News & Advice

M23 ongoing overnight 'SMART MOTORWAY' works - you may need to allow extra time travelling.

Italian authorities have implemented strict travel restrictions for flights to, from and within Italy until 3rd April 2020.

Vietnam has temporarily suspended visa-free travel from eight European countries over coronavirus fears. People from the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden will no longer be given visa waivers - until further notice.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice:

The FCO is currently advising against all travel to Hubei Province, and against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China.

The FCO is also advising:

against all travel to the cities of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan in South Korea
against all but essential travel to the following lockdown areas of northern Italy:
- Lombardy region (which includes the cities of Milan, Bergamo, Como)
- the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Rimini (all in Emilia Romagna)
- Pesaro e Urbino (in Marche)
- Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli (all in Piemonte)
- Padova, Treviso and Venice (in Veneto)

If you have a car parked at Cophall Parking and you are delayed returning back to Gatwick - please do not worry - just please update us when you have confirmed return details.

Email: reservations@cophallparking.co.uk

Aviation security measures on all inbound direct flights back in to the UK from the the following countries:

Turkey
Lebanon
Jordan
Egypt
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Under the new arrangements, passengers boarding flights from these countries to the UK will not be allowed to take phones, laptops and tablets and peripheral devices as outlined below that exceed any one of the following dimensions - into the cabin of the plane:

length: 16.0cm
width: 9.3cm
depth: 1.5cm

Passengers with these devices should check with their airlines for more details on transporting these items.

The additional security measures may cause some disruption for passengers and flights.

Direct flights to the UK from these destinations can continue to operate to the UK subject to these new measures being in place. Travellers are advised to keep up-to-date with the latest travel advise and always to check online with their chosen carrier for further information.

Cophall Parking Gatwick - October 2018 - awarded the 'Park Mark' award for another year!!

Congratulations to Cophall Parking Gatwick for yet another successful renewal of their Park Mark® - the Safer Parking Scheme award held since 2010.

Be assured that your vehicle will be stored within a safe environment Why take a chance booking online with a company that does not hold this award? Remember, the cheapest quote does not always pay and it is well known that cars have been left on the street without the customers knowledge."

Gatwick Airport "Approved Operators"

What is the "Approved Operator Scheme"

Cophall Parking Gatwick Ltd pre-qualified for this scheme as we already held both accreditations needed; The 'Park Mark' accreditation from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the British Parking Association (BPA) and also the Trading Standards "Buy with Confidence" award. We also agreed to the terms of the licence agreement set out by Gatwick Airport

The scheme is designed to help ensure your car is parked securely and safely, and also give you as a customer the peace of mind that you can be sure you are parking your vehicle with a reputable company. Only "Approved Operators" are able to access the dedicated areas for the Meet & Greet Services.

Passports

When you are looking into booking your holiday just take a minute to double check your passport expiry date. We have seen it happen where this hasn't been checked and as soon as we drop customers off at the terminal they call us back to collect them as their passport is out of date and they couldn't travel, it is such a horrible thing to happen, make sure it doesn't happen to you!

Don't forget to double check as well that the country you are travelling to doesn't require you to have an entry Visa.

Here are a couple of useful numbers & websites, in case you need them;

DVLA information online at www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Passport Advisory Line: 0300 222 0000
Go to: www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line

The Identity and Passport Service: 0300 222 0000
Go to: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/identity-and-passport-service

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO): 020 7008 1500
Go to: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The FCO offers lots of information and advice for any traveller. They can give you travel advice on safety, security, entry requirements and any health issues. If you are thinking about getting married abroad they can give you advice on that as well.

Airport check-in times

You will need to double check your timings with your individual airline, as each airline has different check-in & gate closure regulations.

The following times give you a general rule;

Long-haul flights: check-in opens 3 - 4 hours before scheduled departure time.
European flights: check-in opens 2 - 3 hours before scheduled departure time.
UK and Ireland flights: check-in opens 2 hours before scheduled departure time.

The minimum restriction of gate closure & bag drop off time is from 40 minutes up to 60 minutes before the scheduled take off time, dependant on destination & airline.

Your flight confirmation documentation or your flight tickets should advise of the appropriate times and we would always recommend allowing extra time just in case!

Alternatively, you may be able to use day-before, self-service or online check-in if you airline operates one, again check with them for details.

Airline baggage allowance

You will need to check with your individual airline as again each airline has different cabin allowance & hold baggage allowance, weight & size restrictions. All the details should be on your flight confirmation documentation.

People with restricted mobility (PRM) at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport has 'PRM' assistance desks in both the North and South terminals.
The Help Desk number at Gatwick Airport is 0844 892 0322 (select option 2).

Most airlines will offer a reduced mobility assistance service and will transport manual wheelchairs free of charge, in addition to the usual luggage allowance and you should be able to pre-book your airport travel assistance through your travel agent, if you book with one.

It is always best to advise your airline if you are taking your own mobility aid such
as a wheelchair or a scooter.

Pregnancy flying guidelines

Again it is best to double check with your airline as they all have different restrictions. Usually, after week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date, and to also confirm that you aren't at risk of complications. Also don't forget to double check the cover of your travel insurance to make sure you have the appropriate cover you require.