LUTON - 6
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Luton in last place
Passengers rate Birmingham the best UK airport and Luton the worst, according to a new poll. Birmingham scored 54 points out of 60 while Luton received just 16, in a survey of 2,372 holidaymakers conducted by airporttransfers.co.uk.
Asked to rate various aspects of airport service, those polled awarded Birmingham 10 out of 10 for staff friendliness, check-in efficiency and shopping experience, whilst Luton scored just one out of 10 for staff friendliness and only one out of 10 for security check-in time.
Of the 10 airports surveyed, Cardiff was the next best, with a score of 48 out of 60. After Luton, the next worst airport was Stansted with a score of 20. Gatwick got 26 out of 60 and Heathrow had 30. Heathrow got 10 out of 10 for shopping experience, with Stansted getting 8 out of 10.
63% of respondents said they preferred flying from smaller, regional airports and 12% said the airport experience was one of the things they ‘most looked forward to’ about a holiday. Almost half (48%) said they were prepared to travel more than 100 miles if it meant the airport they were flying from was ‘decent’, and 26% felt that having a bad experience at the airport could ruin a holiday.
Asked to rate various aspects of airport service, those polled awarded Birmingham 10 out of 10 for staff friendliness, check-in efficiency and shopping experience, whilst Luton scored just one out of 10 for staff friendliness and only one out of 10 for security check-in time.
Of the 10 airports surveyed, Cardiff was the next best, with a score of 48 out of 60. After Luton, the next worst airport was Stansted with a score of 20. Gatwick got 26 out of 60 and Heathrow had 30. Heathrow got 10 out of 10 for shopping experience, with Stansted getting 8 out of 10.
63% of respondents said they preferred flying from smaller, regional airports and 12% said the airport experience was one of the things they ‘most looked forward to’ about a holiday. Almost half (48%) said they were prepared to travel more than 100 miles if it meant the airport they were flying from was ‘decent’, and 26% felt that having a bad experience at the airport could ruin a holiday.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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"Heathrow got 10 out of 10 for shopping experience"
Now that wasnt really a surprise was it !!!
Lutons image was improving significally when Silverjet started up but sadly is in decline again.
I wonder when the poll was carried out as friends that recently travelled from BHX didnt rate them much better.
Long queues at security and car access two of their gripes.
As for travelling to smaller , regional airports.I agrree but look at LPL and EMA both got too busy ,too quickly because of the LO-COs and their infrastructure just didnt keep pace---just like LTN.
Now that wasnt really a surprise was it !!!
Lutons image was improving significally when Silverjet started up but sadly is in decline again.
I wonder when the poll was carried out as friends that recently travelled from BHX didnt rate them much better.
Long queues at security and car access two of their gripes.
As for travelling to smaller , regional airports.I agrree but look at LPL and EMA both got too busy ,too quickly because of the LO-COs and their infrastructure just didnt keep pace---just like LTN.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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LTN/BHX
Falcon666
Security moans at BHX seemed to have reduced, probably due to the lack
of pax. Car parking and access as you have said has attracted some bad publicity much more so than the total rip-off baggage trolley charges.
The biggest complaints though are baggage re-claim delays, I myself witnessed the shambles when I arrived but not an isolated incident apparently.
As for the survey, just over 2300 sample and EDI not even included, a bit
of light-heated reading rather than an in-depth look in to UK airport facilities.
Still considering trying Luton out due to lack of choice at BHX. Nothing I have read on here has put me off although the incident last week (or the week before) was a tad worrying.
Pete
Security moans at BHX seemed to have reduced, probably due to the lack
of pax. Car parking and access as you have said has attracted some bad publicity much more so than the total rip-off baggage trolley charges.
The biggest complaints though are baggage re-claim delays, I myself witnessed the shambles when I arrived but not an isolated incident apparently.
As for the survey, just over 2300 sample and EDI not even included, a bit
of light-heated reading rather than an in-depth look in to UK airport facilities.
Still considering trying Luton out due to lack of choice at BHX. Nothing I have read on here has put me off although the incident last week (or the week before) was a tad worrying.
Pete
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Ł1 for the drop off
Ł2 for a trolley
Ł3 each to beat the security queue
Ł1 for a plastic bag because security can’t easily see your toothpaste.
I have heard that you can now pay money to go to the front of the queue when you arrive back and want to get through passport control in a hurry.
Ł2 for a trolley
Ł3 each to beat the security queue
Ł1 for a plastic bag because security can’t easily see your toothpaste.
I have heard that you can now pay money to go to the front of the queue when you arrive back and want to get through passport control in a hurry.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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I have heard that you can now pay money to go to the front of the queue when you arrive back and want to get through passport control in a hurry.
