Average wait time at LGW animal reception?

I need to book a car to pick my two cats and I up at LGW in January. I have seen wait times at the ARC run anywhere from 10 minutes to the dreaded 4 hours. How long did you have to wait? I don't mind booking a little later in the day and having to wait for the car to arrive, but there's a big difference between waiting 1 hour and 4 hours, especially after a trans-atlantic flight! We arrive at 8:35am on a Friday.

It's difficult to say how long it'll take, as it depends on so many things.

Couldn't you pick the car up first?

Sorry...I should have added that I'm hiring the car and driver! I haven't driven since I've been here and I figure a trip from Gatwick to Bath with two cats in the car probably shouldn't be my first go at it.

Our kitty was four hours.  We called several times before we left home to be sure of the timeline.  they are very nice there and actually encourage you to call.

4 hours for us.  although he was actually ready awhile before that but the d*cks in the office just kept telling us to wait without even checking. so i guess it could be sooner?

Our wait turned out to be just under 31 hours.   The idiot vet used the wrong tapeworm treatment, even though we'd asked twice to make sure he was using the right stuff, so when we got to the ARC around 10:15am (my flight came in at 7:35am, but we figured we were going to have to wait around anyway, so we took our time) they were ready, all right - ready to tell us that they'd have to keep them for another 24 hours and treat them with the right medicine, and that it'd cost us another £307. 

Hopefully the same thing won't happen to you, but it's something to be aware of.  We had a six-hour drive ahead of us, but we were lucky in that we were in our own car, had friends in Earlsfield with whom we could stay overnight, and Chris didn't have to be back at work until two days after my arrival, instead of the next day.  The best-laid plans, and all that...

The wait for our two cats and dog was about 3 hours.  We landed around 8am, so I think we were one of the 1st flights in. 

We arrived at Manchester and our wait was about 1 hr 45mins (I think even less than that, but my memory is fading!).

They even called my husband and asked where we were!  I always thought it was 3-4 hours, but I guess it really depends on how many animals they have and how well your paperwork is completed (and obviously if everything is correct).

Our cat was ready as soon as we picked up our luggage... but we landed on a holiday Monday.