Coming from US, going beyond Gatwick: Customs??
 

Yes, I'm a travel dummy who hasn't had enough dough to cross the pond in many a year. Good news: my ship came in. Bad news: I'm clueless. I'll be travelling into Gatwick, arriving 10ish. What is the earliest connection I can grab on the easy jet to Geneva? Involved in this I'd like to know - Do I go through customs at Gatwick or Geneva? Thank you, travel savvy sophisticates.

First I would check the timetable for Easy Jet, just go to Yahoo and type in the name and you can then complete the information needed. I tried it and it appears that they have no flight from Gatwick to Geneva, only from Luton to Geneva. If this is the case, and please verify what I just wrote, you will have long transfer between airports in the London area. I am sure others can prove to be of greater assistance.

<BR> <BR>Depends on how you book the tickets. If you book on the same airline,at the same time, you should be able to check luggage once and change planes in Gatwick. Thus in Gatwick, no baggage retreival, no customs (as long as you don't leave the international side of the airport. <BR> <BR>Depending on where you depart the U.S. and what airline you use, you may have to transfer to Heathrow. It's easy enough, but allow at least two hours to make the transfer, three is even smarter. If you can check luggage thru to Geneva, at Gatwick, no luggage retreival. but you would clear customs (duck soup really). You would get your transfer voucher in the transfers counter when you arrive. If you stay on the same airline they will take care of the luggage. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps some . . Rich <BR> <BR>I'd guess BA or Swissair goes from London to Geneva about once an hour, but don't know which airport they fly that route from. <BR> <BR>You should be able to look at flights on www.britishairways.com, Travelocity or Expedia

I jumped the gun! There is a flight between Gatwick and Geneva. Sorry for the confusion.

www.easyjet.com <BR> <BR>According to their website, there ARE flights from Gatwick to Geneva with Easyjet. <BR>Ask when checking in in the US, whether you can check through to Geneva. <BR>

If Roger is correct and EasyJet only goes out of Luton, you will need, at a minimum: one-hour to get through customs (it might be less, but plan on an hour and you'll be safer); two hours to get to Luton (but that might be more, depending on mode of transportation and traffic at the time; two hours for check-in for an international flight. So you are looking at a four-hour period. And you should really plan on more in case your flight arrives late, traffic is bad, etc. You may be able to check your bags directly through to Geneva from the States, in which case you won't have to pick them up and move them yourself at Gatwick; however, odds are you won't be able to. I don't know about the best transportation from Gatwick to Luton. Does anybody else out there? Is there a better option than EasyJet? Ryan Air maybe? UK experts, please help. <BR> <BR>By the way, "dumber", you aren't so dumb you don't know enough to ask the questions. Sounds pretty smart to me.

<BR> <BR>I did a quick check on Travelocity and all the flights from London to Geneva but one go from Heathrow. This was the only Gatwick flight it found which would mean an overnite in London for you. <BR> <BR>Flight: British Airways flight 2736 on a Boeing 737 Jet <BR>Departs: Tuesday, Jul 03 <BR>From: London Gatwick, UK (LGW) at 7:45am <BR>To: Geneva, Switzerland (GVA) at 10:25am Tuesday, Jul 03 <BR> <BR>Depending on where you depart the U.S you might try a direct flight to Geneva that would be easier on you. <BR> <BR>Rich <BR>

Thanks, Linda. But trust me - I am travel dumb. My US carrier arrives Gatwick 10:05. The earliest flight with easyjet leaves Gatwick at 11:10. Should I wait around until 15:45 for the next flight to Geneva or take the earlier one? Sounds like you do go through customs at Gatwick if you change airline carriers, as I will do. Is that right?

I would wait and take the later flight. Gatwick may not be beautiful, but it's a lot prettier than the sight of the tail end of your connection soaring away without you.

Dumber: Not dumb, just uneducated!

Take the later flight if you can - there is no sense in worrying yourself to death about missing the connection (which is quite possible). I'd never cut it that close. Better to have too much time then not enough. We usually fly into Heathrow but I imagine Gatwick has some shower rooms so you could always freshen up before the next leg of the trip if you wanted to.