Planning a flight from London Gatwick Airport? Knowing when to arrive can make all the difference to a smooth start to your journey. Whether you’re travelling from North or South Terminal, you’ll need enough time for parking, check-in, security and getting to your departure gate.
As a general guide, allow around 2 hours before domestic flights, 2-3 hours before European flights and 3-4 hours before long-haul flights. These are suggested terminal arrival times, so always check your airline’s specific requirements.
If you’re driving to Gatwick and using off-airport parking, you’ll need to factor in additional time for parking your car and transferring to the terminal. At APH, we recommend arriving at our Park & Ride or Self Park facility at least one hour before your airline’s earliest recommended check-in time.
In this guide, we’ll explain how early to arrive, what to expect from different parking services and how to plan your journey. You can also compare our Gatwick Airport parking options before you travel.
How Early Should You Arrive at Gatwick Airport?
The ideal arrival time depends on your destination, airline and whether you’re checking in luggage. The table below provides a useful starting point.
| Flight type | Suggested arrival at terminal | Suggested arrival at off-airport parking |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights | 2 hours before departure | 3 hours before departure |
| European flights | 2-3 hours before departure | 3-4 hours before departure |
| Long-haul flights | 3-4 hours before departure | 4-5 hours before departure |
Some airlines open check-in desks only a few hours before departure, so arriving excessively early may mean waiting for bag drop to open. Check your airline’s guidance before travelling.
How Early Should You Arrive for Gatwick Airport Parking?
When booking airport parking, it’s important to distinguish between the time you arrive at the car park and the time you reach the terminal.
At APH, we offer different parking options to suit your travel plans, including Park & Ride, Self Park and Meet & Greet. Each has a different arrival process.
APH Park & Ride: Allow an Extra Hour
Our APH Gatwick Park & Ride service is a convenient option for travellers looking for secure off-airport parking with free transfers to both terminals.
We recommend arriving at the car park at least one hour before your airline’s earliest recommended check-in time. This gives you time to check in your vehicle, unload your luggage and catch the shuttle bus.
- Drive to the APH Gatwick car park on Copthorne Road, Crawley, RH10 3PD.
- Follow the signs to the arrival area and park in a designated bay.
- Check in at reception and leave your keys with our team.
- Our staff will park your vehicle while you’re away.
- Board the complimentary shuttle bus to Gatwick North or South Terminal.
APH Gatwick shuttle transfers typically take 10-12 minutes, with buses running every 10-15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Both the car park and transfer service operate throughout the year.
Example: If your airline recommends arriving at the terminal at 6am, aim to reach APH Park & Ride by 5am.
APH Self Park: Park Your Own Car and Keep Your Keys
If you’d prefer to park your own vehicle and keep your keys, APH Self Park is another option at Gatwick.
Our Self Park facility shares the same entrance as APH Park & Ride. Instead of leaving your keys with our team, you’ll park in your allocated area and keep your keys while you’re away.
Free shuttle transfers operate to both Gatwick terminals, typically taking 10-12 minutes, with buses running every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and night.
As with Park & Ride, we recommend arriving around one hour before your airline’s earliest recommended check-in time.
Compare APH Self Park with our other Gatwick parking services to find the option that best suits your journey.
Gatwick Meet & Greet: No Shuttle Transfer Required
Meet & Greet parking can be a convenient choice if you’re travelling with young children, carrying several suitcases or simply want to avoid a shuttle transfer.
With APH Meet & Greet Forecourt, you drive to the designated handover point at your departure terminal, where an authorised driver meets you and takes your vehicle to a parking facility.
There’s no shuttle bus to catch, and the walk to the terminal is typically around two minutes. However, you should still allow sufficient time for the vehicle handover and any walking required before reaching check-in.
Our advice: Arrange your vehicle handover so that you can reach the terminal at your airline’s recommended arrival time. Follow the instructions in your booking confirmation, including any requirement to call the operator shortly before arriving.
Explore the available Meet & Greet services on our Gatwick Airport parking comparison page.
Gatwick Parking Arrival Times Compared
| Parking service | When to arrive | Transfer required? | Keep your keys? |
|---|---|---|---|
| APH Park & Ride | At least 1 hour before recommended check-in | Yes, 10-12 minutes | No |
| APH Self Park | Around 1 hour before recommended check-in | Yes, 10-12 minutes | Yes |
| APH Meet & Greet Forecourt | Allow time for handover before recommended terminal arrival | No | No |
| On-airport Short Stay | Allow time to park and walk to check-in | No | Yes |
| On-airport Long Stay | Allow additional time for shuttle transfer | Yes | Yes |
How Long Does the APH Gatwick Shuttle Take?
