Security update

Drop off Information for Passengers at Gatwick South Terminal:

Work is currently underway to redesign the forecourts at Gatwick South Terminal.

Passenger numbers at Gatwick South Terminal are continually growing and so are the number of cars accessing the Forecourts. Gatwick Airport's aim is to create a safer and cleaner environment for passengers and airport staff and to encourage public transport and also to ease congestion.

In order to achieve this Gatwick Airport is changing the way in which vehicles get to the terminals. The following changes have been put in place at the forecourts at the South Terminal:

Private Vehicles
Private vehicles dropping off passengers are asked to use the Lower Forecourt only. Gatwick Airport is doubling the number of car park spaces in the Lower Forecourt to accommodate this including a designated disabled parking area.

Private vehicles picking up passengers from Gatwick will be directed to use the Short Stay Car Park number 3 (orange). A new tariff which includes disabled parking in Short Stay Car Park number 3 will allow 15 minutes parking at a cost of £1. Express coaches and on airport car park buses will still use the Upper Forecourt to drop off and collect passengers awaiting travel from the Airport.

Taxis
Gatwick Airport's Checker Cars will still use the Upper Forecourt. All other taxis will be directed to use the Lower Forecourt to drop off and pick up will be from the Short Stay Car Park number 3.

Car rental and official airport car valet
Will still be accessed from the Lower Forecourt.

Off-airport car park buses
and hotel courtesy buses will be accommodated within the coach station which has just benefited from a £1.5 million programme to improve it's facilities.

With over 32 Million passengers a year using Gatwick Airport as their departure or arrival point airport security and passenger safety are paramount. Please read the following information to make your transition through Gatwick Airport as smooth and safe.

Gatwick Airport Security Updated Information.

Liquids

Some liquids are allowed once again through Gatwick airport security check points. There are however, restrictions on the quantity of liquids that can be taken through:

Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, but only within separate containers each of which with a capacity not greater than 100ml.

These containers must be brought to Gatwick airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cms x 20cms).

The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag sealed. Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids.

The bag must be presented for examination at the Gatwick Airport security point.

Liquids that cannot be placed inside the re-sealable bag and must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold.

Remember that 'Liquids' acceptable to airline security includes:

•

All drinks, including water, soup, syrups

•

Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc

•

Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants

•

Pastes, including toothpastes

•

Gels, including hair and shower gel

•

Any other solutions and items of similar consistency

Medicines

Gatwick airport security will allow essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to authentication.

Cabin Baggage and Size Allowed at Gatwick airport security

Each passenger is restricted to carrying only one item through the Gatwick Airport security search point with a maximum size of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (note: the re-sealable bag must be able to fit within the cabin bag).

Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are permitted but will be screened by airline security

Laptops and other large electrical items (e.g. a large hairdryer) have to be removed from cabin baggage and screened by airline security separately. A laptop bag will be regarded as your one item that is allowed in the cabin.

Outsize Items & airline security

All items of luggage which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size (maximum length 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm) must be checked in to be placed in the aircraft hold. Gatwick airport security staff are very strict about this issue.

Musical instruments are, as an exception, allowed as a second item of cabin baggage, but will need to be screened and passengers should check with their airline security advisor if special arrangements (e.g. purchasing an extra seat) for these large instruments will be required.

Preparing for Your Journey

Passengers are asked to bear in mind the following advice to help make their passage through Gatwick Airport as efficient and comfortable as possible:

Before you Arrive at Gatwick Airport

Limit quantities to what you may need in the cabin for the duration of the flight.

When possible, put liquids in hold baggage.

Prepare the re-sealable bag of liquids before arriving at Gatwick Airport security desk.

Check any queries you have with Gatwick Airport or airline security before travelling to Gatwick Airport

At the Gatwick Airport Security check point

Be ready to hand over your re-sealable bag of liquids for screening as you approach the airport security check point. It will be screened at the same time as your cabin luggage.

All coats and jackets will have to be removed ready to be screened and metal items will be placed in plastic trays and scanned separately.

If you are carrying a Laptop or any other large electrical item within your cabin luggage then please have it ready for separate screening as you approach the airport security check.

Duty Free / Departure Lounge Purchases and Gatwick Airport policies

You may take on board liquid items of any size that are purchased after the Gatwick airport security check in the Departure lounge (sometimes referred to as 'Airside').

Most duty free or similar purchases will be given to you in a special sealed bag. Do not open this bag until you have reached your final destination. You should also retain your proof of purchase throughout your journey. Gatwick Airport security and airline security staff may required you to show it at all transfer points.

Please note restrictions apply to duty free purchases made on return journeys where passengers change flights at an EU airport.

