V-Flyer

Was told by a friend today that VS and BA are going to be swapping terminals at LGW to accommodate Easyjet. I have a few questions -

1. Is this true? If so, when?
2. Will it be a direct swap of facilities of VS and BA?
3. Will this be a good move for VS?

Any replies appreciated.

Dan

There was a thread on this subject a while ago

I was told it was pretty much a done deal, but that was a few months ago and you'd have thought some progress would have been made...

I imagine that they are doing detailed negotiations over the practicalities over the moves and future operations and the financials - i.e. how much LGW and/or Easyjet are willing to cough up to both VS and BA to construct the replacement lounges etc before any moves take place. Ditto with V-Hols and the V-Room

If IIRC the VS CH was refurbished only a couple of years ago and the v-room is still fairly new too so VS won't be too willing to move without some form of compensation.

Landside the North terminal is definitely nicer but earn you get airside it's bit...meh!!

Is the idea that EZY will move all flights to the north terminal?

seany wrote:Is the idea that EZY will move all flights to the north terminal?

Yes.

Is the BA facilities (lounges etc) a good but larger than VS's in the south terminal? If/when this goes ahead, do we know if VS will be using the new BA check in area, or will that be Easyjet?

Dan

It won't be till 2016

virginboy747 wrote:It won't be till 2016

oooo ! - does that mean "another" new Clubhouse for Gatwick

David

Presumably! And if it goes in the space where the BA lounges are, it could be amazing - that's a big area.

Presumably a clubhouse and a v-room would be built in that space

Didn't Gatwick put a massive new expansion at North just for BA to move into in 2012 ? I wouldn't have thought BA would want to move from their sparkly new high tech home (I remember watching that on the Inside Gatwick program Sky had on a while ago)

Think the move is being driven by Easyjet to get all there flights in one terminal VA are just a bit player at Gatwick compared to Easyjet and BA

WazneB wrote:Didn't Gatwick put a massive new expansion at North just for BA to move into in 2012 ? I wouldn't have thought BA would want to move from their sparkly new high tech home (I remember watching that on the Inside Gatwick program Sky had on a while ago)

Yes they did, and IIRC BA had substantial input over the design & facilities.

One can only assume Gatwick's owners will make it worth BA's while to move.

As LGW's biggest airline you can understand EZY wanting to consolidate - but I wonder how they approached LGW: "we'll pay you lots of money if you let us" or "we'll pull out if you don't".

But would EZY move in to that or would VS, I can't really see BA wanting either of them moving into something they helped design, and would it be then that BA has the majority of the South Terminal to itself ? Also would Gatwick have the sort of money to revamp the south to accommodate BA after seeing what they did for them in the North Terminal. Someone will need to splash some serious cash about if the swap is to be a done deal.

I had a conversation with some BA people in he F lounge and the move is openly being discussed. They also intimated that BA had big expansion plans should the second runway be built, so it could be that they plan to redevelop the south terminal should this happen

Over on FT there's a discussion about BA moving to Gatwick South Terminal in November this year (new check in area and new lounges being built).

It also says that VS is moving to the North terminal ...

Apparently this is all because EasyJet, which is easily the biggest carrier at LGW, wants to consolidate its operations in the North Terminal.

slinky09 wrote:Over on FT there's a discussion about BA moving to Gatwick South Terminal in November this year (new check in area and new lounges being built).

It also says that VS is moving to the North terminal ...

Apparently this is all because EasyJet, which is easily the biggest carrier at LGW, wants to consolidate its operations in the North Terminal.

Think its Nov 2016 - this was reported a few months ago as a rumour but not confirmed.

I quite like the South Terminal now all the works been down but a move makes the Clubhouse an interesting issue.

I thought BA's check-in area had all been redone recently in T1 but I suppose EasyJet would grab that.

David

David wrote:I quite like the South Terminal now all the works been down but a move makes the Clubhouse an interesting issue.

David

There will have to be a new one ... that'll be fun!

Only terminal I have used at Gatwick in recent years is the South for holiday flights with VS, years ago I used to use North terminal when flying BA to Caribbean & used to prefer that terminal, must be 15 or so years ago though so no idea what it is like now, as long as there is a Club House I will be happy.

oldboy

Yes it was mentioned last year and more than in just general 'it might happen' or 'it would be good if ... ' terms but in 'yes this is going to happen and all we have to do is cross the t's ...'

Both Easyjet and BA will be able to consolidate their operations into one terminal (currently both split) which will help reduce delays.

VS have probably got a good deal out of LGW to pay for a new CH and VH for the V-room.

It's interesting that BA have to take second fiddle at LGW to Easyjet unlike their dominance at LHR

Given that, as has been mentioned, there was a fairly lengthy discussion about this recently. I have merged the two topics.

Nick

Hope its not till next year as have just booked our hotel and parking for this OCTOBER. As TCB had an extra 10% bonus on this weekend got over £30 back on cashback. Lin

mallin wrote:Hope its not till next year as have just booked our hotel and parking for this OCTOBER. As TCB had an extra 10% bonus on this weekend got over £30 back on cashback. Lin

Dates appear to be November, but could easily slip as there's a lot of work to be done.