Phuket Thailand

brit · #1 21-12-2006, 10:52

Just wondering about BM thoughts/experiences with flying from LGW instead of LHR. I've found a flight in Jan for £408 but it's from Gatwick, seems all these cheap Qatar flights people have been posting lately are outbound from LGW. Never been there myself but I've heard it's a pain getting there, I'm also thinking it might be cheaper to get to heathrow (I'm outside of London).

K2 · #2 21-12-2006, 11:02

Hi Brit-

I prefer using Gatwick as its smaller and everything seems to be quicker to get through - check-in - security - immigration.

But I suppose depends where you live - my parents live on the south coast - so getting to Heathrow takes up to 2 hours longer depending on time of day and work on M25.

If you live in South/SE/East London, Sussex, Kent then would say Gatwick would make life easier.

Caerphilly · #3 21-12-2006, 12:13

Never used Gatwick for the same reasons you state as I travel to London from the West.

The main airline flights seem to leave Heathrow about 11am to noon so I can connect with a 4am start from home. Looking at the Gatwick -middle east routes leave more 10am to 11am so I'd be out of house at 1am to get an ealier bus ride to ensure arival at airport was comfortable margin.

That takes the home to Bkk time to just over 24hrs and don't fancy that much

mars · #4 21-12-2006, 15:32

There are a few ways to get to Gatwick.

The gatwick express from Victoria, South west trains from London Bridge station which is near to Kings X if I remember correctly or Virgin cross country coming from the north via Birmingham Reading on the way to Brighton stop there.

There is a village very close to Gatwick and I cant remember the name only one stop on the train away or a 2 minute bus ride on the service bus to the airport in the morning that has loads of B & B places or if your driving you can park your car at the B & B very cheaply. Also has some good pubs for food and drink the night before.

mars · #5 21-12-2006, 15:36

Just done a search on google

The village well more of a town really Its called Horley

K2 · #6 21-12-2006, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mars

There is a village very close to Gatwick and I cant remember the name only one stop on the train away or a 2 minute bus ride on the service bus to the airport in the morning that has loads of B & B places or if your driving you can park your car at the B & B very cheaply. Also has some good pubs for food and drink the night before.

Your are probably talking about Horley.

Gatwick Express website here:

London Gatwick Express

Southeastern Railways also have serrvice via East Croyden.

arealhighlander · #7 23-12-2006, 04:37

I have been using Qatar via Gatwick recently. The main reason is because my flight from N Scotland flies to LGW.

If I was to fly from Heathrow it would cost me an extra £30 each return on the transfer coach (plus the extra time).

LGW is smaller and less crowded than LHR.

The other main reason was flying Qatar from LGW was £200 each cheaper than flying from LHR. Dunno why but may be because their newer aircraft flies from LHR.

As mentioned, Gatwick is well connected with transfer bus between there and Heathrow, Gatwick Express, busses n train. The hotels round LGW are also cheaper per night than round Heathrow.

What I dont like in LGW with Qatar is that if you get lounge access, Qatar have an agreement with Continental, and their lounge is terrible!

brit · #8 23-12-2006, 06:55

Thanks for the info. Mars it is interesting you mention the cross country train route from Birmingham down to Reading - I've been that way myself but that was for Heathrow. I'm leaning towards just paying the extra for a LHR flight, I figure on £12 from Victoria to Gatwick anyway plus whatever extra cost to get to London. The LHR RailAir route via Reading is all inclusive at least.

Sirgezza · #9 23-12-2006, 07:19

Where do you live????

There are more flights from Heathrow than LGW, but yes, the really cheap flights for Qatar go from Gatwick.

Is the gatwick express only £12?????

sarsbuk · #10 23-12-2006, 09:48

I fly in and out of both airports quite often from the USA. Where I work

I arrive home from California on the 12th feb at Heathrow and fly out to bangkok on the 15th feb from Gatwick

I booked my flight with www.etihadairways.com it was 452 GBP.
with an hour stop over in Abu Dhabi I'll be needing a ciggie by then anyhow. Etihad fly from both airports but flying from Heathrow it was a longer stopover in Abu Dhabi.

The cheapest I got direct was $1200 USD with British Airways.

From Cardiff, National Express leave about every 2 hours all night. Stopping at Heathrow 1st and then onto Gatwick. They do also pick up in Reading I think at Sainsbury's or Tesco's Car Park on the junction.

I do not mind either airport... But I do find Heathrow always alot busier with security checks (longer lines) checking in luggage etc....

Hope this helps!!!

sarsbuk · #11 24-12-2006, 00:17

How to get Half price national Express Coach Tickets!!!!!

Ok Cardiff to Heathrow Airport is about 40 quid return.

