My daughter is travelling to Rome in the new year. She has found a westjet flight to Gatwick then she'd do a self transfer (still at Gatwick) to british airways flight to Rome. The flight gap is 5 hours. Would that be enough time to go through whatever security, customs, etc... plus self-transfer to get to her flight to Rome?

Not reallly

Julia could you clarify?

Arlene they expect you to check on 2 hours beforehand

Julia okay, does it typically take a long time to go get luggage and go through security & customs after first leg?

Arlene I'm also relating it to Heathrow so I could be wrong..

Julia hmmm.... not sure then... she has 5 hours at Gatwick only.

Julia gatwick is way faster

If she has to switch from gatwick to heathrow airports, no it isn’t enough time. If anything is delayed she’ll miss the flight.

Kerry Rempel Avery I guess I wasn't clear, there is no change of airport just change of carrier, so all at Gatwick but she has to transfer her luggage herself.

Kerry Rempel Avery oh, that's horrible, yes I'll let her know, thank you! Would you get the insurance with ticket or separately? I've never purchased before.

Okay thanks.

It depends what time of day. If it’s rush hour probably not.
I had to transfer from heathrow to gatwick with 4 hours to spare and I made it. But it wasn’t rush hour and I hired a driver.

Terah Thanks, I guess it wasn't clear that this is all within Gatwick transfer is late morning I believe.

I just came back from London, arriving and departing at Gatwick. Both were very fast and efficient, i think she will be bored as she will have alot of time to kill

Derrick awesome thanks! Bored she can handle, panicked was her fear!

agreed, i prefer to have plenty of time to spare. If she has to get to the other terminal there is a free train. Very easy

Keep in mind if she’s purchased the tickets separately BA does not have to honor her ticket if she misses the flight. Basically she’d need pay a change fee or potentially a new ticket

Jean thanks. Yes, that is one reason she wanted more info before buying.

Jean this is exactly what I was going to say. She'll also need to leave security then check in for a new flight.

There are different terminals at Gatwick. I flew Calgary to Gatwick on west jet 3 weeks ago and I think if the west jet flight is on time, you can easily collect your luggage, get through customs and get the shuttle train to the terminal where she would get the next flight.

Janet thank you!

Janet that's a big if. If they are late westjet won't compensate for a missed flight and neither will BA. Personally, I'd overnight in London.

Janet should be plenty of time. But if overnight is necessary Gatwick has a few hotels right in the terminal. Easy peasy

Gatwick sells "guaranteed connections" complete with priority security line access . About $30. Best money I ever spent

Linda thanks, we had seen something about Gatwick Connects but wasn't sure what it was or how it works.

Linda do you know how to get the Gatwick Connects? We tried via "book online" on their website but it doesn't list Gatwick or London as a possible departure location (so weird).

My research says there is National Express bus service from Gatwick to Heathrow for 25 pounds. The trip takes a little over an hour. Or a taxi would be about 50 pounds and be a bit faster. I certainly wouldn’t dawdle. Security lines at Heathrow can sometimes be really bad.

Ron thanks, I guess I wasn't clear, there is no change of airport just change of carrier, so all at Gatwick but she has to transfer her luggage herself.

We flew in to Gatwick and the airport is pretty small, she should be okay!

Maggie thanks!

If she has 5 hours between arriving in Gatwick and departing to Rome, that is plenty of time. Gatwick is not as large in size as Heathrow.

Nicole thanks!

I have done this route multiple times with me doing a self transfer to another airline. It is super easy. I’ve always made sure I had 2 hours between flights and have never once come close to not having enough time. 5 hours is plenty. Don’t stress....she will be good.

Angie thanks!

Yes plenty of time. Tell her to go to the little store on the lower level when she arrives with westjet to get some salad/sandwich etc. Then go head over to the other terminal and eat/shop there and wait for her next flight. They don't announce the gates until right at boarding time so tell her to not fall asleep!

Jennifer thank you for your tip!

I fly through Gatwick quite a bit, it is a smaller airport then Heathrow or Stansted. I often transfer to another flight that I have booked myself and have had no issues of being held up there. Things move pretty smoothly there.

Louisa Strus thank you!

If you purchased a ticket for her on your master card or your credit card also get the medical and travel insurance package from your Credit card. That’s how I trouble when I go to that side of the world. And I have had to use the insurance three different times.

It is enough time. This is not a huge airport, but even in a bigger airport I would be a good time for transfer.

Olga Morozova-Gelmici thanks!

That’s plenty of time! 2 hours would be enough so she will likely be bored

Lisa thanks!

You didn't mention if her flight from London to Rome is from Gatwick Airport. Or does she have to transfer to Heathrow? If both flights are from Gatwick, she will have lots of time. Maybe not if she has to get over to Heathrow.

Debbie Thanks, yes, all at Gatwick.

She is good. Canadians can do express customs at Gatwick now. Super fast took me maybe 10 minutes at most to get through.

ya, i was very surprised

Shelby oh, interesting. Is it just an automatic when you arrive, there's a certain line?

Yeah there’s two separate areas for the express vs the “usual” customs but there’s tons of signage you can’t miss it

It amazes me how easy it is to go through customs in other countries. Canada is way behind in this. At Gatwick you scan your passport, see an agent and generally off you go. For Italy you go through Immigration there and if memory serves it is just as easy as UK. The only glitch could be a late westjet flight with checked bags.

Susan thank you.

At the same airport? Yes.

Tiffany thank you!

She will have no problems however she will most likely have to change terminals which is just a free monorail ride

Wayne thank you.

If she has to go to Heathrow then best to take the train Gatwick express to Victoria then the tube to Heathrow via Green Park. This avoids surface traffic, costs about £20 and takes about 1-1/2 hours

Sharon Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear, there is no change of airport just change of carrier, so all at Gatwick but she has to transfer her luggage herself.

If its different airports it could be tight but if it's the same airport it more than enough time.

Jeremy thanks, yes, same airport.

5 hours is more then enough time

Derek thank you

Having experienced customs/security @ Gatwick, it could be a very tight time frame.

John thanks.

Definitely enough time!

Melissa Thanks Mel!

If not, there is a ton of stuff to see in the airport!

5 hours for Gatwick should be plenty of time.