A same day Gatwick transfer is a longer proposition than the equivalent run to Heathrow, and the difference is not just mileage. Gatwick sits south of the M25 in Sussex, which means most London journeys involve a stretch of orbital motorway with a well-earned reputation, and then the M23 spur. On a good day it is straightforward. On a bad one the delay arrives all at once, and the only protection is leaving earlier than feels necessary.
The problem
North or South — and why it is worth checking
Gatwick has two terminals connected by a shuttle. The shuttle is quick and reliable, but it is still a transfer with bags at the end of a journey, and it is entirely avoidable. Airlines move between terminals more often at Gatwick than most passengers expect, so the terminal you used last time is not evidence about this time. Give us the flight number rather than a guess and we will drive you to the right door. If you genuinely do not know and cannot find out, we default to checking rather than guessing — it takes us a moment and saves you the shuttle.
How it works
The M25 problem, stated plainly
The clockwise stretch between the M23 and the M4 is one of the least predictable pieces of road in the South East, and it does not degrade gracefully. It is moving, and then it is not, and the delay is measured in the tens of minutes rather than the fives. There is no clever route around it at the wrong moment. What we can do is watch it live, leave earlier when the picture looks poor, and tell you the truth about the leaving time even when the truth is inconvenient. What we will not do is quote you a comfortable number and hope.
What it costs
Working back from check-in, not departure
The deadline that matters is bag drop, which closes substantially before departure and varies by carrier. Gatwick security is generally quicker than Heathrow's worst but the summer peaks are real, and the South Terminal in July at 5am is not the same building as the South Terminal in November at 2pm. We build the leaving time from the check-in cutoff, the live road picture and the season, and we would rather hand you thirty minutes of standing about airside than the alternative.
Who books it
Coming the other way, and going further south
Gatwick is also the natural airport for the South Coast, and a large share of what we run is not London at all — Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and the Sussex towns, in both directions. Those journeys are shorter than the London run and often considerably cheaper, which surprises people who assume the airport is the expensive end. Same-day works the same way: one fixed fare, agreed before the car moves, at whatever hour the flight demands.
Related pages
If today is already too tight
If the check-in cutoff is closer than the drive, say so when you make contact and we will tell you straight whether it is achievable. If it has already passed, missed flight transfers covers what actually helps next. For the Heathrow version of this page see last minute Heathrow.
Included
What every fare includes
- Fare fixed and confirmed in writing when you book
- Driver allocated at booking, not found on the day
- One price at any hour, every day of the year
- Saloon through to 8-seater, quoted on the journey
Questions
Before you book
Can I book a Gatwick transfer for later today?
Yes. Same-day is normal for us. The only thing that changes with less notice is the vehicle choice available near you — the fare does not move at all.
North Terminal or South Terminal?
Send the flight number and we will confirm it. Airlines move between the two more often than passengers expect, and the shuttle is an avoidable step at the end of a long journey.
How much time should I allow for the M25?
More than feels reasonable. That stretch fails suddenly rather than gradually. We watch it live and will recommend a leaving time based on the actual picture, which is sometimes considerably earlier than you were hoping.
Do you cover Brighton and the Sussex towns?
Yes, in both directions, on the same fixed-fare basis. Those runs are shorter than the London journey and usually cost less, which catches people out.
Is there a surcharge for a same-day booking?
No. No same-day premium, no surge, no night rate. The fare is the same whether you book it three weeks out or this afternoon.