Lgw(n) Security Times
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lgw(n) Security Times
Hi Folks. Me again. Flying out on BA2167 tomorrow. What's the likely time for getting thru security these days? Haven't flown out of LGW before;always LHR T3 or 4, neither of which are great.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Firemac
Thanks in advance for any info.
Firemac
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LGW
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All I know is that it won't be as busy as T3 or T4....
Remember the one bag issue, have plenty of time, to avoid stress. Have a nice trip, enjoy! There will be some fab crew on your flight, I promise!!
Remember the one bag issue, have plenty of time, to avoid stress. Have a nice trip, enjoy! There will be some fab crew on your flight, I promise!!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well if I were you I would get to the airport 2 hours before.
At that time on top of the scheduled european and charter flights there are many flights leaving to the US (AA, BA, DL etc) together with EK and EY flights, which often create extremely long queues.
On top of that, it's rare to see all the desks and screening machines at work so it can get boring....just telling you from my experience.
Remember even if BA says you can take a wheelie bag + a hand bag, the secuirity people will object to that, so make sure that you can fit your 2nd bag inside the first, after security nobody will bother you anymore. Again, I am telling you because I know a couple of people in particular who are so petty I wonder why they are working there when they should be giving speeding fines instead!!
Having said that, you might be lucky and get through it quicker than I imagined, but I would be prepared if I were you!!
Happy flying!
FBW
At that time on top of the scheduled european and charter flights there are many flights leaving to the US (AA, BA, DL etc) together with EK and EY flights, which often create extremely long queues.
On top of that, it's rare to see all the desks and screening machines at work so it can get boring....just telling you from my experience.
Remember even if BA says you can take a wheelie bag + a hand bag, the secuirity people will object to that, so make sure that you can fit your 2nd bag inside the first, after security nobody will bother you anymore. Again, I am telling you because I know a couple of people in particular who are so petty I wonder why they are working there when they should be giving speeding fines instead!!
Having said that, you might be lucky and get through it quicker than I imagined, but I would be prepared if I were you!!
Happy flying!
FBW
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Essex
Age: 37
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thought I would ask a similar question now. I am flying BA/GB Airways on Tues 13th Feb (Half term week). Our flight is at 07.20 in the morning from LGW North Terminal. Even though it is half term, it is a Tuesday so I am hoping it won't be too busy. I want to get there as early as possible as I am paranoid about catching flights. The rest of my family want to be there for about 05.00ish. Does that sound like a good enough time. We will check in online and go to the 'fast' bag drop off.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
0500 seems like a good time, however I have to warn you that sometimes the fast bag drop is very busy as many people tend to check in online these days! It's not as it used to be, let's say that it can be a bit of a slow fast bag drop! However your flight is reasonably early so 1h20m could be a reasonable time. I usually allow 90minuets just to be safe!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Essex
Age: 37
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your reply. I haven't flown from LGW for years so am a bit rusty with the airport. I am used to STN with security ques starting at 03.30 as a lot of flights leave between 06.00 and 08.00. At LGW North what times are busiest for security and roughly how long will it take to get from security to the gates that GB Airways flights depart?
Sorry if that is such a typical passenger question! Lol.
Sorry if that is such a typical passenger question! Lol.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Jack!
No worries, I hope I can help you although I am not a ground agent and can only share my experience (and what my passengers report to me) with you.
North terminal's busiest time is in the morning when all the US/Caribbeans and Middle East flights depart as well as the normal european sheduled and charter ones. Very early in the morning there are less people covering security as well so that might lead to longer queues. I believe that, being a tuesday as opposed to a saturday when MANY charter ski flights depart at around 0600-0700, 90minutes should be fine for your flight. If by any chance you see that you're running out of time for checking your bags DO approach any of the BA ground staff. Your check-in/baggage drop off will most likely be in zone F, where all the european/mediterranean flights are dealt with.
Once you're airside it might take up to 10-15 minutes to reach some of the gates (101-110) and about the same to reach gate 46. It takes a bit less to reach gates 54-51 or 58-63 but they are very often occupied by the american flights/carriers. If you depart from gate 45 (bus bays) be careful as it can be quite confusing down there at times, we have gate 45 A, B, C etc!! They once put 3 geneva flights (one BA scheduled, one BA charter and one GB charter) at the same gate leaving more or less at the same time (very well thought!!
) and that created a lot of confusion!!!
Make sure that nobody from your party gets lost in the terminal (quite good shopping there) and remember that no flights are announced in the terminal anymore, so do keep an eye on the screen!!
I hope this helps and if you are in any doubt, please do approach any of the BA ground staff, they are usually very pleasant
Have a great holiday!!
