I will be collecting someone from Gatwick Airport next week, does anyone have any tips for making it painless and simple {cheap 😉 }

Is this page any use to you?

http://www.gatwickairport.com/parking/Pick-up–drop-off/

Arrange to meet them at drop off point. Avoids paying the pick up car parking charge.

A bit naughty but if you’re quick it’s not a problem. They have to walk a little further though.

Arrive 40mins after landing and arrange to meet in slip road between hotel and terminal. You may have to do a few loops to kill time and/or join the drivers killing time in McDon car park!

From that link above:

“we offer up to two hours free parking in our long stay car parks.”

(follow the ‘I am picking up’ line down to the bottom)

Yesterday I waited in MacDonalds car park, the nipped into short stay to collect. It cost £3 (and a burger!)

Dont go to Heathrow like I did once, the mrs wasnt happy!

Tell the person your picking up to get the train one stop south to Three Bridges and pick them up from there.

Picking up from the drop off point is the way ahead. You can’t hang around waiting, but take the opportunity to pop into Evans Gatwick warehouse to browse some bike porn!

Cheers for that.

Hang out at Evans for a little looksie
Wait for the call on arrival
Mosey round to the drop off point, maybe collect a maccy d’s on the way 🙂
Sounds like a plan.

The easiest option would be to park your car and go inside the airport in the terminal but if you don’t want to spend any money you can tell the person to meet you at the taxis drop-off point.

Tell the person your picking up to get the train one stop south to Three Bridges and pick them up from there.

Seems a lot of faff, but if you’re doing that one stop north to Horley would be easier – 3 Bridges is a bit of a pain to get to.

The easiest option would be to park your car and go inside the airport in the terminal but if you don’t want to spend any money you can tell the person to meet you at the taxis drop-off point.

This. It’s not hard, Gatwick is nothing like Heathrow in terms of the complexity of the road network – it’s incredibly straight forward.

As above we always pick up from the drop off to avoid the car parking charges. The downside is it can be a little tricky to find, how familiar is the passenger with the airport layout? The North Terminal drop off is on the ground floor and through one of multi-story car parks (on the rhs as you look out of the terminal, as you’d expect the drop off isn’t sign posted from inside the terminal. Make sure the passenger has phone battery and calls you when they arrive.

I think Micky D’s got wise to people parking there (they have at Heathrow) so now unless you buy something you have to pay (or that’s the threat anyway)

I landed at LHR before Xmas and the old ladty beside me gets on the phone
“Yes i’ve just landed”
“mmffmmmffsms”
“Heathrow, why ?”
“mfdmsmmmmmsfhh”
“Why are you at Gatwick ?”

Oh how i laughed.

Drive down and do a quick recce 1/4 hr before they land.
If its south terminal get them to go down to ground level ( Lift or walkway ) .Then as the road is in front get them to turn left and walk toward the far end. Its usually empty 100m from the exit although sometimes there is the odd coach there.
Then drive for 5mins up the A23 and park up either in a pub or the Esso garage then get them to ring you when they have their luggage in their hands.
It takes a good few minutes to exit the airport giving you time to drive back to the lower level and to the far end of the drop off area.

Very few if any parking pepes / Police down the far end so if you beat them you should be OK for a min or 2. Or just go round the 1 way system a few times till you see them .

Seems a lot of faff, but if you’re doing that one stop north to Horley would be easier – 3 Bridges is a bit of a pain to get to.

‘spose it depends where your coming from, Three bridges is only 5 mins off of the M23.

A free drop off point?

We don’t even get that at Bristol, the thieving gits. Costs you £1 to get into the pick up/drop off area. Longer if you park. Used to be able to drop people off right outside the door.