Seriously? I'd pay that! Too many times I've arrived back late in the evening only to face a 45 minute wait to have my passport nodded at upon arrival back into my own country!
Seriously? I'd pay that! Too many times I've arrived back late in the evening only to face a 45 minute wait to have my passport nodded at upon arrival back into my own country!
Transavia
Interestingly, Transavia are dropping Gatwick at the end of this summer season. I think they were at Luton a year, and Gatwick a year.
So the fabled Gatwick catchment area was not so good for them....
So the fabled Gatwick catchment area was not so good for them....
Join Date: Feb 2009
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LGW
Not the first time Transavia has packed its bags and left Gatwick. My memory is that either it took over from KLM or KLM took over from it. In those days it was flying 737-200 and then 737-300
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Another kick in the teeth for LTN today...
Ryanair annouced two new routes from LGW today to Madrid and Rome and also easyJet are to start flying to Luxor from there too.
Just looked at the Ryanair destination map, and never knew they flew to so many destinations from that little old airport south of the Thames, looks like they now fly to 9-10 destinations. Not bad considering its not a base.
If Ryanair get into bed with the new owners of LGW, could mean they set up a base there. I think LTN could then potentially be vulnerable, it would be questionable if they need three London bases and both STN and LTN's catchment areas very much overlap. While at LGW Ryanair can continue to serve the London traffic while attracting passengers from the south.
Some people might think I am scare mongering, but it has happened to quite a few FR bases over the years, where after a while of Ryanair has built up a number of routes and then turned it into a base. Also the airline doesn't have a huge amount of new aircraft to arrive from Boeing and these will dry up in 2012 when no new aircraft orders have been placed and could mean aircraft being positioned where it deems there is demand!
Ryanair annouced two new routes from LGW today to Madrid and Rome and also easyJet are to start flying to Luxor from there too.
Just looked at the Ryanair destination map, and never knew they flew to so many destinations from that little old airport south of the Thames, looks like they now fly to 9-10 destinations. Not bad considering its not a base.
If Ryanair get into bed with the new owners of LGW, could mean they set up a base there. I think LTN could then potentially be vulnerable, it would be questionable if they need three London bases and both STN and LTN's catchment areas very much overlap. While at LGW Ryanair can continue to serve the London traffic while attracting passengers from the south.
Some people might think I am scare mongering, but it has happened to quite a few FR bases over the years, where after a while of Ryanair has built up a number of routes and then turned it into a base. Also the airline doesn't have a huge amount of new aircraft to arrive from Boeing and these will dry up in 2012 when no new aircraft orders have been placed and could mean aircraft being positioned where it deems there is demand!
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Ryanair only announced one new route to Rome and they will be increasing the service to Madrid. Ryanair will fly 11 routes from LGW from November.
You can be sure a base will open and it won't be to long either. Ryanair's has scaled back there bases in LTN, BHX and BOH. All bases are close to eash other and they are not proforming.
You can be sure a base will open and it won't be to long either. Ryanair's has scaled back there bases in LTN, BHX and BOH. All bases are close to eash other and they are not proforming.
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One other question about LGW becoming a base is there even any slots in the morning peak time? With all those 40+ easyJet planes and all the rest surely theres not many peak time slots available and is there room for more aircraft to be parked at peak times?
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Ryanair always get what they want in most cases and LGW wont be any different. I don't think the Aer Lingus base in LGW will be there for much longer. The base can't grow any more and the routes could be operated from there Irish bases.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Gatwick is WAY too congested to be a typical Ryanair base. I think they know there is a large market that they want to be a part of but are happy to serve it on W rotations from other bases rather than start the day as # 14 for departure at the 26L hold. That would really screw the aircraft for the day.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Increased Noise?
From a local rag,
"PENSIONER feels she may be forced to leave her home of 30 years because aircraft overhead is flying lower and more frequently and is making her life a misery.
XXXXXXX in Stevenage, lives on the flight path for London Luton Airport.
She said: “It’s been worse in the last four or five months – that’s when the increase in planes has been more noticeable.
“Before that we could live with it because they flew higher and were less frequent.
“They now fly so low that the engines hurt my ears.”
XXXXXXX, reckons at peak times a plane flies overhead every one to two minutes.
“As they come over our house they throw their engines into reverse,” she explained. “All you can hear are engines.
“They fly over all night long, and I can’t sleep anymore.”
XXXXXXX said she has to keep all her windows closed, even on a hot summer’s night, because the noise of the aircraft is unbearable.
“I love my windows open in the summer,” she said, “so I’m like a prisoner in my own home.
“I’m thinking of moving because it’s driving me mad.”