No worries, I hope I can help you although I am not a ground agent and can only share my experience (and what my passengers report to me) with you.
North terminal's busiest time is in the morning when all the US/Caribbeans and Middle East flights depart as well as the normal european sheduled and charter ones. Very early in the morning there are less people covering security as well so that might lead to longer queues. I believe that, being a tuesday as opposed to a saturday when MANY charter ski flights depart at around 0600-0700, 90minutes should be fine for your flight. If by any chance you see that you're running out of time for checking your bags DO approach any of the BA ground staff. Your check-in/baggage drop off will most likely be in zone F, where all the european/mediterranean flights are dealt with.
Once you're airside it might take up to 10-15 minutes to reach some of the gates (101-110) and about the same to reach gate 46. It takes a bit less to reach gates 54-51 or 58-63 but they are very often occupied by the american flights/carriers. If you depart from gate 45 (bus bays) be careful as it can be quite confusing down there at times, we have gate 45 A, B, C etc!! They once put 3 geneva flights (one BA scheduled, one BA charter and one GB charter) at the same gate leaving more or less at the same time (very well thought!!
) and that created a lot of confusion!!! Make sure that nobody from your party gets lost in the terminal (quite good shopping there) and remember that no flights are announced in the terminal anymore, so do keep an eye on the screen!!
I hope this helps and if you are in any doubt, please do approach any of the BA ground staff, they are usually very pleasant
Have a great holiday!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Essex
Age: 37
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, Sorry it took so long to reply! Thanks for your tips regarding where the gates are located. I have scanned the BA website and this is my understanding of the online check in for a flight operated by GB Airways...
-We can check in 24 hours before the departure time.
-Select your seats from the seat map.
-As our flight will be to TFS we are not able to print our boarding cards online.
-Go to the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' where we can then pick our boarding cards up and drop the bags.
Is that correct? Will there be an option whilst checking in online to pick your boarding cards up at the airport if we are unable to print them for our route?
Also, will the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' desks open the same time as the 'normal' BA check in desks? Sorry if these sound like obvious questions but I want to know exactly what we are doing! LOL.
Thanks,
Jack
-We can check in 24 hours before the departure time.
-Select your seats from the seat map.
-As our flight will be to TFS we are not able to print our boarding cards online.
-Go to the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' where we can then pick our boarding cards up and drop the bags.
Is that correct? Will there be an option whilst checking in online to pick your boarding cards up at the airport if we are unable to print them for our route?
Also, will the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' desks open the same time as the 'normal' BA check in desks? Sorry if these sound like obvious questions but I want to know exactly what we are doing! LOL.
Thanks,
Jack
Last edited by jack_essex; 10th Feb 2007 at 14:17.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Technically BA's on-line check in is a doddle but over the last few months the one thing it isn't is fast. Suggest you go on line 24hrs before and select your seats/check-in. Once you arrive at the airport go to one of the automatic check in machines - dead easy to use and will print your boarding passes (just a word of warning to check your seat numbers at this machine vs those you checked into 24hrs previously - they have been known to change) then take your bag to the (anything other than) fast bag drop - this will probably be highly visible due to one member of staff and a massive queue Apologies to anyone who works there and disagrees but my view is your management need to get their priorities sorted).
Once through this you just need to queue for security - very hit & miss - on a weekday morning I've walked straight through and I've queued out of the door and half way to Brighton.
Please excuse the cynicism - I'm sure you'll enjoy our world leading partnership of BA & BAA !
Once through this you just need to queue for security - very hit & miss - on a weekday morning I've walked straight through and I've queued out of the door and half way to Brighton.
Please excuse the cynicism - I'm sure you'll enjoy our world leading partnership of BA & BAA !
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is that correct? Will there be an option whilst checking in online to pick your boarding cards up at the airport if we are unable to print them for our route?
Also, will the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' desks open the same time as the 'normal' BA check in desks? Sorry if these sound like obvious questions but I want to know exactly what we are doing! LOL
Also, will the 'Fast Bag Drop Off' desks open the same time as the 'normal' BA check in desks? Sorry if these sound like obvious questions but I want to know exactly what we are doing! LOL
You'll see that in zone F there will be half of the desks for check-in and half for the fast bag drop. Yes the times are the same, so do not worry!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Essex
Age: 37
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks,
I'm now having the arguments with my family over what time to arrive at the airport! LOL. One thing after another. We are now agreeing that 05.00 is a good time to arrive for a flight departing at 07.20. I'll let you know how everything goes.
Jack
I'm now having the arguments with my family over what time to arrive at the airport! LOL. One thing after another. We are now agreeing that 05.00 is a good time to arrive for a flight departing at 07.20. I'll let you know how everything goes.
Jack
