Southern Train vs Gatwick Express from central London?
 

The Southern train seems a few pounds cheaper, which would buy us a quick breakfast.

EasyJet flight leaves Gatwick at 0805. What's our best bet for getting there on time, and what time should we plan to depart Victoria Station?

It's not till March, and we can't buy tickets till next month, anyway.

For that early of a flight you will likely need to be there for 6ish. I don't think southern trains will get you there on time...

At that time of day we usually book a car service with www.justairports.com

Sure there are Southern trains leaving when you need them, no problem. Victoria dep. 05:30 arr. Gatwick 05:59, or 05:45/06:15, or 06:00/06:30 and so it goes - that's Mo-Fr

see http://www.southernrailway.com/your-...4&submit3.y=13

Thanks, jamikins! It's a Saturday, if that makes any difference.

Look for discounts on Gatwick Express web site as the time nears - sometimes there is 2 for 1, etc. I see no need to buy those tickets in advance unless you get a price break or can easily print them off at home.

Gatwick Express is a kind of dedicated airport train allowing more time to get on and off at Gatwick - much larger seats and IME many more empty seats - at rush hours Southern Trains can be seriously overloaded - but going out of London should not be a problem at that time.

Check the southern trains site above - trains usually start later on weekends which could be why we never use them for early flights...

Thanks, Michel. That is helpful. (I posted over yours.)

And Pal, jamikins, thanks! We'll be getting a room or hotel for the Friday night, so will be shooting for something convenient to jumping off point.

I love fodorites.

stoke - unless easyjet has changed its policy, you need only check-in 30 mins before departure. personally i would never cut it that fine, but unless you particularly enjoy spending time at airports, you should be fine if you get there by 7am.

so if you were at Victoria by 6am, you'd have time to spare.

where are you going from Gatwick?

BTW, easyjet has a 20% sale on for the next 6 days, but i suspect your air tickets are already booked. As for pre-booking the rail tickets, I don't think that there is any advantage of doing this, as there are no discounts for those sorts of journeys.

Have you considered staying at the premiere inn at gatwick north? It's right at the airport and you can take a late train and be ready to rock and roll first thing without having to worry about trains.

It's my new favourite thing! Most it has cost us is £72, least is £42!

A deal for peace of mind!

Annhig, on a Saturday the checked baggage line for flights on easyjet first thing in the morning consistently take us about 30 mins to get through...we have panicked many times. I now leave at least an hour for my own sanity!

good point, jamikins, though it probably isn't so bad at 7am.

at Bristol all the easyjet passengers checking in go into the same line, and check in at the first desk that becomes available, so although a line can be long, it moves pretty quickly. do they do the same at Gatwick?

I like your idea of staying at gatwick the night before.

After a series of near misses several years ago, traumatizing our two daughters, I have reformed my old last-minute airport ways. An hour ish sounds good.

Ann, my younger daughter's studying in London January through May. I'll be flying over for a week before her spring break -- already have our standing room Lower Slips tickets for Fille du Regiment -- and then we're flying EasyJet to Seville for a week. Just got those tickets this morning, so maybe they were sale priced. My first EasyJet and Spanish experiences.

Jamikins, Premiere Inn sounds perfect. Thanks so much.

Gatwick is horrible first thing! All the first flights of the day descend! It's the worst time we have found...they do go to the same line and it can move quickly but the volume of people means a long wait in our experience!

Premier inn works like a charm!

there are also several typical British B&Bs surprsingly a short walk from the main terminal - follow path to the left (north).

http://www.booking.com/searchresults...ity=1;src=city

If anyone wants to stay in a typical B&B steps literally at times from the main terminal here is a booking/info site.

We recently flew from Gatwick to Nice and were advised by British Airways to get there two hours prior to departure. I guess they were being conservative. As it was, our flight was 45mins late leaving. An hour and a half flight took all day - so boring!

IME there can be really really long lines to get thru security at times at Gatwick and also to get to the check-in counter - especially if a lot of charters flights are departing in a short time frame - leave plenty of time to get into the departure area itself.

Thanks for the B&B link, Pal. Any idea which of them is literally steps away?