Urgent help - Gatwick connection time on 2 separate airlines
 

Hi all,

We have just found out that our flights have been cancelled for our Spain trip in three weeks (thanks Ryan Air!) After spending all day looking up various (increasingly insane) options I found something I think will work. I'm just not sure about how much time I need to have in Gatwick - I've never flown through there before.

Each leg will be booked separately as we'll be using a combination of Easyjet and ClickAir to get from Edinburgh to Seville and then Malaga to Edinburgh. Cost is a huge, huge concern - using this option we'll still have to pay about £150 over what we would have on RyanAir (and spend all day traveling!) but we really don't want to cancel.

Basically each way I have a choice between a 2 hour layover and an 8 hour layover. We were planning to check a bag, but I think we could do it carry-on only. What do you think? I'd rather not hang around Gatwick for 8 hours but will take your advice!

Thanks - in slight panic mode right now!
PittPurple

The 2 hour connection is totally impossible - so don't even consider it. The two airports are 50-90 minutes apart depending on the traffic.

8 hours may be a little much but I normally want 4 to 4.5 hour, minimum for that connection. And even that would be cutting it close.

You won't be "hanging around" LGW for 8 hours - more like 3+ . . . . . .

Hi Janisj,

I think maybe I didn't explain it right -

7th October to Spain
Edinburgh - Gatwick (Easyjet)
Gatwick - Sevilla (ClickAir)

21st October home
Malaga - Gatwick (Easyjet)
Gatwick - Edinburgh (Easyjet)

All flights are from or to Gatwick so I only have to deal with one airport. The choice is a 2 hour or 8 hour layover. I'd check in online and only have carry-on bags. Is it possible? I would never consider such a short layover in Heathrow, but I know it's done all the time elsewhere.

Sorry it wasn't clear!
PittPurple

These are all-Gatwick connections.

I still wouldn't, though. Even outbound, you've got to collect your bags, change terminals (ie wait for the monorail) check in before the cutoff and go through security.

Coming back, all that plus going through immigration. You'll PROBABLY do it - but what happens if the inbound's even as little as 15 minutes late? ebook at full price, after losing your money on the flight you've missed, that's what.

Can you not do this on BA and/or IB, thus avoiding the risk of being shafted if one leg's late?

The consquences of delay are just too great

PS: I'd be more than happy to do this at LHR, since I'd be using airlines that interconnected and would bail me out if one were late.

It's not Gatwick: it's the airlines' policy that screws you here. That's why they're cheap.

oh sheesh - I just assumed LHR to LGW connection. Sorry.

Easyjet has a 30 minutes advance check in (or it might be 40 mins at LGW) Anyway. That means you must have your boarding pass in hand at the cut off time. Being in the queue is not good enough.

2 hours <i>should</i> be long enough - but a late arrival and you are sunk.

According to the timetables I found on both airlines' sites, you would arrive at Gatwick on easyJet at 09:50 and depart on ClickAir at 15:30. That's a 5 1/2-hour layover, not 8 hours. While arriving at 13:10 would give you a 2hr20min layover, I wouldn't recommend it even if you carry on your luggage. If all goes well, you'll be fine. However, if your easyJet flight is late and you miss your ClickAir check-in deadline, your ticket will be worthless.

If your layover on your return is eight hours, you could easily take a 30-minute train ride to Brighton, stroll along the boardwalk, see a bit of the town, and get back to LGW in plenty of time for your flight to Edinburgh.

Thanks everyone - I'm a very paranoid traveller and wasn't sure if I was overreacting to the layover - seems like my instinct was right and I'll do the super long layovers.

Still reviewing my options but at least there's a backup plan now! Thanks for your help.