Gatwick looks likely to remain a gateway for New York flights despite the new freedom for airlines to seek slots at Heathrow. London’s second airport, 28 miles south of the city, has two terminals. The North Terminal, which is more heavily used by business passengers, is generally less frenetic than the South Terminal.
Delta and Continental, which operate between Gatwick and New York’s JFK and Newark, respectively, use the North Terminal. Zoom operates low cost flights to New York from the South Terminal.
Lounges and facilities
Delta passengers check in at Zone A. The airline has a Crown Room lounge in the terminal, with access available to BusinessElite customers and top tier members both of its frequent flyer programme and that of the Skyteam alliance, to which it belongs. Passengers can also get in by paying a membership fee with cash or frequent flyer miles.
Continental moved its operations there from the South Terminal in June. All its desks, including BusinessFirst check in, are in Zone F. But it no longer operates its own President’s Club at the airport. Customers now use the Emirates lounge.
Eateries in the North Terminal include Chez Gerard, Caviar & Seafood Bar. Among the clothes shops Hugo Boss, Fat Face, Monsoon, and Timberland. Other outlets include Ray-Ban, Books Etc, Boots the chemists and Dixons electronics. There is a branch of Harrods after security. Many of these retailers also have outlets in the South Terminal.
Transport tips
Delta and Continental offer chauffeur driven cars to or from the airport. Delta’s are available to all its BusinessElite customers, Continental’s to BusinessFirst passengers paying full fares.
Travellers not taking advantage of such services have two main options: a licensed London taxi - allow £80 for a fare to or from central London. Mini cab fares are likely to be cheaper.
The Gatwick Express surface rail link takes 30 minutes (35 minutes on Sundays). The airport station is next to the South Terminal check-in. Travellers arriving by rail and using the North Terminal need to allow 5-10 minutes extra to transfer there by people mover train
More information: www.gatwickairport.com
