Southampton Airport Parkway · ~7 min to Southampton Central; ~69 min to London Waterloo (airport examples)
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
LGW7.0
SOU8.6+1.6
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
LGW7.1
SOU7.2+0.1
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
LGW7.2+0.8
SOU6.4
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
LGW8.6
SOU9.0+0.4
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
LGW6.9+0.4
SOU6.5
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
LGW7.4+0.6
SOU6.8
Best for
LGW
Fast rail to LondoneasyJet and long-haul leisurePaid lounges in both terminals
SOU
Travellers who want a true plane-to-train walk instead of a coach transferChannel Islands / Scotland / Amsterdam itineraries on Aurigny, Loganair, or KLMPriority Pass holders who need a real lounge (when Spitfire is staffed)
Watch out for
LGW
No airside walkway between North and SouthGatwick Express gateline at Victoria charges the premium fareSingle runway for routine operations until the Northern Runway works are built
SOU
Long Stay car park is closed — no free remote drop-off; Short Stay drop-off is £7 / 20 minutesSpitfire Lounge shut mid-day Wed/Sat/Sun on the airport roster (morning + afternoon blocks only)Ticketed to “Southampton” but flying from BOH Bournemouth is a common Solent mix-up
Amenities and tips
LGW
Fast Track SecurityIndependent loungesRail stationCT securityYOTEL South arrivalsFree water fountains
Budget 2.5 hours for international peaks
Fast Track from £6 is the useful buy when the standard lane is already long; it runs 04:00–20:00 in both terminals.
Read the terminal on the boarding pass
easyJet is North; BA, Ryanair, Wizz and Jet2 are South. TUI splits: TOM North, BY South. There is no airside link.
Eat landside, then refill airside for free
Boots, WHSmith and M&S sit before security. After security, official water fountains and any restaurant or bar will fill a bottle at no charge.
LGW · Britain’s second airport: two terminals with no airside link, excellent rail, and CT security that lets 2-litre liquids stay in the bag. Peak mornings still bite.
SOU · AGS regional airport at Eastleigh with a covered footbridge to Southampton Airport Parkway (~99 steps), CT security that still caps liquids at 100 ml (no clear bag; electronics stay packed), Unilink U1 at £2.60, and a Spitfire Lounge that Priority Pass can enter — except through Wed/Sat/Sun midday closures. Do not confuse with Bournemouth BOH.
