Stansted Airport - views please

[malumbu]

I use it when I have to but it never gets easier.

Quite chaotic and cramped, now introduced fast track security and reserved seating areas in the main area. I don't warm to it. Contrast this when I first used in 25 years ago and it was empty.

I've tried numerous ways of getting there - Stansted Express. It isn't, it runs on slow commuter lines, it is expensive and has no competition. I missed a flight once when it totally facked up first thing (5am) in the morning.

Driving - hit and miss on the M11 and parking that is twice as expensive as others airports.

The coach from Stratford - again fingers crossed on the M11 but avoids the crossing the river bottle neck. Terravision are cheap but increasingly more nasty, and came back today on National Express, much more upmarket for the ?2 premium, but they cancelled a service without telling us customers so an extra 30 mins plus the big dealy due to an incident on the A12.

I'm grumpy as I got back home 2 1/2 hours late and tired after a very early start. Issue today was also poor weather at Stansted delaying outgoing flight.

I do have problems with other airports, but never the level of Stansted.

It would be just super to hear what others think, inlcuding some tips how to make better use of it.

Cheerio

[bobbsy]

Also very bloody annoying is that they now charge for "Express setdown" of passengers - if memory serves me its ?2 for up to 10 mins, then ?2 per minute after that. If you want a free drop off, it's mid-stay parking and catch the shuttle.

Not passenger friendly at all.

[DaveR]

I used to use Stansted a lot - outside of the height of rush hour it was a predictable 1 hour drive and there were plenty of cheap and reliable 'meet and greet' parking firms, so you could just pull up outside and walk straight in. Now the traffic is awful and somehow the price of parking has gone up and the service level has gone down - no idea why - so I just avoid using it if at all possible. There don't seem to be many places you can only get to from Stansted, and these days I find that half the time it's as cheap to fly to Europe on BA from Heathrow T5, which by the standards of most international airports is a pleasure. Sorry - no more helpful tips.

[womanofdulwich]

we made it a slightly more positive by tagging on a few nights b and b nearby to explore suffolk..............( But I hate Stansted too- you did well to get there in an hour)

[Nigello]

It's amazing but true that BA - when booked on the website - offer really good deals, especially if you take only hand luggage. By the time you add in extras on "budget" airlines and the expense and faff of getting to places like Luton and Stansted (which auto-correct would have as "stagnated"), BA and other traditional airlines are very good value. Their flights tend not to go at unpleasant times, too.

[edcam]

It's horrendous and to be avoided at all costs. It's ridiculous that they call it "London" Stansted"

[malumbu]

Thanks for your views - I too noticed the 'pay to drop' - not done at other airports.

Without this getting into a 'fly another airline' there are simply times when no one else does the route so I have to use it.

I used to do BA but they reationalised many of their short European routes and reduced their Gatwick service which is the obvious airport of choice - so now use Sleazyjet on many occasions. But even Luton is better than STN.

Anyway perhaps someone has something nice to say about the experience there. It one design awards don't you know.

[Townleygreen]

I used to use Stansted but it is now such a pain (in the way other posters have described) that I too prefer to use Luton. You can go on the Thameslink door to door.

[rabbitears]

1) Gatwick

2) LCY

3) Luton

4) Heathrow

5) Southend

6) Biggin Hill

...

482) Stansted

[midivydale]

It is terrible, Makes my blood boil everytime. At times, the price difference to my home country between ryainair and say ba is several hundred pounds for an hour long flight so i have grinned and tried to bear it.

Luckily Norwegian has started to fly to where I need to go and its from gatwick. Much more pleasant and still good price.

Ryanair and I finally parted ways forever after they upset my non english speaking father with severe heartproblems to the point wherrle he was close to tears. I will jever forgive them for that. Bullies, cant stand them

[malumbu]

OK you are all in agreement with me, but still interested in how best to use Stansted when I have to.

And also whether there are any pro stansted views out there.

Rabbitears, you forgot London Manston, London Lydd, London Northolt, London Shorham, London Croydon Airport, London Oxford Airport etc