Gatwick Airport Arrivals: meeting someone at gatwick airport
If you're meeting someone at gatwick airport follow this 5 step plan:
1. Check to see if the flight is on time by using one of the following sources of arrivals information for gatwick airport:
(a) online - from the gatwick airport website at www.baa.co.uk
(b) over the telephone on: 0870 000 2468
(c) via the TV - BBC1 / 2 Ceefax on page 445 / 446 or ITV Teletext on page 185 / 186
2. Head for gatwick airport using the directions on our directions page. Once you get close to the airport, head for the north or the south terminal (depending on which one the flight is landing at).
For a full breakdown of which airline flies from which terminal see the airline contact details page. A free mono rail connects the two terminals with a journey time of less than 2 minutes.
3. Assuming you don't plan to be at the airport for more than 4 hours, park in the short term gatwick airport parking (for more informaton see the gatwick airport parking page).
4. Head for the arrivals area (on the ground floor) of the relevant terminal - either south terminal or north terminal.
5. Check the flight status on the information boards in the arrivals area.
If the monitor still shows 'Expected...', the plane hasn't landed and you have time to browse around the airport shops or have a coffee.
Once the status shows 'Landed at...', allow 25 - 40 minutes from the 'landed at' time for passengers to start coming through the arrivals gate.
If the staus shows 'baggage in hall' or 'in customs' you need to be waiting for your guests at the gate.
From touchdown to clearing their baggage, the customs area and coming through into the arrivals hall at gatwick airport, generally takes 40 - 50 minutes for international flights. Domestic flights take slightly less time, and if they only have hand luggage they can be through in as little as 25 minutes.