Our APH Gatwick car park is located approximately five miles from the airport, with free shuttle transfers to both North and South Terminals.
The shuttle journey normally takes around 10-12 minutes, and buses operate approximately every 10-15 minutes, 24 hours a day.
However, the advertised transfer time is only the journey from the car park to the terminal. You’ll also need to allow time for checking in your vehicle, unloading luggage, waiting for the bus and walking to departures.
Example: How Much Time Should You Allow?
| Activity | Illustrative time |
|---|---|
| Arriving and checking in your vehicle | 10-15 minutes |
| Waiting for the shuttle | 10-15 minutes |
| Shuttle transfer to terminal | 10-12 minutes |
| Walking to check-in | 5-10 minutes |
| Total allowance | 35-52 minutes |
This is why we recommend allowing an extra hour for off-airport parking, even though the shuttle journey itself takes only around 10 minutes.
How Early Should You Arrive at Gatwick North Terminal?
Gatwick North Terminal serves a range of domestic, European and long-haul flights. Your recommended arrival time depends on your airline and destination rather than the terminal itself.
As a general guide, allow two hours for domestic flights, two to three hours for European flights and three to four hours for long-haul departures.
If you’re parking with APH Park & Ride or Self Park, arrive at our car park at least one hour before your recommended terminal check-in time. Our complimentary shuttle service operates to North Terminal throughout the day and night.
Always check your airline’s current terminal allocation before leaving home, as airlines can change terminals.
How Early Should You Arrive at Gatwick South Terminal?
The same general arrival guidance applies to Gatwick South Terminal. Allow sufficient time for check-in, bag drop, security and reaching your boarding gate.
APH provides free shuttle transfers to South Terminal from our Gatwick Park & Ride and Self Park facilities, with a typical journey time of 10–12 minutes.
If you’ve booked Meet & Greet, follow your operator’s instructions for the designated South Terminal handover point.
Remember that Gatwick’s two terminals are connected by a free inter-terminal shuttle. If you need to travel between terminals, allow additional time rather than relying on the transfer to make up for a late arrival.
What Time Should You Arrive for an Early Morning Flight?
Early morning flights are popular at Gatwick, particularly for European holiday destinations. If you’re departing at 6am or 7am, you may need to arrive at your parking facility during the early hours.
The good news is that APH Gatwick Park & Ride and Self Park operate 24 hours a day, with shuttle transfers available throughout the night.
Example: A 6am Flight from Gatwick
If your airline recommends arriving two hours before departure, you’ll need to be at the terminal by 4am.
| Parking service | Suggested arrival |
|---|---|
| APH Park & Ride | 3am at the car park |
| APH Self Park | 3am at the car park |
| Meet & Greet | Handover before 4am, subject to booking instructions |
| Recommended terminal arrival | 4am |
| Flight departure | 6am |
For early departures, remember to check your route to the car park. Overnight roadworks and closures on the M23, M25 and surrounding roads can affect journey times.
How Much Time Do You Need for Check-In and Security?
Once you’ve reached the terminal, there are several stages to complete before boarding your flight.
- Check-in: Visit your airline’s check-in desk if you haven’t already checked in online.
- Bag drop: If you’re travelling with hold luggage, use your airline’s designated bag-drop facility.
- Security: Follow Gatwick’s current security screening and hand luggage requirements.
- Departure lounge: Check the flight information screens for your gate number and boarding information.
- Boarding: Reach your departure gate before your airline’s published boarding deadline.
Security waiting times vary depending on passenger numbers, staffing and the time of day. Weekends, school holidays and peak travel periods can be particularly busy.
Gatwick does not make general flight boarding announcements throughout the airport, so keep checking the departure screens and your airline’s notifications.
For current check-in advice, visit London Gatwick’s official check-in information.
Can You Arrive Later If You’ve Checked In Online?
Online check-in can make your airport experience more straightforward, particularly if you’re travelling with hand luggage only.
If you already have your boarding pass and don’t need to check in luggage or have documents verified, you may be able to proceed directly to security.
However, checking in online doesn’t remove the need to allow enough time for security screening, walking to your gate and boarding.
Our advice: Follow your airline’s recommended arrival time even if you’ve checked in online. If you’re using off-airport parking, remember to include the additional time needed for parking and transfers.
Travelling with Children or Requiring Special Assistance?
If you’re travelling with young children, pushchairs, additional luggage or passengers who need assistance, allowing extra time can make the journey more comfortable.
