A frequent flyer who believes he’s found the “best seat” at Gatwick Airport has explained how to find the viewpoint. The tip could be ideal for holidaymakers who enjoy plane spotting while waiting to board their flight.
The recommendation was shared on TikTok by a blogger named James who posts on TikTok as @pilot.ni. James, a private pilot, knows just the spot for passengers departing from Gatwick’s North Terminal.
In a popular post, the aviation enthusiast said: “Is this the best seat at Gatwick Airport where you can look out a window and see all the aircraft landing and taking off? Here’s how to get here. Follow the signs for gates 101 to 113, and when you see this big escalator, you know you’re heading in the right direction.”
He continued: “The escalators go up for departures and down if you just arrived, so you are split from those arriving passengers. The only way to get back is down the lift, so you can go up the escalators, but you must go back down the lift, bear that in mind.”
James clearly thought it was well worth the effort. Filming the view, he told followers: “As you go up the escalator, you’ll start to see these incredible views looking right out over the apron.”
He added: “This bridge is incredibly long, and it goes right over the taxiways, which give you fantastic views of all the action down on the ground. You could spend hours up here. This huge Boeing 777 taxied right underneath, and I could see all of these planes landing and taking off, which was super cool.”
However, you should keep walking if you want to find the best seat of all. “The best seat in the house is right at the end of the bridge, so keep walking and you’ll get to this seating area here,” James advised.
As he pointed out, passengers departing from gates 101 to 113 can then take an escalator down to their departure area, which has a few shops. Alternatively, those who need to find another gate can return via the lift, following the directions for their correct gate.
James’s video has been viewed over 12,000 times and received several comments. Someone replied: “Don’t tell them the secret spot!!!”
Another response read: “I went to go there one day and got scared the escalators only went up and I didn’t wanna get stuck and miss my flight so I didn’t bother haha so thanks for the info I’ll try it next time.”
If you try out the tip, remember to leave plenty of time to find your gate. Gatwick Airport’s website states: “Once you’ve checked in, we recommend that you head straight to security and through to the departure lounge.”