London Stansted Airport

What on earth is going on at this airport. At arrival a very long wait for the long stay car park bus and then we the paying customers were squashed in like sardines in a tin. At the terminal queues everywhere toilets WH Smith security. Lack of seating lack of toilets but no lack of shops. Is the management losing their marbles. The place is falling apart through lack of maintenance. The length of time it took to clear immigration and baggage reclaim on the return was just beyond me. The final insult to us the paying customers was a further wait of over 30 minutes in the cold night air only to be squeezed in on the car park bus. Cattle would be treated better. Public money built this airport now it is a cash cow for big business. I will not use Stansted until it regains its customer focus.

Again another nightmare queue for Security 45 minutes and many passengers jumping barriers. One member of staff was completely unhelpful to a young girl who was about to miss her flight - he could easily have resolved her issue if he'd wanted. The 'revamping' of the security area was supposed to enhance passenger security but it's not as efficient as the old system.

Going through the security yesterday took over an hour. Deliberate policy of undermanning the security slots unsafe disrespectful and arrogant. (only two of the twenty two gates were open). An airport to be avoided departing from if you have a choice.

This is supposed to be an airport not a shopping centre. If I want a shopping centre I go into town not an airport. 50 minutes plus of snaking queues to get through customs is not acceptable then walk walk walk in around and through shopping malls regardless of flight numbers and gate information. After my experience this time in future I will use Gatwick.

Similar experience to everyone else. We arrived on time but were held in a corridor packed tight from where we were slowly herded it took 3/4 hour - 15 at a time on one escalator to immigration hall which was very crowded. Thought we were lucky to be directed to new system of reading passports automatically but another 3/4 hour there. There were also parents with small children in the first queue which I pointed out to staff who were just standing there they did then push them through - but why was this not done automatically the time by then was 12.30am. Hugely depressing experience.

I have used Stansted around 10 times in the last 5 years and never experienced any particular problems but having read the barrage of dreadful reviews here I was quite worried about my most recent trip. Here is what actually happened: Outward journey - 30 Sep mid-morning. Ryanair bag-drop virtually deserted staff waiting to serve me. Security- less than 5 mins queuing staff pleasant and cheery. Yes the walk through the tacky "duty free" is not ideal but as it takes less than 1 minute I think I can live with it. Return journey - 7th October mid-afternoon. No queues at all at passport control - through in less than 2 mins. Bags on carousel 14 mins after plane arrived at gate absolutely excellent. Walked out of terminal with bags 18 mins after arriving gate. I can't think of many airports anywhere in the world which could better this. So what is the problem at Stansted? Is it something to do with the time of day? I don't know but thought I would post this to hopefully reassure future travellers who like me read the reviews on here and might be fearing the worst - it can be very good!

Huge queues over 60 minutes wait at immigration. This airport is a total write off now. Not even Heathrow is that bad when it comes to waiting time.

Flight landed at 11.40 Wednesday 1st October. As soon as we were inside the terminal building the queue started and like previous reviewers it took me over an hour to get through E-passport security. My husband who was picking me up knew the flight had landed so came to the short stay car park and because of this delay we paid a fee of £11 - disgusting! I can but hope things improve as this is my nearest airport.

Flight landed at Stansted from Murcia 11.15pm on Saturday 27-9-14 exited the terminal at 00.45. 1.5 hours to clear passport control! Sorry but just not good enough for an airport this size. Toilet facilities utterly filthy - had clearly not been cleaned in hours car park buses a shambles also. Given a choice I will never use this airport again. Got home to South London at 03.00 close to 4 hours after the flight landed approx 35 miles away. Simply not good enough Stansted.

There is a very common theme to these reviews one which is mirrored by two recent personal experiences - deterioration of standards stress unacceptable queuing herding - in fact the only thing missing is the cattle prod and one suspects that these would be part of the kit if legal! Five weeks ago I missed a flight due to ineptitude in security and yesterday witnessed the chaos at passport control utterly pathetic! Take my advice - pay a bit more and go elsewhere Stansted Airport would be better named Standstill Airport. I won't be returning!