A spokesman for London Luton Airport has confirmed that there has been an increase in air traffic over Stevenage.
She said the busy summer season means there are additional passenger flights, many scheduled in the late evening, early hours of the morning, and at weekends.
She also said the direction of the wind has led to more air traffic over Stevenage in recent weeks, as aircraft must take off and land into the wind.
“London Luton Airport holds a 24-hour licence to operate,” the spokesman added.
“There are no plans to stop night flights, however we are conscious of the impact night flights can have on the local community and have made efforts to mitigate this impact by encouraging airline operators to use quieter aircraft through a stringent penalty system, which fines those aircraft that exceed stipulated noise limits.”"
You would have thought she would be more worried if the engines were thrown into reverse and the plane dropped from the sky!
Obviously doesn't remember the BAe 1-11 or the B737-200 or has the airport been cooking the figures from over 10M passengers/year a few years back against current figures??
or does the reporter have a different agenda?
"PENSIONER feels she may be forced to leave her home of 30 years because aircraft overhead is flying lower and more frequently and is making her life a misery.
XXXXXXX in Stevenage, lives on the flight path for London Luton Airport.
She said: “It’s been worse in the last four or five months – that’s when the increase in planes has been more noticeable.
“Before that we could live with it because they flew higher and were less frequent.
“They now fly so low that the engines hurt my ears.”
XXXXXXX, reckons at peak times a plane flies overhead every one to two minutes.
“As they come over our house they throw their engines into reverse,” she explained. “All you can hear are engines.
“They fly over all night long, and I can’t sleep anymore.”
XXXXXXX said she has to keep all her windows closed, even on a hot summer’s night, because the noise of the aircraft is unbearable.
“I love my windows open in the summer,” she said, “so I’m like a prisoner in my own home.
“I’m thinking of moving because it’s driving me mad.”
A spokesman for London Luton Airport has confirmed that there has been an increase in air traffic over Stevenage.
She said the busy summer season means there are additional passenger flights, many scheduled in the late evening, early hours of the morning, and at weekends.
She also said the direction of the wind has led to more air traffic over Stevenage in recent weeks, as aircraft must take off and land into the wind.
“London Luton Airport holds a 24-hour licence to operate,” the spokesman added.
“There are no plans to stop night flights, however we are conscious of the impact night flights can have on the local community and have made efforts to mitigate this impact by encouraging airline operators to use quieter aircraft through a stringent penalty system, which fines those aircraft that exceed stipulated noise limits.”"
You would have thought she would be more worried if the engines were thrown into reverse and the plane dropped from the sky!
Obviously doesn't remember the BAe 1-11 or the B737-200 or has the airport been cooking the figures from over 10M passengers/year a few years back against current figures??
or does the reporter have a different agenda?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
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No doubt Ryanair want to be paid for the privilege of flying from Luton?
No doubt any financial loss by Ryanair 'downsizing' would have little effect on the airport operator?
No doubt any financial loss by Ryanair 'downsizing' would have little effect on the airport operator?
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No doubt Ryanair want to be paid for the privilege of flying from Luton?
No doubt any financial loss by Ryanair 'downsizing' would have little effect on the airport operator?
No doubt any financial loss by Ryanair 'downsizing' would have little effect on the airport operator?
All I was stating was how over the last few years the number of routes from LGW has grown with the airline, and from sitting in the sideline and watching them grow previously when they get to the number of routes they now have, they quite often look to turning it into a base.
My comments were, this could potentially make LTN vulnerable, and the airline could look to move the four aircraft south of the river. Especially now Ryanair are not receiving so many new aircraft and may look to deploy them at the airports that work best for them!
Its just a case the routes FR operate from LTN seem to be regularly chopped and changed or if not, the frequencies are regularly reduced. Is this a case the airline has problems making routes work out of the airport?
Even though slots at LGW are hard to come by, if an airline really wants to operate from there, they seem to manage to find them. Take easyJet, FlyBE and Aer Lingus for example.
Ryanair will probably never admit it, but they do seem to switching their model at some airports to more congested and busier airports, take MAD and BCN for example. If they can make more money fill planes from there, they might be willing to give it a try.
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ThomsonFly Fleet @ LTN This Summer...
Only me again!
Just curious to know what aircraft type and number are ThomsonFly basing at LTN this summer?
Is it the usual 3x 757 with the occassional 767 doing a W route to the likes of Palma?
Also is Monarch using any of their A300's out if LTN this summer?
Just curious to know what aircraft type and number are ThomsonFly basing at LTN this summer?
Is it the usual 3x 757 with the occassional 767 doing a W route to the likes of Palma?
Also is Monarch using any of their A300's out if LTN this summer?