How to Avoid Airport Hell at Gatwick

Travelling from London Gatwick Airport on one of the busiest weeks of the year for Britain’s airports can be an absolute nightmare, especially if you’re travelling with young children. If you’ve got a holiday booked from Gatwick over the busy period and are tearing your hair out wondering whether or not you’ll be able to cope, don’t worry as there are a number of things that you can do to beat the madness and ensure that your journey goes as smoothly as possible. We have put together a helpful list that should make sure your departure from Gatwick isn’t as hellish as it could be. Read on to find out more.

Planning Ahead

When it comes to avoiding the queues during the busy period, careful planning ahead is the answer. It’s standard for the majority of airlines to allow passengers to check in online before they’ve even left the house, so if you’re travelling from Gatwick and want to avoid the queues make sure you’re checked in before you set off. Some airlines departing from Gatwick Airport will also allow you to check your bags in the day before you fly, a service that can be a godsend if you’re travelling with small children, simply check the bags in the day before on your own, and you’ve got less waiting around in queues with the kids.

Parking

The worst thing that could happen is you get to the airport during a busy period and there’s no parking available. In order to combat this issue, it’s a good idea to book your parking well in advance, so you can rest assured that you definitely have a space when you get there. It may also be a good idea to leave the car behind, as there are a number of public transport and taxi services travelling to Gatwick Airport, or you could get a friend or family member to give you a lift.

Getting to the Airport

Nobody likes being in a rush, and if you’re planning on travelling directly to Gatwick Airport on the day that you’re due to fly, you might find yourself stuck in traffic, stressing about getting there on time or even hoping that you’re flight has been delayed so you can buy yourself some extra time to sort everything out, especially if you’re with the kids. To make the who experience less stressful, why not click here to check in to a Gatwick Airport hotel – you can stay the night before in close proximity to the airport, without having to worry about being late or waking the kids up in the early hours of the morning to make the journey. Some hotels also offer parking for the duration of your trip so it might be a good idea to ask when booking if you can get it any cheaper than at the airport itself.

How do you avoid airport hell at Gatwick? If you’d like to share any tips with other travellers we’d love to hear from you in the comments.