tell me about it! August 24th was one i was on!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMO of course, but I stand by my opinion that Gatwick IS smelly, dirty and disgusting. I don't fly if I can help it and certainly don't have your experience of the world's airports, but the comparison between Calgary and Gatwick was pronounced.

I agree. I don't fly into Gatwick too often (every 2-3 years), but I've always found it clean and easy to get around, especially compared to some international airports. Have you seen O'Hare in Chicago?

Mark

Had the displeasure of getting a connection there recently - mind boggling! Fortunately my connecting gate was quite close otherwise I can imagine it being an absolute nightmare to get to a connecting flight in a reasonable time frame!

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. Mine is, as you say, based on a rather broad sample. Gatwick couldn't hold a candle to, say, Singapore, but it's miles ahead of places like Chicago, Toronto or Montreal.

It is.

How depressing it must be to have to fly a lot if Gatwick is rated as a 'nice' airport.

Flying stopped being romantic for me years ago. I'm rather more concerned now with practicalities. I deliberately make some of my journeys longer than they need to be, just to avoid things I've come not to like.

The only thing I don't like at Gatwick is the long walk to/from the gates but you can say the same thing about a few airports.

Toronto airport doesn't come close to Gatwick at all, never thought of having a few more shops? Travelling on my own with a child, Gatwick is a good choice and you actually get treated like you are a human being than you are here. Little things make a big difference to me like going in the quick passport queue, not being interrogated about why I am visiting, just generally asking why I am on my own with a child instead of being ripped to threads in Toronto because we printed off that letter and just filled in the gaps and it wasn't notarised and this was all when I was coming back! Sorry, I have gone off on a tangent here but I find Gatwick a really nice airport to fly from/to, it has everything you could possibly need in a nice environment.

We are flying Northwest in 3 weeks to Gatwick via Detroit, I have 4 hours in Detroit and looking at their airport website there is lots more at the airport than any Canadian airport. Lots of shops and restaurants and 6 kids play areas. Where are the kids areas in Toronto? Oh right, in terminal 1, there is a kids area with a statue of a bear? Great!

I'm curious to know if you'd happily pay, say $10 for the kids to have somewhere to play while you wait for a plane? Or should those sort of facilities be funded by increased landing fees, and therefore your ticket price?

I would pay the fee, money isn't an object when I am flying, especially if I am my own.

I want him to be very active before getting on the plane (not just to get him tired) but he is going to be on a plane 7+ hours and needs the activity as he will just be sitting down.

Gatwick has a soft play area in the north terminal (we couldn't find the one in the south terminal) and it kept him entertained for quite a while.

I would second that!
Gatwick is not that bad, in fact i think it's a great airport. From the gate to collecting bag and then boarding the train can be less than 30 minutes upon arrival.
I flew into Exeter a few months ago, 1hour from getting off the plane to leaving the hut (airport) and we were the only arrival.

Really, we have something in common then!!
Passenger or crew?

Let me know how that flight goes? Northwest fly from the airport 10 minutes from my home (YKF-DTW) and have thought about trying it out, mind you they charge an arm and a leg but i would liketo use it in an emergency.

and you remeber to thank them for any service received and smile to them also.
Sorry to have to raise this point, but i work in hospitality service industry, and if any customer approached me with a sour face and no pleases and thank you's theres no way me or my colleagues would smile and be very polite back. The old saying "dont ***** witht the person that prepares your food" (and drink) applies.