u/Brief_Watch7221

Hi all, flying from Gatwick in June with a 5am departure. Planning to use the Official Long Stay car park and need to be at the terminal by 3:30am.
I’ve read online that the shuttle runs 24/7 every 10–12 minutes, and that during off-peak hours (midnight to 5am) you need to press an intercom at the bus stop to request a pickup.
Just wanted to hear from anyone who’s actually done this at that kind of hour did the intercom work? How long did you wait? Was there any issue or did it all go smoothly?
Also arriving back at 11pm any issues with the shuttle on the return at that time of night?
Pre-booking in advance any tips on whether the official Gatwick site or a comparison site (Holiday Extras, APH etc.) gives better value for a 4-night stay?
Any help appreciated, thanks! 🙏