London Stansted Airport Passenger Reviews and Stansted Airport Traveller Reports

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First Time I have used 'Express Drop-off' area having used the airport for years (since my honeymoon in 1973). This will be the last time I will use this airport! The recent change of drop-off is nothing but a transparent scam to raise even more money from the abused traveller. It is unpleasant and at £2.00 for 10 minutes so exorbitant that it ought to be in Westminster. Add to this the very threatening presence of a vehicle removal company, it is just another example of how little the operator cares for the traveller as opposed to their money. Everything at the airport is aimed solely at taking more and more cash, from the inadequate seating (except in refreshment areas where effectively you pay to sit) to the excessive number of shops taking up space that could be used by any caring operator to make the public more comfortable. What a rip-off!

I have just returned from Stansted airport to see off my mother-in-law and son who were flying to Germany with Ryanair. Having checked in online, I was not expecting the lengthy queue at baggage drop off. After waiting about 45 mins to drop off one suitcase we proceeded to the departure security gate. Another lengthy queue and delay. When my mother-in-law (who is 80 years old and disabled) and my son (16 years old) reached the front of the queue, they were directed back to the fast track lane as she has a metal walking stick (single crutch.) My son was informed he had to accompany her as they were together. We went to the fast track desk, only to be informed my son had to pay £5 for fast track. The girl on the desk would not listen to our explanation that my son had been told to come here and he had to carry his grandmother's hand luggage, but we refused to pay the charge. They would not listen to reason. Eventually a supervisor arrived who sensibly listened to us and apologised that we had been given incorrect information. She took my mother-in-law and son through. I have never experienced such a stressful time just dropping someone off for a flight and I will never use Stansted Airport again. I'd rather pay more and travel further than deal with uncaring jobsworths.

Flew from Stansted for the first time in 2 years. (Having used Stansted regularly over the past 15 years before that) I noticed a steady decline in the airport. I couldn't be dropped outside the door of the airport anymore. Forced to pay £2 for 10 mins, to park in the car park, just to get my bags out. I have a leg injury and wasn't pleased that I had to walk all the way up to departures. The trolleys are coin operated and having spent the last of my change already, had to go without. Check in was fairly smooth and friendly but then to security. Queues were unbelievably long. The line took 30 mins to get through. I am used to traveling and had my laptop already out of the bag etc but the security woman still insisted on asking me several times if I had a laptop. Through security I went to Starbucks to get a coffee, staff were exceptionally rude, making it clear that you were an inconvenience to them. The duty free and shop selection is quite good but flying Ryanair, I couldn't buy anything with their strict cabin baggage allowance. I was disappointed at the lack of free wifi, a facility I have encountered in the majority of airports across the world. £1 for 10 mins internet is excessive I think. A long walk to the gate and a lot of bag checking and weighing by Ryanair staff, more sets of stairs and I was finally onboard. Glad to be leaving the airport and the stress behind. I am very disappointed at Stansted, it used to be a lovely airport to fly from. It's extremely stressful now and the customer service, in general, is very poor. I will avoid Stansted in future.

Having returned from newly renovated Billund Airport in Denmark early on Monday morning, we returned to a very tired and shabby looking Stansted. The new passport entry facility for those with the new type of passports only let two out of each ten people through the automated gates, the others having to queue like the rest of the hordes of arrivals. The people in security are surly and unhelpful using gestures to move people around the poorly marked areas where you are meant to wait for your fellow travellers who have failed to negotiate the automated gates. Compare this to the English speaking security guard who stopped me in Billund to check my case who apologised for keeping me waiting and could not have been more courteous. The ride back to the mid stay car park in the bus with the faulty speakers so you couldn't here the driver's instructions to be charged £51 for three days and then to see the litter blowing around the access roads is a terrible advertisement for visiting the UK.

I've used this airport around 6-8 times in the last 12 months. It gets very busy on a Saturday morning (departing) and Sunday evening (arriving). On the last 3 occasions I've used it I've done arrival only, on a Wednesday or Friday at approx 10pm. One these 3 occasions there has been no queue for passport control and I've been out and away easily. On the few occasions I've landed on a Sunday evening (approx. the same time) it's been a different story - the arrivals area has been packed with long queues for passport control. So I'm giving a good satisfaction score for my recent arrival experiences, and I won't be planning a Sunday evening arrival in the near future!

I use Stansted currently 4-5 times a year, and in the past more frequently. Unfortunately it is the only London Airport that has flights to my regular destination. Public Transport links are poor and overpriced as far as rail services are concerned - particularly if trying to get to the airport from the south coast for a departure before 10am.  Bus services to/from central London reasonably priced and frequent, but the same problem of how to get to Central London early enough by train to reach Stansted for a pre 10am flight.  The terminal is tired and not a good advert for Britain, particularly as on exiting the arrivals hall passengers find themselves in a burger bar.  It is not any better when you step outside under the canopied area as it stinks of cigarettes. Toilets too few for passenger numbers overcrowded and not cleaned frequently enough. Security checks often suffer from overcrowding and can be slow.  Charging £1 for plastic bags is a rip off.  Border Control overcrowded - queues frequently spill into the corridors approaching the area and staff in recent times seem to have been generally trained to be officious in their demeanour rather than official - a polite smile and thank you costs nothing and does not in any way inhibit a person's ability to do their job properly.

