When it comes to air travel, we’ve been able to check in online for years while scanning our passport to get through border checks has become the norm. It was only a matter of time before we would be able to check in our baggage ourselves. Gatwick’s Easyjet auto bag drop opened in 2016. We used the facility when it was very new and, understandably, there were teething problems. Since those early days, we have used the system frequently and have experienced fairly swift and convenient system.
How does auto bag drop work?
At Gatwick, there are a number of bag drop machines to check in your baggage, minimising wait times. Much like self-service checkouts in supermarkets, once you get used to the process it will be fairly easy.
Go to the bag drop area in the north or south terminal of Gatwick, depending on where your flight is leaving from. Join the queue and when you get to the front, the staff will check your passport and boarding passes then you can select a bag drop machine.
The machines are touchscreen so very simple to use. Firstly, you are asked for your boarding pass to scan, either a physical one or, more often than not now, an electronic one on your phone. Confirm the flight you are taking on the screen then place your baggage on the conveyor belt.
The baggage weigh is calculated (I’m not sure what happens if you are over the set weight). After answering some security questions, you can print off the luggage tag. Here comes the fun bit as you attempt to correctly stick it on the bags. There are two circles marked which you stick together. My daughter loves helping out with this part.
Special equipment
If you are travelling with children and have a push chair, pram – or have special equipment such as skis or a surfboard, you will need help from a member of the staff. They need to authorise it. Staff can can get busy but you’re not usually waiting long. You can check in the rest of your baggage unaided.
You then watch as your luggage disappears along the conveyor belt to….wherever it goes…hoping it would successfully make it to the same aircraft as you. Our baggage checked in through Easyjet’s bag drop at Gatwick bag has always arrived.
It is a lot different to the first time we used Easyjet’s auto bag drop when there were teething problems. It was the first few weeks after it opened. As we waited on the plane on the runway, we were informed three bags were unaccounted for due to the new auto bag drop system. The tags were on them, so they knew who they belonged to, but the system had not logged them. It was resolved relatively quickly but we missed our flight slot and were delayed for almost an hour. Since that time though, we’ve had no issues and all passengers bags have made it onto the plane.
How good is Gatwick’s Easyjet Bag Drop?
The Easyjet Gatwick bag drop is a far better experience than the old system. I remember waiting in line for up to an hour in Easyjet check in desks before the auto bag drop was introduced. It feels less chaotic. As there are a number of different queues servicing around a section of the machines, it is more spread out and waiting times are reduced. Gatwick has 48 automated self service kiosks to check in your baggage. The airline’s goal is to have wait times of just 5 minutes. I am very pleased that it has cut down on the notorious queues you can encounter with the airline.
EasyJet auto bag drop Gatwick: Need to know
- Automated bag drop kiosks are located in Gatwick’s north terminal, level 1. The bag machine are also now available at Gatwick’s south terminal.
- It’s recommended you check in at least two hours before your flight. Check in desks close 40 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time
- If you are travelling on Easyjet with a buggy, pushchair or pram, you will need assistance from staff to print off the tags. We usually take our one-piece buggy up to the gate and then it is put into the aeroplane’s hold before boarding.
- Visit the website for more information on EasyJet’s Auto Bag Drop
Looking for somewhere to stay close to Gatwick? Check out some accommodation options close to London Gatwick airport. Or if you want to see what meet and greet parking at Gatwick is like, check out our review of Purple Parking.
*This article was updated in August 2024
Hmmm I am not sure about this, I mean everything is going self service so I can understand where its come from but it must be more costly for Easyjet to miss their flight slots than employee people to weigh in baggage? if I had the option of two tickets reasonably close in price I would go with the slightly more expensive one to avoid the chances of delay as much as possible. Especially with the children! Thank you for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again this week x
Mudpie Fridays recently posted…Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Yes, I think I’m with you on that… when there’s the option I’d go for an airline less prone to delays! And you are right, must be costly to miss slots but guess it’s early days. Thanks for hosting #bloggerclubuk
🙂
I think that’s the problem, isn’t it – when it works, it’s always so much quicker and easier, and I think for busy airlines, it can make sense to have a few staff wandering around to help and otherwise get the queues moving. But then when it doesn’t work, it takes far more time, effort and hassle to sort out! #mondayescapes
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…City Tripping #20
Exactly-I guess it can only get better in time though! Well, we can hope! Xx
Traveling gets more impersonal but I’m sure, with all the security issues there will be also more delays despite the automation. #MondayEscapes
Grey World Nomads recently posted…Scotland’s Argyll Forest Park
Yes, very true.
hahaha cool! Here in Munich we have that system for years already, with Lufthansa. I love it 😀 and it works perfectly. We never needed to cue or heard of any problem with the luggage. For now you can only do it at the Terminal 2, which is Lufthansa’s.
I think it saves lots of time… when it works, of course haha 😀
Thank you for joining #MondayEscapes 😀
Packing my Suitcase recently posted…Monday Escapes #31
That’s interesting to hear! There is hope for EasyJet then…when it works it’s definitely a good time saver. Thanks for hosting #mondayescapes x
United has something similar in the US. But I always ask for help – and usually get it.
Susanna recently posted…San Francisco: Family hike on Devil’s Slide Trail
That’s interesting…and good to know there are always people around to help.
Hmmm – I wonder if I’ll encounter this when I fly with Ryanair to Oslo in a couple of weeks? I’ll be bracing myself! It sounds like something a lot of the budget airlines will start to do soon.
Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com recently posted…Arts and culture round-up: March/April
It’ll certainly save them money in the long run! Have an amazing time in Oslo! X
Hello! I was wondering if you have seen an improvement in the autobag drop with EasyJet when flying out of Gatwick since your original post? Does the process go more smoothly now? My husband and I are traveling from Gatwick on EasyJet this Sunday morning, so any additional insight is appreciated.
Great blog by the way!
Hi Amy, thanks! Glad you like the blog. We flew EasyJet from Gatwick in mid October and it was a lot better. It was actually rather smooth and staff on hand too. I’ll update the post. Have a great holiday!