Herne Bay to Gatwick by pre-booked airport taxi: what to expect

The Herne Bay to Gatwick taxi route

From the town centre, Beltinge or Greenhill the car heads west on the A299, the Thanet Way, which bypasses the old town and meets the M2 at Brenley Corner, junction 7. From Herne or Broomfield the first mile or two is the A291, running north to join the A299.

After the M2 the usual way to Gatwick is the M25 and then the M23, which runs straight down to the airport junction. On some days the driver may take the M20 instead; the choice is made on the day, and it does not change the fare.

Two things lengthen the drive more than anything else. Overnight roadworks on the M2 and the M25 are common, and on Friday afternoons or the first days of the school holidays the M25 can add 30 to 45 minutes. The published range already reflects ordinary traffic; the pickup time we agree with you leaves room for the rest.

Timing your pickup for an early Gatwick flight

Gatwick recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight, and your airline may ask for more. Start from that check-in time, take off the slow end of the drive, 1h 35m, and then a few minutes of margin. That gives a pickup time you can trust.

As a rough guide, using that method for a short-haul flight:

• 6:00am departure: at the terminal by 4:00am, collected at about 2:15am
• 7:30am departure: at the terminal by 5:30am, collected at about 3:45am
• 11:00am departure: at the terminal by 9:00am, collected at about 7:00am, with extra room for weekday traffic
• Friday afternoon or the first Saturday of the school holidays: add up to 45 minutes to any of these

North or South Terminal: where the car stops

Gatwick has two terminals, and your boarding pass says which one your airline uses. Give it when you book, so the driver heads for the right forecourt. If plans change at the last minute, the free inter-terminal shuttle links North and South in a few minutes, and you can take luggage trolleys and all your bags on board.

The drop-off zones are on the lower level of the forecourt outside each terminal; at North Terminal the zone sits between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park. Gatwick charges vehicles for using these zones, and car parking fees or tolls on a journey can be added to the fare where they apply, so ask when you book if you want to know how that works for your trip.

Coming home: Gatwick to Herne Bay

For the return, add your flight number to the booking. The flight is tracked and the collection is timed to the actual landing, so a delay outside your control costs nothing extra and you do not need to ring anyone from the baggage hall.

Free waiting starts when the plane lands: 45 minutes after an international flight and 30 minutes after a domestic one. Beyond that, waiting is charged at the standard rate, which you can ask about when booking. Your driver stands in the arrivals hall with a name board and helps you take the cases to the car, and from there it is the same roads in reverse, back to your street in CT6.

Choosing the car for the Gatwick run

Match the car to the luggage rather than only to the number of people. A saloon takes up to four passengers and two large cases; an estate also seats four but carries three or four large cases; an executive car seats four with two or three cases; and an MPV takes up to six people with four or more large cases.

Child seats are available on request. Say how many children are travelling and their ages when you book, and the right seats go in the car before it reaches you.

What fixes the fare, and what can be added

The booking system shows the fixed fare for the whole car as soon as you enter your Herne Bay address and choose the airport. There is no meter, and the fare is the same for a 2am pickup, a bank holiday or a jam on the M25. Once confirmed, it stays as quoted unless the journey itself changes.

What can be added is short and set out in the booking terms: waiting beyond the free time, an extra stop, a big change of route asked for on the way, and parking fees or tolls where they apply. Cancelling more than 24 hours before the pickup is free; between 6 and 24 hours up to half the fare may be charged; and with less than 6 hours' notice, or once the car has been sent, the full fare may be due.

Train or car from Herne Bay to Gatwick?

Off-peak, Herne Bay has one train an hour to London Victoria, taking about 1 hour 40 minutes, and there is no direct train to Gatwick. By rail you change in London with your bags and your timing depends on the first trains of the day. By car, the trip runs straight from your address to the terminal forecourt, which is the main reason to book the car for an early departure.