Having used this airport many times in the past, they have changed the set down area. The old system of a separate road that worked successfully has been closed to only "authorised" vehicles and is now empty. You now have to use an Express set down area with a charge! This is unclear until you have passed it and the confused motorists are harassed by a Parking Enforcement vehicle! The early morning drop off became a stressful experience which I will not repeat - other Airports will benefit. It does not take a genius to work out how much "simple revenue" is being raised for an inferior service. My main objection is that it takes much longer for a simple drop off. The old system was superior.

Sadly this is an airport which arrogantly seems to think its customers owe it thanks, and which is not aware that there's a choice. The facilities are tired, the security is slow, aggressive and pedantic. As for drop off and collection, you cant get near the airport building now without huge extra charges (eg over £5 added to valet companies' charges, £2 for car access both for dropping off and for pick-up, with punitive rates if you over-run). Its all dressed up as some kind of ecological drive to discourage travellers arriving or departing by car but in truth its just a financial scam. Its a thoroughly unpleasant airport and deserves to sink, probably along with its main user Ryanair. I use Stansted over 30 times a year because I need to go to a destination only served from there. But rest assured, if there comes a choice!

Great infrastructure, but is mismanaged. Fleecing the passengers of their money seems to be the primary concern. They actually charge people 1 pound for the see through bags for security check. They also charge GBP1 to use scales to ensure that your bags are not over weight limit and have the most expensive left luggage fee I have seen (10 pounds a day). On my visit the toilets were filthy despite the airport being very quiet. I saw no attendants. Shame on you Stansted airport.

Some good things, some bad. Departure generally a good experience, security queue less than five minutes with helpful and pleasant staff, staff in shops and cafe friendly. Arrival though was very poor: first we were kept waiting on the aircraft for 15 minutes as 'the terminal doors were locked' in mid-afternoon (was nobody expecting us?). There then followed a very long walk indeed to the truly dreadful passport control area (always extremely crowded), we joined the queue for the automatic readers though an official said it would probably be quicker to queue for a conventional check - he was right. The long-stay car park is very expensive given its distance from the terminal (a 10 minute bus ride) and has the most confusing numbering system for the bus stops known to man - as I have said before, be very careful to note exactly where you park your car and which bus stop you use.

Great airport and good customer service. Just needs a refreshing uplift don't think anything's been done in 10 years!

I use this airport frequently and think on the whole it is pretty good. It can get crowded first thing in the morning between 5-8am) and on Sunday evenings, but otherwise I find I just have to wait a few minutes to drop off my luggage and 5-10 minutes to get through security. I have found the staff polite and helpful. On the return flights the main problem is at passport control where there can be a lot of people particularly if several flights arrive at about the same time. The automatic passport machines seem to be temperamental - sometimes they recognize me and sometimes not. Luggage is usually on the belt in 15-20 minutes. Car parking as at just about all airports is expensive. It sometimes has cost me more to park the car for a few days then I've paid for the flight. Free and fast wi-fi is common in many airports in Europe (Paris, Munich, Vienna) and it should be also at all of London's airports.

This was a great airport when it opened but awful now. Security staff unfriendly and departure lounge area really crowded - seems Ryanair passengers are held there for as long as possible, while the non-Ryanair piers connected to the transit appear under used. Good point was swiftness through passport control, I must have been lucky from seeing other reviews. Such a shame as this is a great building and has been badly neglected.

The early Friday morning rush was already over, but it still took some 25-30 minutes to negotiate security. This is unacceptably slow and reflects not enhanced security arrangements but simply poor organisation. Of the nine scanners installed, just three were in operation. By the time I had completed security procedures, there was no time to sample the "retail experience". If I were a retailer paying top-dollar rentals at STN, I would be wanting a word with the Airport Management about its failure to deliver customers.

It would be a lovely airport if it wasn't for Ryanair's inability to check in, board or disembark passengers in an orderly, efficient manner. They ruin the airport. It is easy to get around with very little obstructions from drop- off to gate and a decent selection of shops, but with pretty much only 1 toilet after security it bulges with the thousands that pass through every day. Its when you get to the gates were the real problems star, they are basically long strips with not enough room for queuing and seating throughout. On the up side however it is kept very clean and immigration staff are cheerful and efficient.

