LUTON - 6
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Used LTN last week for the first time in a long time. I would love to say that the experience was great. It wasn't. It was mostly awful. We flew to Nice with EZY and arriving early at LTN on Wednesday morning we entered the terminal to be told we then had to go outside again and round to the new security zone. Took ages to get through - it's poorly managed. Then had to walk MILES through bleak corridors to get to the shops / cafes and was dying for some breakfast. Then had to walk quite a way to get to the gate which was then changed again at the last minute, entailing another LONG walk. Just endless walking down grim corridors with no views. I'd love to say that it's an anachronistic but pleasant airport but it's s**t.
On the plus side, the guys at Central Car Storage are absolutely brilliant. Best airport car parking experience I've had. Polite and super-efficient.
On the plus side, the guys at Central Car Storage are absolutely brilliant. Best airport car parking experience I've had. Polite and super-efficient.
Join Date: May 2011
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I dont think anyone is in doubt that alot of things need changing inside and out. Hence the new plans for the airport.
Allthough I am surprised you had to walk so far for shops or restaurants, they dont seem that far from the entrance.
Allthough I am surprised you had to walk so far for shops or restaurants, they dont seem that far from the entrance.
Having arrived early with Ryanair from Tenerife on Thursday 3 May, we did the usual up and down stairs and along corridors from stand 2 to Boarder Control....as we we there before the late evening rush of inbounds we were through in a couple of minutes. So the moral of the story is get there before the crowds !!!!!
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Tell me this new security entrance isn't via the old Silverjet terminal opposite the main terminal? I thought this new security entrance was for airport staff. Sounds to me this is what you are talking about. So do all passengers go this way or is it split between the one upstairs and this new one to ease congestion. 
Would have thought it is an overflow to be used only for the 6am rush
Anyone flying Ryanair would have to walk along the same corridors from the shops to get to their gates. Hope they all have comfortable shoes as the airport signage says to allow 15 minutes for the walk in just one direction.
And this from the FT Luton’s image deters fliers, says easyJet - FT.com
Would have thought it is an overflow to be used only for the 6am rushAnyone flying Ryanair would have to walk along the same corridors from the shops to get to their gates. Hope they all have comfortable shoes as the airport signage says to allow 15 minutes for the walk in just one direction.
And this from the FT Luton’s image deters fliers, says easyJet - FT.com
Last edited by LTNman; 7th May 2012 at 20:09.
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Yep thats the one. Can't be many airports where you have to walk outside to get from landside to airside. Guess it is either that or queue for so long that you miss your flight.
As I have already said this must be for the morning rush only and adds extra security lanes unless someone knows different.
As I have already said this must be for the morning rush only and adds extra security lanes unless someone knows different.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LUTON
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Rail connections
From May 19 rail timetable change Thameslink trains are reinstated across London and night and at weekends daytimes.
When broken, the trains did still serve St.Pancras, but has there been any impact, or an investigation into impact, on possible Luton air passenger loss from across London where getting to / from very early a.m. / very late p.m. was made just that little too difficult.
LGW is my second choice of LON airport exactly because of through trains days and night - but for sure I have used LGW once only one way outwards during the entire Thameslink night blocked route, because faffing around with buses in the small hours put just that too much extra time into the journey (up to 90 min each way at certain periods of the night) and it happened that flights more towards the middle of the day were less suitable.
Or am I just too picky about getting to LGW and the vast majority of LTN air passengers more resilient. Or just they plain did not know and booked flights before looking at trains ???
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Nick
When broken, the trains did still serve St.Pancras, but has there been any impact, or an investigation into impact, on possible Luton air passenger loss from across London where getting to / from very early a.m. / very late p.m. was made just that little too difficult.
LGW is my second choice of LON airport exactly because of through trains days and night - but for sure I have used LGW once only one way outwards during the entire Thameslink night blocked route, because faffing around with buses in the small hours put just that too much extra time into the journey (up to 90 min each way at certain periods of the night) and it happened that flights more towards the middle of the day were less suitable.
Or am I just too picky about getting to LGW and the vast majority of LTN air passengers more resilient. Or just they plain did not know and booked flights before looking at trains ???
--
Nick
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Travel to and from Stansted, Southend or Heathrow and you will have to deal with a train terminating at a London terminus and a service that is not 24 hour. The beauty of travelling to Gatwick or Luton is that once again a true 24 hour 7 day a week service will operate across London.
In fact Luton offers a direct service to more stations south of the Thames than north of the Thames but it isn’t all good news. As Easyjet has mentioned why is First Capital Connect charging for the shuttle bus to the airport? This slows up the service as passengers have to find change. Surely the answer is to add this fare to the train fare and reduce the car park charge to those who don’t travel to the airport.
In fact Luton offers a direct service to more stations south of the Thames than north of the Thames but it isn’t all good news. As Easyjet has mentioned why is First Capital Connect charging for the shuttle bus to the airport? This slows up the service as passengers have to find change. Surely the answer is to add this fare to the train fare and reduce the car park charge to those who don’t travel to the airport.
Last edited by LTNman; 8th May 2012 at 19:34.
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What the hell are you talking about LTNman ... have you been spending too much time in the phone kiosk again?
Terminating at a London terminal? ... So all of LHR,STN & SEN's punters travel by a train that terminates at a London terminal?
Just at random I've just run a check on SEN to Wimbledon, Wimbledon is south and west of London is it not?
SEN airport (rail station) to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 35mins and without a terminus at a London terminal.
Whilst ... LTN airport to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 40mins with a terminus London/St Pancras.
Here's an interesting map that shall provide a connection between the world's busiest airport and your beloved SEN:
Terminating at a London terminal? ... So all of LHR,STN & SEN's punters travel by a train that terminates at a London terminal?
