I paid about 1000 gbp for 2 dogs - one v big and one medium sized - to fly to van from gatwick and that included all the rabies jabs, vet checks, crates and the stuff you pay when you arrive.

That sounds about right, as they calculate it by weight and volume.
I expect my 5 cats' carriers probably came to about the same weight and volume as your two dogs' carriers, but of course I needed 5 Rabies vaccs and Fit to Fly certificates rather than just two.
I paid in total about £1200 - flights, carriers, Rabies vaccs and a fit to fly letter each and also inspection charges at Vancouver all in.
That was from Manchester to Van.

I can sell the carriers on craigslist now and get some of that cash back!

I would have found it much harder to get them all down to Gatwick from my home. It is only an hour and a half from here to Manchester so it was not too long a journey, although they did mew constantly for the first 45 minutes which was very distracting and upsetting

I didn't put any music on because I thought they wouldn't like it, but once I put Rock Radio on, they quietened down almost at once - I think they calmed down because they were familiar with the music from being at home - so soothing