The Easyjet flight to Gatwick airport from Helsinki

lou_12 · Post by **lou_12** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:59 pm

Hey everyone, this is a bit of an odd question for those who have done the Helsinki-Gatwick flight.

I'm flying home for christmas, my flight gets in a 22:00 however I've been checking the flight details for Gatwick airport over the last week or so and have noticed the flights get in around 21:30ish every day it's early.

I was just wondering if anyone knows if we cruise around for 20 minutes finding the right parking space after we've landed at 21:30 or if it's straight off the plane and through customs and luggage?

I know it's an odd question i'm just on a really tight schedule with getting buses to my hometown from Gatwick, i've got one at 22:20 or 6:25am the following day so any help or positivity that I have a chance of getting the 22:20 bus would be helpful =]

Thanks!

**Sponsor:**

MagicJ · Post by **MagicJ** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:21 am

I went recently, they're re-doing the rail link from south to north terminals so it's a replacement bus service and delays. I wouldn't bet on making your bus.

Where are you heading to? Maybe you're local and the bus goes from the south terminal?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:53 am

Christmas always brings the possibility of snowfalls and with that it means delays at Helsinki-Vantaa.
Even though snow is par for the course during a Finnish winter, things can get out of hand quite quickly and chaos ensues.
De-icing is required for every plane during these times but sometimes it just so happens that the demand for de-icing is simply too great.
Last winter we had delays of more than an hour (sometimes more) just for de-icing, which unbelievable i guess but it is true.
Do yourself a favour and prepare an alternative plan, timetables don't always go so well when nature starts showing who is boss!

edit: just remembered that there were longer delays last winter...

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:20 am

I dont know if it has changed/improved but when I took the Easy Jet to Gatwick it seemed to be a very long walk from the aircraft arival place to the the bagage claim. If you are alone and fit (up and down stairs) it takes about 15 minutes, but if you have kids in tow...make allowances.

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:20 pm

I wouldn't bank on getting the 10:20 bus. I've done this flight quite a few times, sometimes the plane lands early for sure at 9:30 but not always, I've had an hour delay last Sunday coming back from Gatwick with no reason given! and once an hour and a half delay going out, also as someone else said its a fair hike from getting off the plane and then the short trip on the shuttle bus from North to South terminal, good luck..

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:48 pm

Did anyone see the article in HS comparing the cost of flying to London with budget airlines vs flag carrier . .they covered Ryanair (TMP-STN), Finnair, Blue 1 & SAS (HEL-LHR) and Easyjet (HEL-LGW).
I can't remember the exact price order, but they estimated the costs at about the same for all airlines. What a load of crap.

HS based their costs on individuals using public transport to get to TMP ... when many people will be travelling together and by car = almost nothing... then added something saft like €16 for food onboard ... when we typically buy a Subway sandwich on the way to the airport and pay £2 onboard for a cup of tea.

We've booked flights for the end of January, this will be our first flight with Easyjet... for 2 of us with one suitcase it was was just under €140 in total or €70 each.

We could have gone with Ryanair for a similar price, but they don't fly on all days and we needed to be in Hki the day after we return anyway. Finnair was well over €200, as was BA if you start your journey in Finland... but a single ticket back from LHR-HEL was only £72 if booked on BA's website.

davin · Post by **davin** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:07 pm

I flew back from Helsinki on Saturday, we left late so missed our landing slot, and had to get bussed to the right terminal then wait 40 minutes for our luggage. No big deal for us but bear it in mind. PS far more civilsed than Ryanair, I know I am not paying a lot for the flight, but last time I flew Ryanair to Poland the steward called me "mate" as I got on the plane, steady on old chap I said..

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:55 pm

lufthansa are regularly doing 170e return to the UK. I've got six return trips to Birmingham booked already. This is not a special offer price but year round deal.

TampereOwl · Post by **TampereOwl** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:39 pm

How is Gatwick for onward travel? I went for Heathrow this year just cos the flight lands at lunchtime (twelve hours before ryanair at stansted) and the airport's on a tube line. I can't imagine getting from gatwick to The North is anything other than a total ballache, am I wrong?

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:51 pm

Yeah its a bit of a pain to get 'up North' If I'm traveling to see family in Newcastle I have to get the train to Victoria, then on the tube to Kings Cross then a 3 hour train journey, of course you can fly from Gatwick to Newcastle but its trying to get a flight anywhere near the arrival of say an Easyjet flight into Gatwick!

tizlit · Post by **tizlit** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:10 pm

Intersting reading re flights to LDN. I have been searching flights to London, and then catch a connecting flight to my destination. HOwever, this would require an overnight stay with an early flight the next day (like 07.30) - so really not needed a hotel (arriving at a hotel midnight and then should be at the airport around 5am).
What are the conditions of sleeping at the airport - does anyone know? Luggage?
Transit visas - does one get it prior to arrival or on the spot there?

MagicJ · Post by **MagicJ** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:35 pm

TampereOwl wrote:How is Gatwick for onward travel? I went for Heathrow this year just cos the flight lands at lunchtime (twelve hours before ryanair at stansted) and the airport's on a tube line. I can't imagine getting from gatwick to The North is anything other than a total ballache, am I wrong?

I'm from the south so it's fine for me

but

First Capital Connect operate trains to Gatwick Airport with the following benefits:

* Direct train services to five central London stations - London Bridge, City, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International. One of those lines runs on to Luton (or somewhere similar oop north)

Here's a connections map:

TampereOwl · Post by **TampereOwl** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:23 pm

Looks pretty easy and not that expensive according to thetrainline.com. I'll bear it in mind for the future, cheers!

steve7871 · Post by **steve7871** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:37 pm

Why don't you stay in one of the airport hotels for the night to cut out the worrying? I stayed in the Premier Inn last weekend for £59 which is a 5 min walk from the North Terminal. There are also others you can stay in for less than £50.

I think 22.00 is the time scheduled to be on the stand. As others have said, the gate is a 10-15 min walk from passport control, plus waiting for luggage. I wouldn't count on making the bus even if you do land at 21.30.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:48 pm

Travelodge is really cheap for overnight stays, a bit crappy and breakfast is usually in a box, but otherwise OK. There's heating in every room and a lock on the door

Some are better than others.

My parents are coming here on the 21st Dec and as British Airways has already announced possible strike action for that date they have already booked themselves into a Travelodge near Heathrow (even though they might not need it). They've had problems before (in fact nearly every time they come here at Xmas they have problems).

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