The New Gatwick South Departure Lounge Layout

Its horiffic... I really dont like having to walk through a retail space to get through to the gates and the rest of the departure lounge... its awful.
The World Duty Free is now the very first shop at the bottom of the security escalators into the lounge, and you have to walk through the entire length of the shop to get through into the rest of the departure lounge.
I normally really like flying through Gatwick South, and the departure lounge has always been one of my favourites for things to keep you occupied and places to eat, browse, snack etc etc, but now just getting in there is a menace... Dont like it... v(

its the same at LHR T3, the security area leads into the Duty Free shop

[Neil]

MAN is also the same, it really isn't anything unique to LGW. The airports want you to spend money so by forcing you to walk through shops it gives them the chance to woo every single pax with their marketing/offers.

Agreed, just walked through it now to get to the v-room. It's hectic, we just wanted to through as quickly as possible, it doesn't encourage you to stop and browse.

Ahhh cue the just like BAA calls ... I wondered how long this would take.

If I were in charge of retail I would do it just the same, the gift shop is at the beginning of this ride. I do get slightly nervous escaping the random fragrance inflictors that pop out behind display shelves practicing what can best be described as gay maseing.

Can you still use the doors that lead directly from the upstairs security area into the corridor near the VS Clubhouse?

I wondered what they were doing with the old security area!

Its the same at GLA too:

I wondered what they were doing with the old security area!

Its the same at GLA too:

Even looks like a BAA airport!

If you think that's bad, you should try SYD! I started to wonder whether I would ever emerge from it all.

If you think that's bad, you should try SYD! I started to wonder whether I would ever emerge from it all.

Oh I agree with you there. I just recall all the people who said BAA losing the airports they were forced to lose would be good for the passenger ... b******s is all I said at the time, all airports ultimately become similar ...

I just recall all the people who said BAA losing the airports they were forced to lose would be good for the passenger ... b******s is all I said at the time, all airports ultimately become similar ...

I agree. It's funny, when I'm in the States, I lament the poor shopping options at many airports there, particularly in domestic terminals. When I'm in the UK I deplore the shopping-mall-like terminals here...

Yes, it's always surprised me how long it's taken US airport owners to cotton on to the potentially huge revenue shops and restaurants can bring in.

I guess it's because for most Americans, hopping on a domestic flight is like taking a bus - it's just a means of getting from A to B. Most US flights are short commutes, so passengers don't spend much time at the airport hence the largely second rate facilities and business class lounges.

For most Britons though, flying normally means a holiday or a multi-day business trip rather than a daily commute so it's a bit more of an experience. We're likely to spend more time at the airport and are more willing to spend our money there.

[buns]

Does this new layout mean that they have got rid of that blessed "Win a car" promotion?

If so, that is a result ):

buns

Does this new layout mean that they have got rid of that blessed "Win a car" promotion?

If so, that is a result ):

buns

LOL - Did they not start "Win a handbag" as well in the same position???

Does this new layout mean that they have got rid of that blessed "Win a car" promotion?

If so, that is a result ):

buns

Sorry it' was still there when I flew from there in July.

Yes, it's always surprised me how long it's taken US airport owners to cotton on to the potentially huge revenue shops and restaurants can bring in.

I guess it's because for most Americans, hopping on a domestic flight is like taking a bus - it's just a means of getting from A to B. Most US flights are short commutes, so passengers don't spend much time at the airport hence the largely second rate facilities and business class lounges.

Well, there's a bit more to it than that: the fact that the majority of flights are domestic, that the retail environment in general is competitive enough that deals won't be found at airports, that there is no standard sales tax across the US, makes the concept of Duty Free essentially pointless. Just about the only thing that might be worth buying at a US airport is cigarettes, and that is assuming that you aren't flying out of somewhere like NC, where you will buy super cheap cigs at any out of the way gas station.

Duty free selections are typically uninspired or uncompetitive even in enormous shopping areas like one finds in the UK. Once I figured that Uigeadail or Old Pulteney was cheaper at K&L or Beltramo's, I was pretty much done once and for all with Duty Free Shopping at LHR. That said, the cult of duty free in the UK is remarkable, and I suppose it does deliver some value vs the high street for things like booze. In the US it's totally pointless. Now, if only we could set up a business to deliver Costco bought gin past airport security, sans CA sales tax, I'll bet we could charge a pretty penny for that service

[buns]

Does this new layout mean that they have got rid of that blessed "Win a car" promotion?

If so, that is a result ):

buns

Sorry it' was still there when I flew from there in July.

Shame n(

buns

Can you still use the doors that lead directly from the upstairs security area into the corridor near the VS Clubhouse?

If that's the same as the Priorty Security channel, yes, though the directions we were given were "it's just by [some shoe shop]"

random fragrance inflictors

I think this will become the norm accross all new airports. Here in Spain Alicantes new airport is exactly the same layout.

[honey lamb]

Cork and Dublin airports feed straight into Duty Free and other shops in their new terminals

As the revenue from duty free shops is the second largest income for many airports, it's hardly surprising that this will happen. (Plus people saying it's like a BAA airport are right, as it was BAA who set and secured all the plans and funding for LGW before they had to sell it)
LHR have even started to move the more high end shops on to the route to the lounges, aiming at the higher spenders. This can all be avoided by the likes of BAs "million pound door" at T5.

[honey lamb]

LHR have even started to move the more high end shops on to the route to the lounges, aiming at the higher spenders. This can all be avoided by the likes of BAs "million pound door" at T5.

But, according to the Sky programme about Gatwick, didn't they decide to move from the more high end shops and towards the High Street shops as a greater source of revenue?

LHR have even started to move the more high end shops on to the route to the lounges, aiming at the higher spenders. This can all be avoided by the likes of BAs "million pound door" at T5.

But, according to the Sky programme about Gatwick, didn't they decide to move from the more high end shops and towards the High Street shops as a greater source of revenue?

I was more talking about the planning of the placement of the shops. What was said on the sky program?

Not forgetting the last chance to buy as you leave the customs area in T3 LHR. At least, there's no need for a short-cut. I don't recall any other airports that force you through on exit rather than before you depart...