the late EDI/GLA. Asked if I could take open bottle of Jeepers rose to J side was told very sternly no but I could take multiple glasses through... now I’m not that bad to take 2 or 3 or 4 glasses of Jeepers through but would it really have hurt them to take the open bottle through or indeed for the lounge hosts to refil our glasses.
Food very much improved and some items eg cheese and biscuits same quality as in Gatwick First lounge you just had to get it yourself.
Often some rediculousely low EDI GLA AMS NCE fares to/from LGW as well.
Other quality of LGW lounge is Uncle T and iwife is often there. Very enjoyable afternoon spent with them both talking all things BA and FT in F side..
Nov 7, 2018, 1:30 pm
#37
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,129
Yes, the stress of "which bus goes first, which side do I stand, which side do I move to for quick access to the lift, and how to get the lift doors to close when other people keep trying to get in!"
My abiding thanks to C-W-S for escorting us and showing us the way!
BTW, I had been informed on here about the proposed changes ... glad to see it in print again. And as one of the 2,000,000 affected on a fairly regular basis, I'm looking forward to the change! I shall discover where the "Lower Zone B Check-in Area" is in due course, but it seems to be close to the BA desks.
My abiding thanks to C-W-S for escorting us and showing us the way!
BTW, I had been informed on here about the proposed changes ... glad to see it in print again. And as one of the 2,000,000 affected on a fairly regular basis, I'm looking forward to the change! I shall discover where the "Lower Zone B Check-in Area" is in due course, but it seems to be close to the BA desks.
Nov 7, 2018, 1:40 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Forewarned is Forearmed, Sir.
I would hate to be one of those people who stops at the top/bottom of an escalator and ponders 'what now?'
Nov 7, 2018, 10:42 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
I'd say that the vastly inflated rates (about 10 times the actual cost of processing for UK Visas and Immigration) I am paying to process partner visas for my non-EU family should pay for an excellent service from anything to do with the Border Force - since the Home Office specifically says that the high charges on their visa services are to cross-fund other services for UK citizens. The UK Border Force and UK Immigration and Visas charge high fees for very poor service, far beyond what the service costs to provide.
Nov 7, 2018, 11:28 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
To my mind LGW was always the low/cost poor relation in terms of BA ops, with cheap point to point bucket and spade type flights and not much connecting traffic. To some extent I still get the impression that it is "BA Light", in the sense that the equipment BA uses tends to be older than the equipment at LHR, and I am inclined to say that the catering in CE is not as good (cannot comment on CW). However, my last few flights from or to there have been enjoyable and hassle free. Notably:
- quick baggage delivery (the same cannot be said of my recent LHR experiences)
- quick security (although LHR performs equally well in my experience)
- nice lounge
- quick immigration (although everyone will have different experiences of this, it's ditto LHR in recent years in my experience, so another score draw on that front)
And yesterday I arrived in the evening and the time between doors open and me being on the train was around 12 minutes, which is pretty good going.
I think BA's move to South Terminal has been a very good one and I am increasingly inclined to consider LGW for flights, although LHR/LCY still account for around 85% of my flights.
Do others share this view or have I just been rather fortunate in my recent experiences?
- quick baggage delivery (the same cannot be said of my recent LHR experiences)
- quick security (although LHR performs equally well in my experience)
- nice lounge
- quick immigration (although everyone will have different experiences of this, it's ditto LHR in recent years in my experience, so another score draw on that front)
And yesterday I arrived in the evening and the time between doors open and me being on the train was around 12 minutes, which is pretty good going.
I think BA's move to South Terminal has been a very good one and I am increasingly inclined to consider LGW for flights, although LHR/LCY still account for around 85% of my flights.
Do others share this view or have I just been rather fortunate in my recent experiences?
Nov 8, 2018, 3:51 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
Just putting it out there that one of my life goals is to meet the ever charming, amazingly helpful and quite legendary @uncleT in the LGW GC lounge however understandably he's to be found in GF most the time but one can live in hope.
Nov 8, 2018, 4:02 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,894
I've found LGW to be very good the last few times I have used it. Had quite a few EZY flights from there and security has been lightening quick every time, even without fast track. Immigration tends to be much better than it used to be as well. When I am on BA, the F lounge is a lovely place to be. The only downside remains BA's priority boarding as the gates aren't really laid out to support PB as well as it can be done in T5, but it's bearable...
Nov 8, 2018, 4:06 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Windsor Berkshire
Programs: BA Silver, VS, Carlson, IHG Gold
Posts: 100
Travel fairly regularly to MCO, and in the past have always flown from LHR and connected to MCO. But last year I flew from LGW as was travelling with friends, and was actually pleasantly surprised by the Club lounge there, maybe its the timing of our flight, but had a really relaxed bubbly breakfast in there, and continued it as soon as we took our seats on the plane, and the rest of the way there.
Basically, LHR will always be more convenient for me, and will serve most of my business flights regardless. But LGW did a good job if getting me in the holiday mood. Like it should I guess?
Basically, LHR will always be more convenient for me, and will serve most of my business flights regardless. But LGW did a good job if getting me in the holiday mood. Like it should I guess?
Nov 8, 2018, 4:26 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Just putting it out there that one of my life goals is to meet the ever charming, amazingly helpful and quite legendary @uncleT in the LGW GC lounge however understandably he's to be found in GF most the time but one can live in hope.