Gatwick Airport Security
How many bags am I allowed?
Passengers are now permitted to carry more than one item of hand luggage through security. You will, however, need to check with your airline before arriving at the airport. Some airlines will only allow you to carry one item of hand baggage, and the weight and size allowances differ between airlines. Many low-cost carriers will now allow you to take one airport shopping bag as well as your hand luggage but please check before you fly.
Gatwick Airport Hand Luggage Rules – What you can and can’t pack
Gatwick Airport Security – additional things to note:
Gatwick Liquid Allowance:
- Essential medicines in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), as long as it is verified as authentic.
- Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).
Please note: Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. However, depending on the airline, it may be required to be placed within your hand luggage when boarding the plane.
Screening
All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened, including.
- Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs.
- Laptops and other large electrical items (e.g. a large hairdryer) have to be removed from cabin baggage and screened separately. (A laptop bag will be regarded as your one item that is allowed in the cabin)
Before Security
All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. Hand baggage is now allowed BUT any liquids and gels must be packed into your hold luggage for check-in. Any other purchases must fit into your hand baggage.
After Security
All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. Passengers can take all items purchased in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin unless they are travelling to the USA. For more information, please visit www.tsa.gov.
Duty-Free and Departure Lounge Purchases
Presents and Gifts
Wrapped Christmas presents are not exempt from the current aviation security measures and are subject to searching and screening measures by airport security staff when flying from the UK. It is possible that passengers may be asked to unwrap any presents by security staff at the airport before their journey. Therefore, passengers should travel with any presents unwrapped.
Presents in liquid form (e.g. perfume, toiletries or alcohol) can be carried in cabin baggage but this is subject to the current measures. It would therefore be advisable to place such presents – unwrapped – in hold baggage. Liquids of any amount can still be stored in hold baggage.
Gatwick Premium Passport Control
Gatwick Airport offers a Premium Passport control service for those arriving in the UK. It’s available to pre-book online and is only open for up to 50 passengers an hour, to ensure you get the speedy service you pay for. Gatwick Premium Passport Control is open daily from 06:00-24:00, except Christmas Day.
Gatwick Airport Security – Prohibited Items
Here are a number of other items that must not be taken on board an aircraft or through security, either as hand luggage or in the hold. Please do not pack the following anywhere in your carry on or check-in luggage:
Prohibited Items | |
---|---|
Flammable liquids and solids | Oxidisers |
Organic peroxides | Gas cylinders |
Infectious substances | Wet car cell batteries |
Instruments containing magnets | Instruments containing mercury |
Magnetrons | Fireworks |
Non-safety matches, firelighters, lighter fuel | Paints, thinners |
Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weedkiller | Acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda |
Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper | Radioactive materials |