LUTON -8
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: London
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it that simple? Take, for example, LON-AMS. Tomorrow, easyJet have 6 flights from LGW, 5 from LTN as well as 3 from STN and 2 from SEN.
Has developing a high frequency service from LGW meant a cannibalisation of operations from LTN from which they first served the LON-AMS route? 5 flights in a day is about as good a frequency there has ever been.
I agree that for someone living in Central London, choosing LTN or LGW is neither here nor there but nonetheless both airports have very distinct catchment areas which allows both airports to be well served by easyJet on the same routes.
I don't see why there can't be more new destinations added in to easyJets LTN operation which also feature in their LGW operation.
Has developing a high frequency service from LGW meant a cannibalisation of operations from LTN from which they first served the LON-AMS route? 5 flights in a day is about as good a frequency there has ever been.
I agree that for someone living in Central London, choosing LTN or LGW is neither here nor there but nonetheless both airports have very distinct catchment areas which allows both airports to be well served by easyJet on the same routes.
I don't see why there can't be more new destinations added in to easyJets LTN operation which also feature in their LGW operation.
Just because an airline can launch LTN-JER in addition to a LGW-JER route does not mean that doing so would be the most profitable available use of an airline's limited resources - namely slots, aircraft or staff.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Luton's passengers:
Greater London 37.7%
Hertfordshire 12.8%
Bedfordshire 9.5%
Buckinghamshire 7.4%
Northamptonshire 4.2%
Cambridgeshire 3.7%
Oxfordshire 2.8%
Essex 2.2%
Berkshire 2.1%
West Midlands 1.7%
Other counties 16.0%
Greater London 37.7%
Hertfordshire 12.8%
Bedfordshire 9.5%
Buckinghamshire 7.4%
Northamptonshire 4.2%
Cambridgeshire 3.7%
Oxfordshire 2.8%
Essex 2.2%
Berkshire 2.1%
West Midlands 1.7%
Other counties 16.0%
Join Date: May 2011
Location: LTN
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really? I would be interested to know why. Yes I am from Luton so you could assume bias but from my previous posts its obvious I can critique Luton without a care in the world if it deserves it. Hellhole is certainly an over reaction of quite epic proportions. I find it one of the easiest to transit but maybe thats because I can be off the plane and home within 30 minutes and travel alone.
Parking prices are quite ridiculous, No doubt some people dont like trekking a couple of mins down the hill to the train but hellhole? Hmmm.. Should be genuinely interesting to read why it is that bad for you.
Now if we were talking from an Airline operations standpoint and the mess of the whole place I could agree its a bit of a glued together here and there joke.
Parking prices are quite ridiculous, No doubt some people dont like trekking a couple of mins down the hill to the train but hellhole? Hmmm.. Should be genuinely interesting to read why it is that bad for you.
Now if we were talking from an Airline operations standpoint and the mess of the whole place I could agree its a bit of a glued together here and there joke.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I personally would pay a hefty premium not to have to travel through that hellhole and I'm not alone.
All airports have their advantages and disadvantages. My biggest gripe about Luton is being charged extra to use the shuttle bus. This causes delays as fares are collected so can be the difference between catching the first available shuttle bus or the next one. Yes you can get a through fare but most people don't seem to do this.
As for Gatwick? Ok the airport has a station but then many passengers have to walk into the terminal and catch a train to the other terminal. Also Gatwick seems to have outgrown itself, a bit like Luton.
Also wasn't there calls for an enquiry recently about how Gatwick let down its passengers and airlines?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: southern spain
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Canīt be that bad if 9.7 million have used it in the last 12 months but like others on here could you please inform us why you think it is a īīhellholeīī. As an aside I wasnīt that impressed with Gatwick - main trouble being have to walk to nearly Crawley to get to some gates but not that bad - have been through a lot worse - try Hurghada in Egypt or the old terminal in Gibraltar.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone having an equal choice between Luton and Gatwick and choosing to travel through Luton would, in my humble opinion, need their head examined.
I agree with you about many points you raise. Lets hope work on the upgrade starts sooner rather than later.
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Luton
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whilst I personally do not agree with the sentiments of Plastic787, it should always be remembered that Luton Airport has become so popular that it's seams are often stretched during the peak times.
With regards to the departure lounge, I consider the 1st floor one to be one of the smartest I have seen and I personally have used private lounges at the likes of Heathrow.
If some passengers want to expect caviar or even le cave wine when entering the terminal building, then unfortunately Luton Airport does not cater for such a clientele (unless using the exclusive use of the private jet facilities for which Luton sets the standard here in the UK and you can drink as much Dom Perignon as you wish) however Luton Airport is home to not only the UK's busiest airline but equally the Worlds largest charter airline and the UK's only airline that remains to have it's original name.
All in all, a very successful airport I think.
With regards to the departure lounge, I consider the 1st floor one to be one of the smartest I have seen and I personally have used private lounges at the likes of Heathrow.
If some passengers want to expect caviar or even le cave wine when entering the terminal building, then unfortunately Luton Airport does not cater for such a clientele (unless using the exclusive use of the private jet facilities for which Luton sets the standard here in the UK and you can drink as much Dom Perignon as you wish) however Luton Airport is home to not only the UK's busiest airline but equally the Worlds largest charter airline and the UK's only airline that remains to have it's original name.
