For the record, I flew with easyjet last night, and had picked up case and was out of the terminal not longer than 45 minutes after the stated arrival time on the tickets, which in all fairness, is pretty much Delorean in Easyjet terms!
The Queues at Gatwick were mental though. I checked my baggage straight in without delay, when everyone around me was in huge sknaking queues with their trolleys. My supposed good fortune was negated by the HUMONGOUS queues to go through to the departure lounge. I walked to the front of the queue and walked back along the line, and I thought I was never going to find the front of it, it just kept stretching around another corner, and as far as the eye could see.
Still, it all passed in an hour, and everyone was generally good natured and without incedent.
That said, after 45 minutes in the queue, my opinion was stretching to the opinion it was all a bit overkill, though alls well that ends well.