Gatwick- The worst UK airport for baggage delays

Martin85

I also agree that Swissport at Gatwick are dismal, but you are stuck with them If they are the Baggage Hadling Agents Thomson or other airlines have chosen to use. I do not think writing to the Airline about Swissport will have any positive effect.

EightOfHearts

There is nothing more frustrating that having a long wait for your luggage to appear on the Baggage reclaim belt. We have also suffered at the hands of Swissport at Gatwick. If airlines have to pay compensation for delays over 3 hours should not baggage handling companies have to do the same for delays over 1 hour. At least it would make the baggage handling companies to have more urgency. I am not really interested in compensation I just want my luggage in a reasonable time. I too believe 45 minutes is ample time from when the aircraft stops at the arrival gate until it goes on the baggage reclaim belt.

bagand96

The best imho is possibly East Mids - easy access, hassle free check ins and reasonable facilities.

I especially like arriving at East Mids at a busy time with other flights and having to queue outside (in drizzle) to get into the building and clear customs and immigration. Its a great feature and I'm baffled that other UK airports haven't adopted it.

Lukewarm13

Yes I agree that Swissport at Gatwick are appalling. I think the idea of compensation or fines for long delays over 50 minutes is an excellent idea in principal. It would make Swissport and other Baggage handling companies sit up and give a better sevice.

PaulPonting

I also agree in principal that some compensation/fine should be set against the handling agents if there is a long delay in baggage delivery. I would like to add my name to those who have had problems with Swissport at Gatwick. At it stands, as far as I am aware, no matter how long the delay you have no redress. Has anybody complained to the airlineaboutthe long wait for baggage on arrival and if so what response did you get

nickcc

bagand96 wrote: »

I especially like arriving at East Mids at a busy time with other flights and having to queue outside (in drizzle) to get into the building and clear customs and immigration. Its a great feature and I'm baffled that other UK airports haven't adopted it.

Bit like Exeter, two flights arrive at almost the same time and you're queuing outside the terminal building. Happens often when aircraft suffer delays also the minimal staffing on immigration (or whatever it's called nowadays) doesn't help.

Chris1447

In can vary a lot of Gatwick but invariably, from our experience if there is a long delay for luggage to come onto the conveyor baggage belt the baggage handling company is Swissport. I also agree 50 minutes should be the maximimum wait at any European airport and if this time scale is not met then the baggage handler company or the airline should be punished by a fine or passenger compensation. I have heard that Gatwick authories set 50 minutes then if it is not met the Baggage handling company has to submit a report. I do not know what happens next, probably nothing just paper pushing!!!

Caz3121

I travel from Edinburgh to London most weeks for work and have tried LHR / LCY and LGW. Gatwick is my last resort due to the baggage, last time there were 8 of us waiting on bags and it took a full hour. LCY is my favoured route, I can have my bag and be on way to the DLR by the time we were scheduled to arrive

jimmybog

In comparison to Heathrow and Stanstead, I have always found Gatwick to be very slow in delivering baggage regardless of the terminal. Once we manage to eventually get through the horrendous queues for Passport control, we always wait for at least 20 minutes before the screens bring up the belt number. Then it usually takes another 10 to 15 minutes till our bags actually come off. Oh and add in the time it takes to actually walk from the plane to passport control (which is usually another 15 minutes) and the total time from landing till we depart the airport is at least 1 hour but usually 1 to 1.25 hours. Can’t think of any other airport I have been to where the baggage takes so long to get to the belts.

Also, how does everyone know which company handles the baggage for a particular flight?

Caz3121

jimmybog wrote: »

Also, how does everyone know which company handles the baggage for a particular flight?

there is a screen above the baggage belt (at least in North Terminal) that lists the airlines and the handling agents for baggage