BAA and later MAG have utterly destroyed the Stansted experience. The concept of kerb to plane for which the terminal was built has now reached a nadir of the worst procession through the most shops of any UK airport. To be clear, no airport I have been in takes you through such a tortuous route before you sight an aircraft.
There’s just no room! The restaurants were queued out blocking people trying to run for flights.
The rest of the airport is fine, Sat 1 and 2 have decent seating and views but with no return to terminal option without a help phone, most people are trapped in the terminal. At least at LHR, frequent fliers can get out to the satellites in good time and back if required. Such a shame as STN started out with amazing potential but it’s a zoo at the moment.