Returning to or via Gatwick Airport

Travelling from an airport in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland:The arrangements outlined above apply.

Please note that larger cabin bags will be permitted in some member states on a transitional basis until April 2007, when the maximum size permitted (length 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm) will be in force at all airports in the EU.

Airport security issues when travelling from an airport in any other country:

Local Arrangements apply.

If your journey involves changing flights at any EU airport, special airline security restrictions apply. You may only take liquid items (for example duty free) through the airport security check point at your connecting airport if:

they conform to the requirements for passengers departing from EU airports as set out above; or

they have been purchased airside at another EU airport, or on board an aircraft operated by an EU carrier. You will need to show proof of purchase to demonstrate this.

Liquid items in excess of 100ml purchased from other airports or on board other airlines may only be carried as hold baggage on the connecting flight.

The member states of European Union where these airport security rules apply are:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.Please be advised that if this airline security information does not answer your specific question about airport security and luggage you should contact your airline security desk.

Airline Security is high priority at Gatwick Airport and all UK Airports are in full cooperation with the Government when it comes to security.
Passengers should pay particular attention to airport security controls at Gatwick Airport. All travellers will need to go through rigorous airport security checks before being allowed to board.

Security controls apply to luggage, therefore passengers should take note of the restricted items listed below before packing to avoid any belongings being confiscated by Gatwick Airport security staff

Leaving For Gatwick Airport

Before you leave for Gatwick Airport, check that your flight is on time and confirm the time your Airlines needs you to check-in by. Airline security has increased considerably recently, and the length of time that it takes to check-in and move through all of the Gatwick Airport security checks has risen.

Therefore, it is vitally important to arrive at Gatwick Airport in good time before your flight:

Gatwick Airport - Long haul flights 3 hours before departure
Gatwick Airport - European flights 2 hours before departure
Gatwick Airport - Uk & N Ireland 1 hour before departure

At Gatwick Airport

On route to the Departure Lounges, passengers will pass through Gatwick Airport security control where your boarding card and passport will be inspected. Hand luggage will be inspected and passengers will also be screened.

When passing through the airline security check, passengers will need to put their hand luggage through the x-ray machine. Any other items such as coats, jackets, handbags, cameras, computers, mobile phones, calculators, etc. will also need to pass through the x-ray machine. At the Gatwick airport security hall passengers may be asked to put any metallic items such as coins, keys and belt buckles through the x-ray machine, whilst they pass through an archway metal detector.

Passengers with pacemakers should request a hand search. Wheelchair users will also require a hand Search. Although the metal detector is safe for pregnant women, a hand search can be requested if you have any concerns. Hand searches can be carried out in a private, Gatwick Airport has a screened area for the comfort of passengers.

Passengers are also sometimes chosen for hand searches at airline security control or towards the Departure Gate. These are just random searches to ensure the safety and security of all passengers using Gatwick Airport

Connections ..

Certain routes require passengers to collect their luggage for extra airline security screening before checking-in for a connecting flight. Passengers must ensure that they leave plenty of time between flights, and follow the packing guidelines below.

What not to pack - or aviod the wrath of Gatwick Airport Security

Due to security and safety reasons, there are a number of items that are not allowed to be taken on a plane, either in hand luggage or within your main cases:

Hand Luggage Info

• Scissors
• Except where both blades are round-ended or less than three centimeters
• Razor blades - Razors that have the blade set into a plastic molding are allowed, but razors that can be opened and the razor blade removed are prohibited
• Knives, including pen knifes or knives with any length blade
• Household cutlery
• Tweezers
• Hypodermic Needles - Unless required for medical reasons, i.e. diabetics. It is worth checking with your Airline to find out what proof you will need to show to take any syringes on board.
• Tools
• Toy or replica guns (metal or plastic)
• Firearms are permitted to be carried on flights provided they are in locked cases, you carry the correct licence for the firearms and they are checked into the hold (Not allowed as carry on- and we don't mean the films!)
• Catapults
• Sports Bats
• Darts
• Corkscrews
• Knitting Needles
• Billiard, Snooker or pool cues
• Walking or hiking poles
• Main Luggage
• Fireworks
• Gas cylinders or tear gas devices
• Flammable liquids & solids - Paints, thinners, Acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda, Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weed killer, Organic peroxides
• Oxidisers i.e. bleaching powders, Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper, Non-safety matches, fire lighters, lighter fluid
• Infectious substances
• Instruments containing magnets or mercury
• Wet car cell batteries
• Magnetrons
• Radioactive materials
• Vehicle fuel
• System components which have contained fuel