Gatwick Airport has seen a series of major facility upgrades within the last 10 years, with £1.2 billion invested between 2008 and 2014.
Most notably, the South terminal hugely benefitted from a brand new security area that features 19 lanes and a dedicated entrance for passengers with special assistance requirements, as well as families/individuals travelling with small children. A brand new premium lane was introduced for the 1st class and business class passengers.
The South Terminal at Gatwick offers a wide variety of services to make the flying experience smooth and stress-free, as much as it's possible.
The following links will take you to the full list of facilities available at Gatwick's South Terminal: Not sure which terminal, South or North? Find out on our Departures page.
Check-in desks are located on level 2 at Gatwick's South Terminal. Passengers are advised to arrive well in time for their flight to ensure they have plenty of time to go through security. Make sure you check-in with plenty of time prior to your flight.
Some airlines offer self-service check-in; it's a really simple process and will take minutes to complete. Passengers save time and are able to check-in at the airline's kiosk, choose their seats and print boarding cards. Alternatively, self check-in can also be done online, in advance, before you even head off to the airport. Passengers then have to drop their luggage at the drop off points.
Remember: Please note that there are no flight calls at London Gatwick airport, so all passengers need to check the flight information screens situated across all levels at South Terminal. The screens will list flight destination, time, flight number, status, gate number and whether it's affected by delays/cancellations. Boarding usually begins around 45 minutes before departure.
Arrivals is located to the left of the terminal. You can check arrival times online.
When connecting to another flight at Gatwick and you already have your boarding pass for the next flight, it’s recommended to allow at least 60 minutes for connections within the same terminal. If your flights are departing from different terminals, aim for a minimum of 90 minutes between flights. However, please be aware that different airlines may have their own minimum connection time rules, so always verify these details before booking. If you need to collect checked luggage and pass through immigration before checking in for your next flight, check with your airline for their specific connection time requirements. Failure to meet these time guidelines could result in missing your next flight, so it's crucial to plan accordingly to avoid any issues.
In the event you miss your connection, contact your onward airline to explore your options. Gatwick’s Service Centre (operated by Skybreak) located in the South Terminal Check-In Zone J or Level 2 in the North Terminal may assist with alternative arrangements for missed connections, particularly for airlines like TAP, Qatar Airways, Norwegian, Swiss, and Air Europa. For other carriers, they can still offer support with new travel options.
It’s easy to move between terminals at Gatwick via the free inter-terminal shuttle, which runs every few minutes and operates around the clock, 365 days a year. The shuttle takes just two minutes to travel between terminals. To board, head to the shuttle station near the train station in the South Terminal and follow signs to the North Terminal. If you’re traveling in the opposite direction, simply follow the signs from the North Terminal to find the shuttle entrance to the South Terminal.
The South Terminal handles the bulk of Gatwick Airport's traffic serving domestic, international and charter flights.
| Aegean Airlines | Aer Lingus | Air Arabia Maroc | Air Baltic |
| Air Europa | Air Malta | Aurigny | Badr Airlines |
| Bamboo Airways | BH Air | British Airways | Corendon Airlines |
| Croatia Airlines | Eastern Air | easyJet | Enter Air |
| Germania | Iberia Express | Jet2 | Med-View Airline |
| Montenegro Airlines | Norwegian (Self-Service Available) | Norse | Pegasus |
| Ryanair | Scoot | Sky Express | SmartWings |
| SunExpress | TAP Portugal | Titan Airways | TUI |
| Turkish Airlines | Ukraine International Airlines | Vueling | Wizz Air |
| Bureau de Change | You'll find 2 ChangeGroup Bureau de Change counters in the Check-in area, Zone A and H. |
| Food and Drink | There are no cafes or restaurants on Check-in level 2, however, Marks & Spencer Simply Food stocks a range of pre-packed salads, snacks and drinks. |
| Information Desk | A dedicated Information Zone is situated in the check-in area, next door to Boots Pharmacy. |
| Internet Access | High-speed wi-fi is available throughout the airport and is free to use. |
| Shopping | There are no shopping opportunities available in this part of the terminal |
| Special Assistance | Situated next to the VAT Refund office, you'll find the special assistance information desk, with reserved seating. |
| Toilets | Male, female and disabled access toilets, as well as baby changing facilities, are located opposite Boots. Additional male and female toilets can be found to the right of check-in zone A |
| Bureau de Change | Currency exchange services are available from ChangeGroup. You'll find one after departures security, bottom of the escalator before WDF. Another one is located at the Terminal Village, opposite departures security. The third one is located at upper level opposite Wetherspoons. |
| Food and Drink | Most restaurants and cafes are located on the upper level of departures and include Nandos, Pret A Manger, Costa, Wagamama and J D Wetherspoons. You will find the Caviar House & Prunier on the lower level, as well as several cafes in the departures level 3, just before the security. |
| Internet Access | You can enjoy free superfast Wi-Fi. |
| Luggage Trolleys | Available free of charge on the forecourt. But you will need £1 to use it but it will be refunded when you return it. |
| Places of Worship | A multi-faith chapel is available for private prayer on level 3 near Caffè Nero (before security). |
| Smoking | You can find designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted anywhere in the terminal building. Read the rules of travelling with e-cigarettes. |
| Lounges | Lounges are located on the upper level |
| Shopping | There are many retail stores, bookstores and news shops in both the public and passenger areas of the departures concourse. You will find most retail facilities on the lower level of the Departure lounge. An array of shops is also located on the upper level. |
| Toilets | All three levels of Departures have male, female and accessible toilets, baby changing facilities, as well as shower facilities on levels 1 and 3. Changing Places facilities are available on the upper level. |
| Bureau de Change | Three ChangeGroup Bureaux de Change are situated in the arrivals area, one of them opposite the M&S Simply Food store, and the other two can be found in Baggage Hall. |
| Buses | Available from the street level landside. |
| Car hire | Major companies have desks beyond the Meeting Point. |
| Food and Drink | Costa Coffee offers a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, pastries, paninis and muffins, and is located right opposite the Arrivals exit. M&S Simply Food store sells a good choice of cold foods, snacks and beverages. |
| Information Desk | In the main Arrivals area, next to the Airport Concierge. |
| Internet Access | Free Wi-fi available throughout the airport. |
| Left Luggage | Operated by the Excess Baggage Company, the left luggage storage facility is located right in front of arrivals gates, open 24 hours a day and the charge is £9 per item per 24 hours (or part). |
| Luggage Trolleys | Available free of charge in Baggage Reclaim. But you will need £1 to use it but it will be refunded when you return it. |
| Shopping | WHSmith, M&S Simply Food, and Boots. |
| Parking | Access to the Short Stay car parkis via a covered walkway. Follow signs to the lower level. |
| Taxi | On the forecourt |
| Toilets | Male, female, accessible toilets and a baby changing facility are located opposite Boots. |
| Train | The entrance to the Rail concourse is signposted and is towards the Departures area. |
