Jeremy Clarkson, 65, rips into ‘hellish’ UK airport as he details James May travel chaos
Jeremy Clarkson has shared his thoughts on the “pathological hatred” he and James May, 62, share for a particular British airport.
The 65-year-old writer and broadcaster opened up about his loathing for that aspect of air travel and how one of the country’s most loathed airports has improved.
“I HATE all airports,” Clarkson began in his column for The Sun.
The former Top Gear presenter then launched into an exhaustive list of his issues with having to use them.
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Clarkson first slammed exhaustive security checks, where he despaired he always finds himself in the queue for the X-Ray machine, stuck behind someone requiring multiple checks.
He also raged at being forced to the back of the line for passport checks because his details were wrong – despite admitting they were only incorrect because he: “can never be bothered to reach into the overhead locker on the flight to find out what my passport number is, so I just make one up”.
“And I hate the way they tell you your flight is boarding and then, exactly one second later, say the gate is closing,” he continued.
To make matters worse, the 65-year-old fumed at the long distances he often has to walk to get to the gate.
In particular, Clarkson took aim at Dublin and Dallas Fort Worth airports for making him walk miles for his flight.
Even more taxing was Bangkok airport, where he “once walked so far that my shoes melted”.
However, Clarkson saved the worst of his ire for Britain’s own Gatwick airport.
The 65-year-old explored at the length his hatred for the “godforsaken hellhole” London airport.
Clarkson revealed he was not alone in his opinion, with former Top Gear co-host James May also harbouring a “pathological hatred” for Gatwick.
Such was the strength of their feeling that the pair declined a direct flight from Gatwick to Tbilisi, Georgia and instead chose to fly out of Heathrow – despite having to endure a “romantic overnight halt in Istanbul” together.
Despite Clarkson’s past feelings, he admitted his mind was changed after an unavoidable trip through the airport which he now claims was “fantastic”.
Clarkson was now met with “super-friendly and helpful” staff, no queuing, swift passport checks and a mercifully short trip to his gate.
“It made Heathrow feel Third World,” he exclaimed.
While it maintains all the various ills that Clarkson alleges against all airports, Gatwick now holds the title in his mind of: “about as good as terrible gets”.