EasyJet would not let me check in luggage, too earlier. Go for a coffee and come back. OK, I’ll go to Brighton for a coffee. I think they thought I was joking. I wasn’t.
Luggage at left luggage, train to Brighton, a very expensive coffee.
Queue to use ticket machines, no ticket office. UK’s second busiest airport, one of the busiest stations, no ticket office.
Trains running late, or cancelled. Announcement, catch next train, followed by ticket must not be used on trains where not valid.
Welcome to UK where nothing works.
Train to Brighton running ten minutes late. Stuck behind slow train, arrives in Brighton over 15 minutes late. Guard announces entitled to a refund. I retain my ticket passing through the barrier.
Nearest coffee shop, Coffee at 33. Food does not look good. I choose least worst option. Not good, I leave half eaten. A cappuccino, not great. A shame as food and coffee was always excellent at Coffee at 33. I pick up two bags of coffee. A wise move?
A head back to the station, change my mind, head to Pelicano. Maybe not a wise move.
I look in what was Brighton Books, now a barber shop. I am told closed a year ago, don’t think has relocated, check online. Sad news. Excellent for high quality magazines like Standart and Drift. The only other place I know is Ideas on Paper in Nottingham, and it sadly closed at the start of the Pandemic.
People sat outside Pelicano. No one inside. They have now opened a garden out the back. A cappuccino, sadly has to be takeaway. I also pick up a back copy of Standart (which I probably already have).
Now pushing it to get back to Gatwick.
I pick fastest train. It arrives Gatwick several minutes late. Interesting conversation with a young guy from Canada. He is flying to Santorini, three days in Athens. I recommend places to visit.
Make left luggage with seconds to spare. Otherwise I would have had to pay for a day not three hours.
I was thinking, if I do this again, breakfast earlier, spend longer in Brighton. On the other hand, if cannot check in luggage early, either going to have to leave luggage for the day (expensive) or cart around Brighton (not practical). Slightly baffled, I am sure in the past have been able to baggage drop the night before (maybe a different airline).
I am surprised Gatwick not busy. No queues immigration or security. The only pain is having to wind way through a shopping mall, when all wish to do is find the gate and leave.
At the gate, easyJet offering four passengers £500 each if they skip the flight, take next flight, and all costs covered. I cannot see how this would work, as would then have to find their luggage.
Flight full, and yet loads of room in the overhead lockers. Unusual.
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