For families, Meet & Greet parking can be particularly convenient because there’s no shuttle transfer. Alternatively, APH Park & Ride offers frequent transfers to both terminals.
If you require special assistance at Gatwick, contact your airline in advance, ideally at least 48 hours before departure, so the necessary arrangements can be made.
APH Self Park provides wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses and assistance facilities. If you have particular accessibility requirements, contact us before travelling so we can help you understand the arrangements available.
What If You’re Driving to Gatwick During Busy Periods?
Traffic delays can affect even the best-planned airport journey. Gatwick is accessible from the M23 and M25, but roadworks, accidents and holiday traffic can increase journey times.
- Check live traffic information before leaving home.
- Allow additional time during school holidays and bank holiday weekends.
- Check for planned motorway closures, particularly for early morning departures.
- Use the directions supplied in your APH booking confirmation.
- Confirm your departure terminal and airline check-in time.
- Keep your booking confirmation and contact details accessible.
Important: APH Park & Ride and Self Park are located on Copthorne Road, Crawley, RH10 3PD. Don’t enter Gatwick Airport’s terminal postcode into your sat nav if you’re travelling directly to our car park.
Can You Arrive Too Early at Gatwick Airport?
Yes. Arriving several hours before your airline’s check-in desk or bag-drop facility opens may mean waiting in the public terminal area.
Arriving much earlier than your booked parking time may also affect your parking arrangements or charges, depending on the product and booking conditions.
We recommend checking both your airline’s check-in opening time and your parking booking confirmation before deciding when to travel.
What Happens If You’re Running Late?
If traffic or another unexpected delay means you’re running late, contact your airline or parking operator as appropriate.
If you’ve booked APH Park & Ride, remember that you’ll still need time to check in your vehicle and catch the shuttle. If you’re using Meet & Greet, contact the operator using the details in your booking confirmation if your arrival time changes significantly.
Airline check-in and boarding deadlines are strict. Arriving after these deadlines could mean missing your flight, even if the aircraft hasn’t departed.
If your return flight is delayed, additional parking charges may apply depending on your booking conditions and the length of the delay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gatwick Arrival Times
Is two hours enough before a flight at Gatwick?
Two hours is a common recommendation for domestic flights and some short-haul departures. European and long-haul flights may require more time. Always follow your airline’s instructions and allow additional time for off-airport parking.
How early should I arrive at APH Gatwick parking?
We recommend arriving at APH Park & Ride or Self Park at least one hour before your airline’s earliest recommended check-in time. This allows time for vehicle check-in and the shuttle transfer.
How often do APH Gatwick shuttle buses run?
Our complimentary shuttle buses operate approximately every 10–15 minutes, 24 hours a day, with a typical transfer time of 10–12 minutes to Gatwick Airport.
Does APH Gatwick parking serve both terminals?
Yes. APH Park & Ride and Self Park provide shuttle transfers to both Gatwick North and South Terminals.
What time should I arrive for a 7am Gatwick flight?
If your airline recommends arriving two hours before departure, aim to reach the terminal by 5am. If you’re using APH Park & Ride or Self Park, aim to arrive at the car park around 4am.
Is Gatwick Meet & Greet quicker than Park & Ride?
Meet & Greet generally reduces the time needed between parking and entering the terminal because there’s no shuttle transfer. However, you still need to allow time for the vehicle handover and walking to check-in.
Can I go straight to security after checking in online?
Usually, yes, if you have a valid boarding pass, only hand luggage and no requirement for an additional document check. Passengers with hold luggage will normally need to visit bag drop first.
Does Gatwick Airport offer overnight check-in?
Some airlines provide day-before check-in or bag-drop services for eligible flights. Availability and opening times vary, so check directly with your airline.
Can I park at APH Gatwick for an early morning flight?
Yes. APH Gatwick Park & Ride and Self Park operate 24 hours a day, with complimentary shuttle transfers running throughout the night. Check your booking confirmation for the arrival process.
Plan Ahead with APH Gatwick Airport Parking
The easiest way to plan your Gatwick departure is to work backwards from your airline’s recommended check-in time.
If you’re using APH Park & Ride or Self Park, allow an additional hour for parking and transfers. If you’ve booked Meet & Greet, arrange your vehicle handover so you can reach the terminal at the recommended time.
APH has been family-owned since 1980, helping travellers enjoy a convenient start to their journeys. Our Gatwick parking options include Park & Ride, Self Park and Meet & Greet, so you can choose the service that suits your travel plans.
Flying from Gatwick? Compare Gatwick Airport parking with APH and book ahead for a smoother start to your trip.