Gatwick Airport Wi-Fi: How to connect and safer alternatives

How to connect to the free Wi-Fi at Gatwick Airport

The Gatwick free Wi-Fi is available across the airport’s North and South Terminals, and it’s completely free. Wherever you are in the airport complex, the Gatwick Wi-Fi login process should take less than a minute. Follow these steps: 

1. Open the Wi-Fi settings on your device.

2. Select “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi Vinci Airports.”

3. Choose “Free superfast Wi-Fi” from the list of internet options — this gets you speeds of up to 50 Mbps.

4. Enter a valid email address to complete the process.

If you carry out these steps, you’ll remain connected to the Wi-Fi as long as you’re within the network’s range. 

No password is needed, but do make sure you’re joining the official “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi Vinci Airports” network. Hackers sometimes set up fake hotspots that mimic airport networks so they can intercept your data. Always check the exact name before connecting — if it doesn’t look right, don’t touch it.

You may also come across articles and guides online that tell you to connect to a network called “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi.” This information is outdated, but it still appears on a lot of blogs and websites. AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, relying on old data, often suggest using the “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi” network too. In reality, you’re looking for “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi Vinci Airports,” and no other password-free connection should be trusted at this airport.  

Coverage area at Gatwick Airport

Coverage is strong across Gatwick Airport, so wherever you are, you can view airport maps, boarding times, and other essential information. The free Wi-Fi is available throughout both terminals, including at check-in halls, security areas, boarding gates, and baggage claim. You can also connect in the food courts, lounges, and even some parts of the walkway between terminals. 

Premium lounges like the No1 Lounge, Club Aspire Lounge, and My Lounge offer their own private wireless networks, which tend to be faster and less congested than the public alternative. In general, the free Wi-Fi’s signal quality is reliable everywhere at Gatwick — even if the comfortable lounge seating isn’t. 

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Is the Wi-Fi at Gatwick Airport free? How fast is it?

Yes, Gatwick Airport Wi-Fi is completely free for all passengers. There’s no strict time limit, and users can typically stay connected for several hours without disruption, getting speeds of up to 50 Mbps. “Up to” is the key phrase here — if a lot of people are connected to the network at once, you can expect considerably slower speeds.

If you need a faster connection, you can access the airport’s 100 Mbps network by setting up a myGatwick account. If you don’t have a myGatwick login and would like to get better speeds without signing up for anything, you can pay £5 for 24 hours of premium internet access. Remember, though, you’re not guaranteed 100 Mbps even if you pay — a network’s speed is impacted by other factors, like how many devices are currently using it.

Let’s say you’re at Gatwick during spring — one of the best times to visit London and the surrounding countryside, because you’ll be jostling with fewer tourists — and you connect to the airport Wi-Fi. The airport won’t be as busy at this time of year, which means less traffic on the network and faster speeds. Come back a few months later amid the summer rush, however, and your Wi-Fi experience might be entirely different, with a very sluggish connection. If you don’t want to deal with that uncertainty, it’s worth considering some internet alternatives. 

Safer and faster alternatives to airport Wi-Fi

While Gatwick’s free Wi-Fi is convenient, public networks can be slow, unreliable, and risky. Open connections can expose your data to snooping or phishing attacks, and performance tends to drop during rush hours. Here are more secure, faster alternatives that will keep you connected across the UK.

eSIM for Gatwick

An eSIM for the UK gives you instant mobile data the moment you land — no swapping SIM cards, queuing at kiosks, or paying expensive roaming fees.

With Saily’s UK eSIM, you can purchase a data plan before flying, install it through the Saily app, and connect automatically when your plane lands. Pricing is transparent and flexible, with short- or long-term plans starting from just a few dollars. Because Saily connects to major UK networks, you’ll get reliable, high-speed data wherever you travel in the UK, from Gatwick Airport to London and beyond.

Local SIM cards

If your phone is unlocked (not tied to a specific mobile carrier), you can buy a prepaid SIM from kiosks in both terminals. Brands like EE, Vodafone, and Three have vending machines and staffed counters selling packages starting around GBP 15-25. A local UK SIM card is a good option for longer visits, but it’s not ideal for all travelers. You’ll have to physically swap SIM cards, you won’t have access to your personal phone number while you’re away, and your data deal might be quite rigid, covering a longer period than you actually need it for. 

Pocket Wi-Fi

Pocket Wi-Fi in the UK is a handy internet solution for groups or families. These small routers allow multiple devices to share one data connection. You can rent one online and collect it at Gatwick Airport, but you’ll need to keep it charged and return it at the end of your trip. It’s flexible, but usually more expensive than an eSIM.

International roaming

Using your regular SIM abroad can be convenient — but costly. Unless your carrier offers affordable roaming in the UK, data charges could add up quickly, leaving you with a dizzying internet bill at the end of the month. Roaming is best suited to very short stays (like layovers) or emergency use.

The best way to stay connected at Gatwick

Gatwick Airport’s free Wi-Fi is suitable for casual browsing, social media scrolling, and booking taxis — but that’s about it. For a smoother, faster, and safer online experience, using an eSIM is the smart choice. Saily offers affordable and flexible UK data plans, getting you online with reliable local mobile networks. No roaming fees, no physical cards, no stress.

The Saily app comes packed with useful extra features. Its web protection and ad block systems make your internet experience safer and more private, while saving you up to 28.6% of your data. And with unlimited hotspot sharing, you can connect all your laptops, tablets, and family devices under a single plan.

Saily’s eSIM plans can keep you connected in the UK and Europe, without the hassle of swapping SIM cards, carrying extra hardware, or hunting for free Wi-Fi networks. Whether you’re at Gatwick, in London (again — they’re 40 miles apart for some reason), or anywhere else in the country, an eSIM for the UK will get you online in no time.