Gatwick Airport Live Departures
Gatwick Airport Check-in
There are multiple ways of checking in for your flight at London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Most airlines offer online check-in up to 24 hours prior to boarding, and others have self-service check-in kiosks at Gatwick Airport Departures. You can also check in the day before or early on the day upon request, or go to the desks at the airport.
Check-in desks are clearly signposted with yellow illuminated signs which display the number of the check-in zone. To find your check-in zone, just look for the monitors at any entrance to find out your flight and check-in information. You can also check the Gatwick Airport Live Departures board above.
South Terminal Departures
Check-in is located at Level 2, with self-service check-in options also available for specific airlines.
North Terminal Departures
Check-in is located at Level 1 and Level 2, self-service check-in is also on Level 1.
When to arrive at Gatwick Airport?
The official Gatwick Airport check-in guidance states international flight passengers should check in 3 hours before departure, European flight passengers can arrive 2 hours prior to take off, and those taking a domestic flight must be at the airport 1.5 hours ahead of departure.
What’s next?
After checking in and dropping any baggage off, you’ll need to have your boarding pass ready and head through security to get to the Gatwick Airport departures lounges, where you can eventually make your way to your gate.
Before passing through security, make sure you’ve checked what you can and can’t take, you can check Gatwick Airport’s Security Screening Advice for hold and hand luggage on their website. Remember to pack all your liquid toiletries in one transparent, resealable plastic bag of 20cm x 20cm. Place your liquids, any laptops or tablets, or other large electrical items in the boxes provided and then walk through the scanner.
How long it takes to get through Gatwick Airport security to the Departures lounges depends on the day and time you’re travelling. In usual conditions, Gatwick security typically takes 10-30 minutes to complete. However, the queues during busy periods can bump the duration up to over an hour.
*Fast Track services are available at an extra cost for those who’d rather avoid the risk of long waiting times.
What to do in Departures at Gatwick Airport?
Both terminals have modern and well-equipped Departures lounges with plenty of amenities, facilities and services. Not to mention a vast selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, Duty-free stores, and premium lounges. You can discover more information about the facilities and services on offer in each terminal in our Gatwick Airport Guide.
Don’t forget that if you’re shopping Duty-free in Gatwick Airport Departures, you should check the tax-free allowance per country. This can be done on the World Duty-Free website or at the Customs Information Points in both terminals. If you exceed the entitlement, you may be asked to pay the difference in the country of your destination.
FAQ
When to arrive at Gatwick Airport?
The best time to arrive ahead of your Gatwick Airport check-in depends on where you’re travelling. If you’re catching an international flight, you should arrive 3 hours before your departure from Gatwick Airport. European flight passengers check in 2 hours before and domestic flight passengers should be at the airport 1.5 hours ahead of departure.