Just at random I've just run a check on SEN to Wimbledon, Wimbledon is south and west of London is it not?
SEN airport (rail station) to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 35mins and without a terminus at a London terminal.
Whilst ... LTN airport to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 40mins with a terminus London/St Pancras.
Here's an interesting map that shall provide a connection between the world's busiest airport and your beloved SEN:
Security screening
LTNman - I appreciate that early in the morning there is a big rush for outbound flights but for LTN management to have let it get this bad is unacceptable. If EU citizens had to wait an hour for immigration at Heathrow the press would be all over it.
Are there any kind of Service Level Agreements which govern how long passengers must wait to clear security or is the CAA just asleep on the job ?
If a major system goss down it's acceptable - but not if it's a regular occurrence
Are there any kind of Service Level Agreements which govern how long passengers must wait to clear security or is the CAA just asleep on the job ?
If a major system goss down it's acceptable - but not if it's a regular occurrence
LGW is my second choice of LON airport exactly because of through trains days and night - but for sure I have used LGW once only one way outwards during the entire Thameslink night blocked route, because faffing around with buses in the small hours put just that too much extra time into the journey (up to 90 min each way at certain periods of the night) and it happened that flights more towards the middle of the day were less suitable.
It really was a pain in the preverbials. I had to catch a flight from LGW at 6.30am; had to leave LTN at around 2am! 1 train an hour (which I almost missed!!) and then having to find a bus stop (which wasn't clearly signposted from the platforms) in the freezing cold to get to London Bridge.
This is also ridiculous - 4.30am on the FCC line is the beginning of "anytime" fares - peak.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Phileas Fogg
Furious at Ltnman made the following comment
If the train is heading for London then yes it terminates at a terminus (sorry if I said terminal)
Heathrow goes to Paddington (There is also a slow underground link into London)
Stansted goes to Liverpool St
Southend goes to Liverpool St
Gatwick and Luton cross London and pop out on the other side.
Well I would say south but if you want to say south and west that's fine by me.
Now you have lost me. Using your example I am saying that I can travel from Luton to Wimbledon without changing trains. If I put Southend to Wimbledon into a journey planner it tells me that I need to catch 2 trains and use the underground and the travel time is over 2 hours. If I put Luton to Wimbledon into a journey planner it tells me that it takes 1 hour 30 minutes with no change of train.
The map shows the cross rail route which is being built now but is still a few years away. With a single change of trains at Farringdon Heathrow will be connected to Luton and Gatwick by rail. The line then carries on via Liverpool Street connecting up Stansted and Southend.
Furious at Ltnman made the following comment
What the hell are you talking about LTNman ... have you been spending too much time in the phone kiosk again?
Terminating at a London terminal? ... So all of LHR,STN & SEN's punters travel by a train that terminates at a London terminal?
.
Terminating at a London terminal? ... So all of LHR,STN & SEN's punters travel by a train that terminates at a London terminal?
.
Heathrow goes to Paddington (There is also a slow underground link into London)
Stansted goes to Liverpool St
Southend goes to Liverpool St
Gatwick and Luton cross London and pop out on the other side.
Just at random I've just run a check on SEN to Wimbledon, Wimbledon is south and west of London is it not?
SEN airport (rail station) to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 35mins and without a terminus at a London terminal.
Whilst ... LTN airport to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 40mins with a terminus London/St Pancras..
Whilst ... LTN airport to Wimbledon rail station = 1hr 40mins with a terminus London/St Pancras..
The map shows the cross rail route which is being built now but is still a few years away. With a single change of trains at Farringdon Heathrow will be connected to Luton and Gatwick by rail. The line then carries on via Liverpool Street connecting up Stansted and Southend.
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I see that fences have gone up around the Ocean Sky building opposite taxiway Echo, the fence continues across the road past the former flying club and past the green hangar which butted up to the club. The rear doors to the hangar are open and it looks like the interior is being dismantled.
So Ocean Sky have stated work on their new apron and FBO but as their new apron was meant to be for terminal traffic does it mean that the councils expansion plans have been lowered?
So Ocean Sky have stated work on their new apron and FBO but as their new apron was meant to be for terminal traffic does it mean that the councils expansion plans have been lowered?
Last edited by LTNman; 8th May 2012 at 19:32.
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LTNman - I appreciate that early in the morning there is a big rush for outbound flights but for LTN management to have let it get this bad is unacceptable. If EU citizens had to wait an hour for immigration at Heathrow the press would be all over it.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Apron
Hello LTN Man,
Possibly like you, I follow developments at Luton in relation to expansion, but with the current operator not agreeing with the airport owner, who know's whats truly going on in relation to planning.
However, it is good to see Monarch increasing routes from Luton which will benefit the winter movements at Luton.
Also thought I would mention, an alternative route to Heathrow via public transport is
Luton to West Hampsted Thameslink, West Hampsted overground to South Acton, 4 minute walk to Turnham Green (Piccadily line) or 7 minute walk to Acton tube (Piccadily line)-might save about 15 minutes overall-If not using the Heathrow Express.
.
Possibly like you, I follow developments at Luton in relation to expansion, but with the current operator not agreeing with the airport owner, who know's whats truly going on in relation to planning.
However, it is good to see Monarch increasing routes from Luton which will benefit the winter movements at Luton.
Also thought I would mention, an alternative route to Heathrow via public transport is
Luton to West Hampsted Thameslink, West Hampsted overground to South Acton, 4 minute walk to Turnham Green (Piccadily line) or 7 minute walk to Acton tube (Piccadily line)-might save about 15 minutes overall-If not using the Heathrow Express.
.
