We recommend at least 1 hour 15 min for a comfortable connection at Gatwick. The minimum connection time is 60 minutes for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international flights. Transit between terminals takes up to 20 minutes.

Domestic-to-Domestic: 60 min. Domestic-to-International: 75 min. International-to-Domestic: 75 min. International-to-International: 90 min. These are the shortest layovers airlines will sell at Gatwick.

Gatwick is primarily an origin-and-destination airport rather than a global hub, so scheduled connections are less common and less optimized than at Heathrow. The airport's two terminals — North and South — are physically separate buildings linked by an automated transit system, adding time and complexity to any transfer. Passengers connecting between airlines or terminals should build in extra buffer, as Gatwick's infrastructure was not designed with fast transfers as a priority. The two terminals are connected by an automated inter-terminal shuttle (monorail-style transit), with the ride itself taking about 2-3 minutes but total walking, waiting, and transit time running 10-20 minutes depending on gate location. International arrivals connecting onward must clear UK Border Force immigration and then re-enter security screening before reaching departure gates, as there is no sterile transit corridor for most itineraries. There is no dedicated airside international-to-international transfer route, so nearly all connecting passengers exit and re-clear security.

30 minutes doesn't allow for re-clearing security or moving between North and South terminals. See full 30 min guide →

45 minutes is tight even for same-terminal domestic-to-domestic connections and offers no buffer for delays. See full 45 min guide →

60 minutes meets the domestic-domestic MCT but is still tight for any international element or terminal change. See full 1 hr guide →

75 minutes comfortably covers most domestic connections and matches the domestic-international MCT threshold. See full 1¼ hr guide →

90 minutes gives a solid buffer for terminal transfers and standard security and immigration processing. See full 1½ hr guide →

2 hours provides ample cushion even during peak congestion or with immigration delays. See full 2 hr guide →

150 minutes is generous, allowing time for retail, food, or unexpected queues without stress. See full 2½ hr guide →

3 hours is comfortably beyond any realistic Gatwick connection scenario. See full 3 hr guide →

4 hours is more time than needed, suitable even for worst-case peak-hour disruptions. See full 4 hr guide →