ssvw27

Hello- husband and I need to get from hotel near London eye(Royal Horseguards hotel, actually) to Gatwick for a 8:45 am flight on a Monday morning. We have booked a transfer but now wonder if a train would be faster. Can anyone help?
Many thanks in advance

janisj

The Royal Horseguards is not really considered 'near the Eye'. As the crow flies it is but its across the river.

A train would be much faster. From Horseguards at that time of day I'd take a cab to Victoria and the train from there. You'll want to be on the train at Victoria by 05:45-ish

ssvw27

Janisj could you guess how long it would be for a driver?
It is for a flight to Naples, so i guess we need get there about 7:30am

janisj

>>It is for a flight to Naples, so i guess we need get there about 7:30am<<

Important - Which airline? Most of the discount airlines are very VERY strict about check in and 07:30 would be about an hour too late.

LGW is 30 miles south of London and even though the traffic won't be bad at 06:00 AM there is no fast driving route. It would take at least 75 minutes. The train from Victoria takes 30-35 minutes.

Gordon_R

I think Janis is maybe being a bit over-cautious here. I routinely arrive approx 1 hour before taking an intra-European flight on Flybe or Easyjet. If I need to check-in some luggage I allow another 15 minutes or so. Easyjet's own rules are clear:- <i>"Check-in desks open two hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight and close promptly <b>40 minutes</b> prior to the scheduled departure for those with hold baggage."</i>. It's the same for Ryanair. Flybe I think is 60 mins prior if you have luggage for check-in.

The "strictness" associated with these airlines is not at all a requirement to check-in excessively early, but that if you arrive 1 minute after the check-in closes you will not be allowed to travel on that flight.

jamikins

We have shown up for easyjet flights with 1+ hour to go and the lines were HUGE and we spent about 45mins to drop our bags. Especially first thing in the morning - we have found the lines the longest!! I always leave 2 hours now just in case!

Gordon_R

<i>We have shown up for easyjet flights with 1+ hour to go and the lines were HUGE and we spent about 45mins to drop our bags.</i>

Yes, but when the queues for bag drop are long, Easyjet staff will call out for passengers with flights leaving in approx 50-60 mins. These passengers are then fast-tracked right to the front of the queue!

janisj

>>if you arrive 1 minute after the check-in closes you will not be allowed to travel on that flight.<<

That is what I meant by strict

Many flights leave in the early AM so queues can be long. But again, it somewhat depends on <i>which</i> airline.