The position is from a Gatwick based pilot for over 20 years and a familiarity with the operation at that airport as well as seeing the changes that have taken place over that same time period.
I have read the thread in "Rumours & News", however its relevance here is tenuous. Your "moniker" is not kind. It is insulting churlish and infantile, just as it is when it is directed against sportsmen and racing drivers. Far from "venting" a defence, I am stating the
defacto situation.
Your pompous writing, all inclined to demonstrate that "you better not challenge authority" is of the exact kind that out friend Flying Lawyer dispelled all the time. Luckily for the ones he routinely demonstrated wrong, he has now moved to higher duties (UK Magistrate) to have the time to respond here.
This brought a wry smile to my pompous face. I am sure the distinguished gentleman would appreciate a well presented argument although I am not sure he would count amongst his friends those who call people "monkeys" in an attempt to be "kind"? Perhaps he will respond, who knows?
In order to procure the "appropriate document" you would need to contact the airport operator or possibly the DfT. I cannot disclose it without having access to it, however the rules do not permit an individual to pass back through the security point at Gatwick as the complainant was clearly told.
CirrusF,
Yes I understand your flight was eventually cancelled, but you stated the airline then offered you a choice. Take a flight 6 hours later, or cancel. You chose (elected) the latter. Presumably there were others in the same position? Some of them would have had to retrieve baggage. The airline would have arranged for them to be escorted to baggage reclaim and then back into the terminal. Did they all have to wait for 90 minutes? Were you the only one? Did you not wait for the airline/agents instruction?
In any event you cannot simply decide for yourself how you will leave the secure area as indeed you didn't, and again it is unfortunate you had to wait 90 minutes for somebody to escort you through.