"drop off / collection area, daylight robbery"
S Connolly (United Kingdom)
How can Luton airport justify charging people £3 for a 10 minute slot to the drop off / collection area? Then £1 per minute thereafter? This is extortionate. Whilst not giving another option for people leaving or collecting family or friends. They are holding people to ransom with this daylight robbery. I recently collected a family member from the airport - as they had to wait for their bags it took 21 minutes when I reached the barrier. I couldnt believe the cost - £14. I urge people not to use this drop off zone as this is just a step too far for greedy owners who should be embarrassed to ask for these charges. The cost of merchandise inside the airport is expensive also.
Experience At Airport | Arrival Only |
Date Visit | December 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Recommended | no |
"terminal is hopelessly inadequate"
Philip Hall (United Kingdom)
Terrible - probably the worst airport I have used. The terminal is hopelessly inadequate for the volume of traffic with consequent inadequate seating, long lines for food and drink and poor customer service. The boarding and security area look cheaply fitted out to the point of being tacky. There was long wait on a staircase after 'boarding' had commenced before we could board. Avoid this airport if you possibly can. Rating 1 out of 10.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | November 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"parked the car for 1 hour - cost £14"
Janice Agius (United Kingdom)
Went to Luton airport to pick relatives up. Parked the car for 1 hour which cost £14 which is disgusting considering the state of the car park - it must be the most expensive car park I have been to. It was about 11pm so not a lot of lighting. On taking our relatives back we told them we were only dropping them off - about 5 minutes to drop off and say goodbye and it cost us £3 in the drop off zone. Gatwick and Heathrow it's free. Told relatives never to come Luton again - they were not happy with airport either it took over an hour to get through security. Would never recommend Luton to anyone.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | November 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Recommended | no |
"most expensive airport parking of all the London airports"
George Ridgwell (United Kingdom)
I parked in the short stay car park at the airport as I was collecting a friend off flight FR3467. From the time I collected my ticket at the barrier 16.01 to the time I paid at the machine 16.11, for just 10 minutes the charge was £7.00, this is outrageous. The most expensive airport parking of all the London airports. Whilst I appreciate that major works are underway, Parking is poorly managed, the route changes almost weekly, the car spaces are too small to accommodate 4 x 4s. If you choose drop off/pick up area to collect that's £3 for 10 minutes. If you over stay the 10 minutes, they will fine you £60, even in you are 1 minute late.
Experience At Airport | Transit |
Date Visit | November 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"totally greedy and unnecessary"
3 reviews J Wiltshire (United Kingdom)
Worst airport in the UK. Admittedly they are doing a lot of work at the airport but before you get through security there are 2 amazing rip-offs. First the pay to drop someone off charge, totally greedy and unnecessary, but then charging £1 for bags to put liquids in is just taking the mickey. No other airport I have been to anywhere in the world does this. You'd think they used this charge to fund staff at security but obviously it's just to add to their profits as the queue for security was about 40 mins at 5am. Once through there is not enough room for anything, it's far too busy and nowhere to sit. The only thing that I was pleased with was the drinking water tap after security, but no doubt they will remove this at some point like other airports have done.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | June 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Family Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"long wait at passport control"
H Gibbs (Netherlands)
There are works in progress at this airport at the moment which do not enhance the travel experience. There was a long wait at passport control even when using e-passport, my suitcase arrived on the carousel before I got through. There are no counters anymore for purchasing onward train tickets. Instead the tired, harassed, confused traveler faces only two automatic ticket machines and a long queue. Fortunately a pleasant helpful lady is there to assist old computer dummies like me. The toilets at this part of the airport are totally inadequate and dirty. Departure: in spite of a large number of passengers the passage through, security went fairly quickly, less than the time indicated on the monitor. The departure lounge is undergoing refurbishments but the new duty free doesn't even stock sherry! I had great difficulty spending my money here. The toilets this end are much better.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | November 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
"airport is best avoided"
Kathleen Jackson (United Kingdom)
This airport is best avoided for at least two years or more. There is insufficient seating at the restaurant/bars and hardly any other seating elsewhere. The walk to and from the drop off area is far too long for anyone with walking difficulties and the area itself is utter chaos. Like another poster I will be paying for an overnight hotel and flying from a different airport until the Luton refurbishment is completed. Horrible experience altogether.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | September 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"I won't be rushing back"
C Wood (United Kingdom)
It is over 20 years since I last flew from Luton and I won't be rushing back. Firstly - Departures. Having travelled by train from Brighton we were herded on to a packed bus for the short transfer to the airport then an uncovered walk to the terminal building (luckily it wasn't raining) and had to hold my breath to avoid being gassed by the phalanx of smokers at the entrance (very unpleasant). Bag drop not well signed and dark and dingy. A plus was that security staff were helpful. Once airside hardly anywhere to sit - most available space taken up with duty free shopping - I would rather have somewhere to sit. Airside area totally inadequate for the numbers of people using it (and this was shoulder season and there were no delays). Hardly anywhere to sit at the gate so not a place to be marooned for any length of time. Arrivals did not disappoint in terms of the full Luton experience. Border control was ok (used the e-gate which speeded things up) however might as well not have bothered as had to wait 30 mins for bag - horrible busy baggage reclaim area - took ages for flight to come up on screen then a few bags before the conveyor broke down. No explanation as to what was happening and no one to ask. Someone travelling in my group had their robust suitcase damaged. The long wait meant we missed two trains and when we eventually got on the transfer bus the driver was rude. Couldn't leave quickly enough
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | October 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"not enough seats"
Carole Hunter (United Kingdom)
✅ Verified Review | Worst airport ever. Dirty. Not enough seats to sit at eating places. No seats to sit on when standing for 50 mins to board a flight. No information given by staff regarding flight. Queues at security caused massive disruption. Overall dreadful experience.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | October 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Business |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"security is totally disorganised"
Tom Heward (United Kingdom)
The airport is under going an upgrade without any regard for current passengers. Avoid Luton Airport at all cost. Short term parking is a complete mess. The spaces aren't marked out, the surface is too uneven to pull suitcases, and when you return to your car it is covered in construction dust. £137 for 9 days plus the car wash you will need afterwards. Security is totally disorganised. 22 minutes to get through security with many people missing their flights. Waiting area after security is scruffy and has insufficient seating. The walk to many of the gates is too long for fast unassisted passage. Luggage collection is very slow and the equipment is very old and worn. Altogether a very bad way to start and finish a holiday. This airport is a very bad advertisement for Britain.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | October 2016 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |