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BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!

31 Aug 18 - 06:21 AM (#3947269)
Subject: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Bonzo3legs

All flights delayed due to earlier broken down plane on runway! Thank goodness for No. 1 lounge, arriving at 10.30 means breakfast up to 11am and lunch thereafter - excellent porridge !!


31 Aug 18 - 06:24 AM (#3947271)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Bonzo3legs

Videos of Richard Thompson Electric Trio & Show of Hands at Shroosberry Folk Festival for our flight to Spain captured from festival live stream!!


31 Aug 18 - 11:03 AM (#3947320)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Will Fly

Yup - 2 hour delay today for my son and family flying from Nantes - and for me waiting to collect them.

I didn't mind the delay - got chatting to another delayed chauffeur - but thought the £15 parking fee slightly excessive!


31 Aug 18 - 11:16 AM (#3947326)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: DMcG

Personal taste, of course, but I don't particularly like Lounge No 1. The food selection was very limited last time I went and it wasn't very clean. By and large, the airline specific lounges suit me better.


31 Aug 18 - 11:32 AM (#3947331)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Bonzo3legs

Unfortunately Club Europe was full on our flight to Alicante so we had to make do with BA cattle class.


31 Aug 18 - 04:04 PM (#3947357)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Bonzo3legs

Apparently an aircraft broke down on the runway at the time our aircraft was due to cross the runway from BA's routine maintenance sector, and the pilot had to wait over an hour for a further slot to cross over to the stand for our flight - and what a jolly egg he turned out to be!!

What was confusing on the flight indicator board was that it showed "delayed to 12:20", but not that this referred to the time when boarding gate would be known. This turned out to be gate 5 at Gatwick South Terminal, which was a pretty long walk for my disabled wife! Still they agreed Assisted Boarding, so we were second on the aircraft.


01 Sep 18 - 09:04 AM (#3947460)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Senoufou

I absolutely love Gatwick. I've flown from there loads of times to Ghana, Senegal, Gambia etc., often via Tripoli with Afriqiyah.
I used to get there about six hours early, then spend happy moments watching all the passengers passing by, dressed in all sorts of interesting outfits, and the teams of flight crews in their smart uniforms.

There's Gatwick North and Gatwick South, and a little train runs between the two, which I liked very much.

I only used the ordinary cafés, but their sandwiches and snack foods were always delicious. I'd sit and natter to anyone who looked a bit stressed or lonely.
There's also a nice chapel there, multi-denominational, for prayer and reflection.
I love airports, it's in my blood (both parents were in the RAF!)


01 Sep 18 - 02:00 PM (#3947501)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Stilly River Sage

I bought some of my favorite earrings in airports in Dallas and Albuquerque, where the Mercado shops with silver jewelry have shops or pushcarts. And I've always been pleased with the food I could get at the ABQ airport. That's because the layover for Southwest was long enough that I had time to eat. The rest of them tend to be a blur.


01 Sep 18 - 03:14 PM (#3947515)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Senoufou

Ooh yes, Stilly, airport shops are very enjoyable.

I liked having a sniff at all the perfumes (and maybe trying some of the testers - by the time my flight was called I smelt like a tart's parlour!) There are silk scarf shops, fashion outlets, and as you say, jewellery shops.
I never actually bought anything, but I did so love browsing.

I also enjoyed watching all the take-offs and landings, which one can do at certain airports (Norwich, Edinburgh for example)

I have to say, my best memory of all of Gatwick Airport was the moment my lovely husband passed through the Arrivals gate after we'd managed to get our Marriage Visa. It was his first time ever to set foot in the UK. He looked terrified and exhausted, but our joyous hug lasted about five minutes!
Our very kind taxi driver waited discreetly to one side, then drove us all the way back to Norfolk.


01 Sep 18 - 03:25 PM (#3947516)
Subject: RE: BS: Thank goodness for Gatwick No. 1!!!
From: Bonzo3legs

When we were waiting for a transit flight at LAX airport to Phoenix back in 1999, my wife bought a teeshirt of such good quality that she still wears it now - and they gave her far too much change, which she never found out until after take off - too late to pay back!!