All in all, a very successful airport I think.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes but those airline successes have come by operating most of their services away from LTN.
On the other hand Wizz seems to have a love affair with Luton
On the other hand Wizz seems to have a love affair with Luton
Last edited by LTNman; 25th Feb 2014 at 04:56.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: London
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice photo.
Long may the Wizz love affair with Luton continue. Their growth has been really spectacular.
I wonder where next for them in terms of route expansion? Are their many more destinations within their Eastern European strongholds that could be added?
Long may the Wizz love affair with Luton continue. Their growth has been really spectacular.
I wonder where next for them in terms of route expansion? Are their many more destinations within their Eastern European strongholds that could be added?
Possible Wizz routes from LTN
As a wild guess - not sure if traffic rights exist in all cases
Constanta in Romania
Sarajevo
Tirana
Pristina in Kosovo - not sure how Germania would react
Far better for Wizz, would be to increase frequency on existing routes and join more dots in the network of already served airports so as to raise profitability
Constanta in Romania
Sarajevo
Tirana
Pristina in Kosovo - not sure how Germania would react
Far better for Wizz, would be to increase frequency on existing routes and join more dots in the network of already served airports so as to raise profitability
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: London
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How sad to read so many derogatory comments about Luton.
The airport is far from perfect but then show me an airport that is perfect in every respect. The fact is well over 9m people now use Luton each year, a number which is increasing year on year.
The airports operators have a clear plan to improve facilities which will mean a better customer experience.
If Luton doesn't meet your expectations or requirements, there are other choices.
The airport is far from perfect but then show me an airport that is perfect in every respect. The fact is well over 9m people now use Luton each year, a number which is increasing year on year.
The airports operators have a clear plan to improve facilities which will mean a better customer experience.
If Luton doesn't meet your expectations or requirements, there are other choices.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have to accept peoples views whether good or bad and ignore the odd troll who lurks here.
I was in the terminal today and there seemed to be more staff than passengers at 16:30. in the check-in area.
I was in the terminal today and there seemed to be more staff than passengers at 16:30. in the check-in area.
Last edited by LTNman; 25th Feb 2014 at 18:40.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: A place you do not know
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First capital connect
Came 2nd from last in airport trains survey
Gatwick Express bottom in airport trains survey - February - 2014 - Which? News
Gatwick Express bottom in airport trains survey - February - 2014 - Which? News
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: -
Posts: 747
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have to accept peoples views whether good or bad and ignore the odd troll who lurks here.
Plastic787 made some very truthful comments about the airport, especially the parts about queuing in corridors for flights, no where to sit and long immigration queues. You cannot in the slightest bit call them troll comments.
Luton is my local airport and the airport I want to support... On the whole my experiences from the airport have been positive and but have to say I have experienced issues likes he has mentioned in the past on more than one occassion...
Public transport to the airport is far from perfect... The railway station 1 mile from the terminal and a monopolised bus service to London who charges higher fares than other London airports where there is competition.
The terminals floor area is one of the smallest in the UK, when you compare it passengers/m2 and airport does charge for far more services, which you get for free at other airports of its size.
It is easy for people to say they can choose not to fly from the airport... But most passengers choose price over comfort. A number of east European flights are only flown from Luton and if you have not flown from Luton before you do not necessarily know what to expect.
Airports like STN offer equally as cheap flights and get paid the same low airline/passenger fees as Luton, but in general offer a better passenger experience. Which is proven in surveys like SkyTrax, Which and Trip Advisor. Lets stop looking at the airport through rose tinted spectacles.
We should support the airport, but atleast be truthful to ourselves things are far from perfect.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
Posts: 9,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ohhhh come on!
When built the new terminal was described as having a capacity of 5m passengers. While folk here are always looking for new routes and more passengers I would like to see a freeze until building work is completed.
The last few times I have gone into the terminal and have gone airside the terminal was a delight with no queues and even plenty of unused seating. The airport is a different place at 6:30 in the morning in the summer months.
Next year sees the completion of the upgrade of the M1 spur road when it will become 3 lanes in each direction all the way to Capability Green. With the removal of the only roundabout between the M1 and the Ibis it will give road passengers a direct fast link right into the heart of the airport.
The airport continues to push for a 2 an hour non stop service from St Pancras. This is easily achieved by switching the alternating East Midlands service to the North that now stops at Luton town.
Critics complain about the airport not having a station actually in the airport but stay silent about the slow crawl to airports like Southend and Stansted. Lets remember that trains can get to Parkway in less than 20 minutes so a non stop train every 30 minutes together with the standard 6 trains an hour First Capital Connect service would be a big plus for the airport.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: southern spain
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How many more times have we got to say to these numbskulls that the immigration problems has nothing to do with the airport - send your complaints to Theresa May or David Cameron.
I donīt know what some people expect when they go to an airport - view of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon etc. Arrive get on a plane and get out - I know you have to arrive much earlier these days compared to some years ago when there was just a cafeteria and one small shop. Rant over.
I donīt know what some people expect when they go to an airport - view of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon etc. Arrive get on a plane and get out - I know you have to arrive much earlier these days compared to some years ago when there was just a cafeteria and one small shop. Rant over.