 Driving to Gatwick
"JNugent" <not.telling@noparticularplacetogo.com> wrote in message
news:dLKdnd0zafBTSAnbnZ2dnUVZ8qSnnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Graculus wrote:
>> Does anyone have the actual low-down on exactly what restrictions there
>> are for driving into London Gatwick (North Terminal to be specific) to
>> drop off or pick up passengers? BAA's web site is pretty hopeless, just
>> talking about "restrictions" and urging to use public transport.
>>
>> I am flying from LGW on Sunday, and am assuming these restrictions will
>> still be in place (as we have to be seen to be doing something, no matter
>> how futile). Getting there by public transport is easy if you're coming
>> from London or Brighton, but to get there from nearby, e.g. East
>> Grinstead, that just doesn't work.
>>
>> They are talking about encouraging people to use the short stay car
>> parks.
>> (a) Is this "encouraging" or "forcing"? From the incomplete news reports
>> I hear, private cars are not allowed on the departures ramps, though I
>> have no confirmation one way or the other.
>> (b) If you aren't allowed to do anything but go through the car park,
>> even if you just drive through and drop someone off, will they still
>> demand £2.40 off you for 30 minutes "parking"? If so, that's surely
>> exthortion.
>>
>> As I said, I have just pieced this together from what I can find out from
>> web sites and news bulletins. Does anyone out there have more than just
>> speculation, i.e. actual facts about the situation. Has anyone been
>> through in the last couple of days?
>
> I don't know whether this comes too late for you, but I returned via
> Gatwick last night.
It is too late - I also returnned last night.
>
> Private cars can no longer drop off outside the terminals (ie, where the
> car-park courtesy buses stop). They have to be taken into one of the
> car-parks (the short-term ones being more convenient - just across the
> road). I suppose a fit passenger could be dropped at the side of the road
> some distance short of the terminal and walk the rest of the way.
Not may pavements!
I actually took the train from Three Bridges in the end. Total journey time
not much different (10 min drive to 3 Bridges + 5 minutes on the train with
zero waiting time due to fortuitous timing, plus another 5 mins to get the
train to North Terminal, c.f. about 20-25 mins to drive (5 of those queueing
to get into the terminal).
I did pop out to the drop-off area to have a look. There were people in
private cars being dropped off, but it was generally very quiet, so they
must have blagged their way in or something.
>
> The problem with the short-term car-parks is that unless there is a
> Stansted-style free first half-hour, there is always a charge - in effect
> a charge for dropping someone off.
£2.40 at Gatwick. Like the water tax (having to buy water once through
security rather than taking your own), it's more easy money for BAA.
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