The view from my sixth-floor window at the Sofitel at Gatwick was a planespotter’s dream. EasyJets roared up into the West Sussex sky (though you could only just hear the engines through the sound-insulated windows).

Virgin aircraft taxied towards the runway. British Airways staff milled about outside the North Terminal entrance (a pilot appeared to be telling stewardesses a joke). Another jet disappeared southwards.

Gatwick has three “on-airport” hotels: the Hilton (standard, US-style service, decent rates), the Yotel (wacky, cut-price, Japanese pod-like rooms), and the Sofitel. On the basis of my recent stay, the latter is the slickest and most comfortable, if a little bit pricier than the others.

It also has the strange feeling of being a halfway house between terra firma and the sky; it’s almost as though you’re staying in a giant, rather comfortable plane. This effect hit me from the moment I walked down a long passageway that looked like the emptied fuselage of a jumbo to the reception.

Here I was met by a cheery receptionist in a charcoal-grey pinstripe suit who reminded me of a head stewardess and upgraded me to an “executive room” (was this surprise the start of a lucky streak — would I get the same treatment for my flight at check-in the next morning?)

Upstairs, after marvelling at the number of easyJets taking off, I took in my large en suite room (with a bathtub), a brown leather armchair with a reading lamp and inflight magazines on a coffee table, lots of mirrors, and a picture of two African figures holding baskets.

A button next to the door turned on a “Do Not Disturb” light outside. Air-conditioning purred peacefully. The thought of being stuck in a narrow tube heading across the Atlantic was a long way away.

The highlight of the public area downstairs, which you reach via a glass lift looking on to an atrium with a fountain, was “Gatwick Airport’s Oriental Restaurant”. This was a curious affair, with an Eastern European waitress wearing a shiny-blue oriental dress, who served an extremely sharp chilli beef salad followed by a prawn curry in a setting full of Buddhist figures and tea-candles.

I had never imagined Gatwick could be so Zen, and the food was great (definitely a cut above airline food), although the bill came to £26 for two courses with water. The Eastern European waitress looked apologetic as I signed on the dotted line.

The next morning I strolled back along the emptied fuselage passageway to the North Terminal. I felt rested — which was good, considering that my luck was up and I failed to get an upgrade.

Sofitel London Gatwick (0870 4607450, www.accor.com), North Terminal, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex RH6 0PH.

Mystery Guest paid £113.85 for a double.

Room 7 out of 10

Food 7

Service 9

Value 6.5

Score 7.38

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