I am a fairly frequent air traveller but have nver witnessed such crass ineptitude as I did at Stansted airport on my trip this week. At check in for the outward flight only half of Ryanair staff were at their posts when the desks opened, queues were mixed up with no member of staff helping or organising the queues. On arrival back at Stansted the custom checkpoint was inadequately manned resulting in it taking over 1 hour to clear customs and this was 'normal' according to the only member of staff who spoke to anyone. Pity help anyone arriving for the Olympics, they had best bring a sleeping bag.

Mixed feelings about this airport - very affected by your flight time. If on an early flight you will find terrible overcrowding in the airport retail, food sector areas because flight gates are not announced until 45 mins before departure. With so many budget airline flights leaving between 6am and 7am expect chaos which is a shame since food and retail outlets are very good. Why they will not let passengers go to gate early where there is plenty of seating is beyond me. Likewise if you land late evening expect very long queues and indifferent staff at border control, 30-45 minute wait normal. Dominated by cheap flight airlines, only fly from here if flight price worth it. How any further expansion of the airport or a second runway be considered is beyond me, believe BAA has to sell this airport and lack of any further investment obvious.

I had always been happy with Stansted before, Friday night, took almost 2 hrs of queuing before my girlfriend could get through passport control. Only 6 desks open and hundreds and hundreds of people queuing right down the corridors leading to the hall. Visitors will hate the UK before they even step foot outside the airport. What made it worse was there was no announcements or info given out so everyone was just standing waiting, wondering what was going on when flights had landed so long before but still no sign of their friends/family.

I fly from Alicante to the UK (Essex) fairly often. I usually go into Stansted as it is cheaper, but after the last few times, will be paying the little extra to use Southend. As others have mentioned, a large percentage of the staff would benefit from some extra, or just some, training in the art of customer service, particularly the immigration staff, who appear at times to take great delight at the expense of the so called customers frustration.

Flying out Thursday no problem - flying back Sunday 22 April very different. Locked in narrow steel corridor before being allowed into hall for passport control, massive queue, when got to desk I politely queried what was happening, I was she was just doing her job, looking over her shoulder 2 police in full regalia laughing at us, no apology, just treated like animals, appears either staff or facilities not adequate - will try to avoid this airport.

Flying out from Stansted was ok, but how rude are the staff! The experience when I arrived back from Gran Canaria at 11.40pm on 14 April was dreadful. It took an hour to reach border control, having been held in a series of very crowded and stuffy corridors and treated like cattle. At every turn, we came across more rude staff who's only explanation for the ridiculous delays was '5 flights all arrived at the same time'. This is an airport that can no longer cope with the volume of flights that come and go and I will try to ensure I never set foot in the place again until they do something to improve the experience for arriving passengers.

I now actively seek flights that do not depart/arrive from this airport. Outbound early in the morning was ok, security reasonably swift but staff are bluntly rude at all stages. The fee for plastic bags if the one you have is 'the wrong size' is plain gouging. Customers are treated as an afterthought. From being unloaded from aircraft, to being held in corridors, while herded out back onto busses, to be transferred to another in-bound gate. With no explanation as to why we went up and down at least 4 escalators and walked for 10 mins. Staff training of customs officers at passport checking, another unwarranted delay. The signage is appalling. Do not attempt to navigate into or out of this airport in less than 60 minutes.

I use this airport and have no problems every week, it seems people still do not understand all liquids must be in a plastic bag out of your hand baggage and then wonder why they get a bag check, I am asked so many times if I have liquids before I put my bag through the scanner. Do as you are asked and you will not have a problem! The airport itself is looking tired and a bit dirty but on the whole is ok.

I used Stansted for midday flight, and was quite pleased. Last week I was leaving at 7 am so arrived at 5am. The airport was packed, 50 planes were leaving around the same time. No problems with signs, no trouble using bus station, but when it came to security search it was terrible. When into the scanning hall, staff were polite and fast. They are so inefficient about scanning laptops! When in the lounge it was absolute madness, many flights were shown as "wait for boarding" without gate numbers. Hundreds of people waiting by the screens, crowding and creating huge backlogs. My gate was called 15 minutes before departure together with 5-6 other flights. Hundreds of people went to the shuttle train which is capable of carrying up to 200 people, but not the 1200 hurrying to the gates on short notice. Overall the facility is clean, with plenty of eateries, good signs and transportation connections, but horribly overused and very stressful.

Very late for a flight, I needed to get through the scanners and run to the gate before it closed. I had forgotten to put my deodorant in a plastic bag. They diverted the backpack and made everyone wait for over 20 minutes while they slowly went through all the bags they were diverting for a hand-check. The airport was almost empty but we were hugely congested. I begged them to let me take it out and throw it away, they refused and kept on at an exasperating, plodding place. I warned them they were going to make me miss my flight, they didn't care and refused to help. I missed the flight by several minutes. I will avoid Stansted at all costs for any future flight - it breeds petty tyrants and hasn't heard of customer service.

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