Security

[Upsidedown]

Hi All

I suppose its safe to assume that there are a fair few of you that have been through the Gatwick North terminal recently so I wondering if any of you would be able to give me some idea as to what the security screening wait times are like at these days. I am due to fly out to Orlando 26th March and I am staying overnight nearby so it would be good if I had a clue about how long its going to take to get through the airport.

Upsidedown

[CERICROWLEY]

26th March is a Monday and a week before the schools break up, so should be fairly quiet, but you should always check in 3 hours before as the airlines suggest, just incase any unforseen events happen on the day, If you are staying overnight, you could always check in 24 hours before and get rid of your luggage, you will then have you boarding cards and can go straight through security.

The security line is a bit of a shambles if I say so, they funnel you into two or three lines and then there are three desks that they check the boarding cards, and then when you get to the other side, you are all shambled up together to try and get to the screening area. This is what takes the time, there is no organisation to queue you in a reasonable manner. Have a great time

[Upsidedown]

Thanks for the info Ceri. We are staying at a place called Trumbles just a few miles away the night before and we are intending to do the night before bag drop thing so that will help. Flight departs at 11:05 so we are intending to get to airport at 09:00AM, it sounds like that should give us enough time to get through and to the gate. I hope!

Then of course there is always the fiasco at the other end to look forward to. Never mind airports aside we have 3 weeks of pure fun ahead. Yahooooooo.


Upsidedown

[ShirleyD]

It will all depend on how many security people are on duty that day!! Thankfully, several new staff have just received their security clearance, so hopefully there is an overall improvement on the way.

Remember you can only have one piece of handbaggage each (womens handbag counts as one piece) and any liquids (inc mascara, lip gloss etc)must be in a small sealable plastic bag. Take your jacket off ready to go through (shoes may not need to be removed unless they set the alarms off)
I think 2 hours will be fine.

On arrival go all the way over to the left of right as the queues can be shorter and you might be called to the US passport holder queue on the right, or open a new queue on the left!!

[Katys Grandad]

I was through there last Sunday morning. It wasn't too bad but my experience has been that it's down to how many staff are on duty and how many other flights are due to depart.

2 hours will be enough.

[RIS]

I go through North Terminal security 2 or 3 times a month and recently the wait time seems to have calmed down a bit. Normally between 10 and 20 minutes. Two hours to check in and get through security should be fine.

[bargainqueen]

At MCO on 3/3 the line next to US passport holders was used for newly issued passports only, we were taken out of the line and had to start queing again[msncry]

[steph_goodrum]

"At MCO on 3/3 the line next to US passport holders was used for newly issued passports only, we were taken out of the line and had to start queing again

It's not so much newly issued passports but those that contain the biometric chip, even if only one of your party has one you should all go to one of the desks that has the camera type picture on it on the right (the US refer to it as "Icon" - so if they call out for anyone with an "ICON Passport" then that is what they mean.