Or book Cardiff to Southampton where you change in Heathrow for your next bus (which you don't catch) 20 quid!!!!!

I have been doing this for years and they never catch on!!

It pays for your beers in the airport

Caerphilly · #12 24-12-2006, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarsbuk

How to get Half price national Express Coach Tickets!!!!!

Ok Cardiff to Heathrow Airport is about 40 quid return.

Or book Cardiff to Southampton where you change in Heathrow for your next bus (which you don't catch) 20 quid!!!!!

I have been doing this for years and they never catch on!!

It pays for your beers in the airport

I have to book a ticket asap....I'll try this thanks if it works

dawsey · #13 24-12-2006, 05:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by brit

Just wondering about BM thoughts/experiences with are outbound from LGW. Never been there myself but I've heard it's a pain getting there, I'm also thinking it might be cheaper to get to heathrow (I'm outside of London).

What part of "outside of London" brit? If you live in the SE or along the M3 corridor then Gatwick isn't so bad. Most National Express Coaches run to Heathrow first from North/West/or South West of Heathrow and then on to Gatwick, adding another 1hr+ to an already long journey

As for the airport itself, Gatwick IMO is a far superior place to be leaving the UK. As said, its smaller,newer and only the North and South terminals to contend with. Immigration is quicker too. I like it.

As for Heathrow,well its reaching breaking point. Terminal 5 can't open soon enough (next June I believe) and the parking is mayhem there. Both the longhaul terminals 3&4 are always packed and its not a good experience there.
In saying that, I always opt if possible to use Heathrow as the convenience of getting there outweigh the bad points.

brit · #14 24-12-2006, 06:44

Yeah I should have mentioned I'm travelling from the west midlands. I guess that's what it comes down to really - where you live. I was kinda hoping someone would have horror stories to put me off LGW and give me an easy decision

If anything though it seems people feel that's the better airport.

I really want to try the middle east stopover this trip, breaking the flight up into 7 hour journeys with next to no waiting is very appealing. I need to try it out for myself first but looking at it on paper I'd probably pay extra just for the privilege. Very convenient that it also seems to be the cheapest route

sarsbuk · #15 24-12-2006, 06:57

Hey Brit

I booked my flight with *Etihad Airways: *The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates a few days ago for 452 GBP. Flying the middle of February

Flying out 1 hour 15 mins wait in Abu Dhabi
flying back 1 hour 50 mins wait in Abu Dhabi.

I am happy with that so I can have a few ciggies.

Has anyone out there flown with Etihad??? Maybe I'll be stuck in the back with the chickens and livestock??

Still as long as it gets me from A to B

Simon

brit · #16 24-12-2006, 10:02

I've got my eye on the £408 flight I mentioned and as a backup have several for around £435 from Heathrow which I might just take anyways.

I'm going to try calling around the offers dawsey has posted on other threads first but I've not got my hopes up. I take the view that if you can't book it online there and then it's likely a BS excuse to get you on the phone and offer the next price up...

Edit: I've found a ton of Etihad flights from LHR now at £410-£420. They are everywhere - lastminute, holiday genie, benz...

I wonder if tourist numbers are down this year?? They are really slashing the prices. You can get a flight on Jan 5th for £439 I went on the same date this year and it was hard getting a flight at all that wasn't crazy prices.

dawsey · #17 24-12-2006, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarsbuk

Has anyone out there flown with Etihad??? Maybe I'll be stuck in the back with the chickens and livestock??

Still as long as it gets me from A to B

Simon

Quite a few BMs have now used this airline. I have made over 10 flights with them and found them to be a v good .
For an unbiased opinion of them have a look<<HERE>>

Also, if you type Eihad Airways into the Search above, it throws up plenty of threads with comments about them.

JockLOS · #18 26-12-2006, 20:47

I always when possible use Gatwick, several reasons, smaller, less congested, easier check in / security and all round more user friendly. T3 in particular at LHR can be a nightmare at check in & security. I recently used airmiles to fly back to the UK and was 45 mins in the security line even though it was biz class & fast track...

With regards Etihad, I tried them BKK - LGW in August as saw a few good reviews on here. Found their in flight service fell far short of Emirates. (cant comment on Qatar). I also think Dubai is a far better stop over than Abu Dhabi for those who prefer to break the journey.

Icebox · #19 26-12-2006, 21:27

If anyones interested and if im allowed to post i can tell u a way to get half price tickets on the gatwick, stansted, heathrow express, basically u sign up for BAA world points and u get 100 points free it allows u upgrade to 1st class or go half price 30 mins from london victoria to gatwick £7 single and %£7 return a bargain IMO.