Thanks very much for the r/r/c's - I try to rate everybody in return! I'm also on 'the other side'. ...
Thanks very much for the r/r/c's - I try to rate everybody in return! I'm also on 'the other side'. ** MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! **
Member since:15.07.2007
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Stansted Airport is where I start the majority of my holidays, I have been there countless amounts of time. It is situated in South East England and 40 miles outside of London, even though it's classed as a London airport.
There are a number of ways to get to Stansted Airport by public transport, one is by train. There is a 'Stansted Express' train which runs from Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport. It only takes 45 minutes and makes one stop off at Tottenham Hale. The other way is by bus and coach. Buses and coaches regularly run from Liverpool Street, Baker Street, Victoria and Kings Cross directly to Stansted Airport.
Of course the quickest and easiest way is by car. I live in Essex so it's only around a 20 mile drive away which is really convienient otherwise I'd have to go to Gatwick or Luton which is a bit of a trip. The airport is situated just off the M11 and is well signed up. The best way to find it if you are unsure is by sat nav or route planner.
The downside with driving to Stansted Airport is having to pay for the carpark whilst you go on holiday - the best way to avoid this is to get somebody to drop you off and pick you up from the airport. If you decide to do this you can get dropped off and picked up directly outside of the terminal building or your drop off can park in one of the short stay carparks and go inside the airport. Alternativley you can always book a taxi.
When you arrive at the airport the choice of carparks is really quite confusing.
There is a short stay carpark suitable for people planning to spend less than 24 hours there, a midstay carpark suitable for short breaks and business trips and a long stay carpark suitable for long trips and holidays. The long stay carpark is situated away from the terminal building but a shuttle service runs every 20 minutes which only takes around 10 minutes. There are a number of different short stay and midstay carparks outside the front of the airport. The price varies for how long you plan to spend in the carparks but isn't cheap.
Airlines that operate at Stansted Airport include Easyjet, Rynair, Atlantic Airways, Germanwings, Israel Airlines, Iceland Express, Cyprus Airways, Air Berlin, Eastern Airways, Pakistan Airlines, Air Asia, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Snowjet, Air Moldova, Air Malta and Blue Air. I have personally flown from Stansted with Easyjet, Rynair and Xcel (rip!) plus more but which I can't remember.
Destinations from Stansted Airport include Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands, Great Britain, Pakistan, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Italy, Asia and parts of America. This is only a small list, check the Stansted Airport website for more destinations.
From the outside the airport looks quite attractive. It doesn't look too overly built up and is made of glass which makes it look quite modern and unique.
The inside of the airport is always clean and tidy, and feels very open and spacious - I think this is because of the natural light that comes through. Some airports can feel closed in and claustrophobic.
When you enter the airport you either walk through some rotating doors (if you are being dropped off outside the terminal building) or up a ramp from the carparks where you will find all the desks to check in. All of the check in desks have screens up to inform you what the airline is, the flight destination and the flight number. Even though there are quite a lot of check in desks, it is usually quite easy to find the desk you need. If you're lucky you might not have to que to check in but in most cases you do. It all depends on what time you arrive really - if you arrive early there is usually less of a que. As long as their are no problems with your documents check in is usually quick and easy. You'll check your suitcases in here and be given your boarding passes.
Once you have your boarding passes you can head straight to passport control and security or you can browse the shops and restaurants if you have plenty of time. Last time we flew from Stansted we had a few hours to kill so decided to have a full english breakfast at one of the restaurants. Shops include WHSmiths, Boots, Tie Rack, Claire's Accessories, Accessorize, Clarks, Coral, La Senza, Monsoon and Rolling Luggage. There is also a money exchange beraeu, entertainment centre (fruit machines etc) and area with computers which are connected to the Internet. Places to eat and drink include Costa, Krispy Kreme, Lovejuice, O'Neills, Ponti's, Pret A Manger, Caffe Alba and Caffe Espresso.
At security there can be ques but it usually just depends - sometimes I've had to que, other times I've gone straight through. They check your passports and boarding passes here and send you through to the x-ray machines where again there may be ques. At the x-ray machines you have to put your bags and belongings on a conveyabelt whilst they check you haven't packed anything naughty. You have to also walk through a sensor - if it beeps you have to be frisked by somebody of the same sex. The people who do this are generally utterly miserable but I suppose they are just trying to be professional. New rules mean you can't take any liquids through unless it is less than 100ml - that includes drinks and make up. The liquids have to be put into a resealable plastic bag (8 inch by 8 inch) which is provided by the airport and have to be x-rayed seperatley to your bags. The only liquids exempt from this rule are medicines, baby milk and baby food. Beware if you are carrying baby milk and food, they make you dip your finger in and taste it!
After that you'll be in the departure lounge where there are a large selection of shops and food places. Shops include HMV, Hackett, Dixons, Glorious Britain, Goldsmiths, Boots, All Saints, Accessorize, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, JD, Sunglass Hut, WHSmith, Tie Rack, World Duty Free, Ted Baker and The Body Shop. Food and drink places include Frankie and Benny's, Giraffe juice and coffee bar, Millie's Cookies, Costa, Pret, Cavier House and Seafood Bar, Starbucks and Wetherspoon. This is a great place to pick up last minute essentials such as snacks and drinks for the plane, cameras and films, magazines and books etc. Everything is duty free, plus you can pay in either sterling or euros.
Whilst in the departure lounge you need to keep an eye on the overhead television sets which tell you which gate your flight will be leaving from and keep an ear out for announcements. Once your gate is called you should go there as soon as possible. A number of the gates are in walking distance but other gates are further away and you need to catch a shuttle/monorail to get to them.
Once you are at your gate you'll have to wait until the person on the desk opens up to begin boarding onto the plane. If you have booked with an airline that seats on a first come first serve basis then this can be the worst part of the whole airport experience - it's where everybody turns selfish, pushy and is desperate to get on the plane first (for some reason). The staff on the desk check your passports, tear off your boarding card and you can make your way onto the aeroplane.
On arrival back to Stansted you have to pick up your suicases from the baggage carousel. It's a minimal area which nothing much other than toilets and a pay phone. It's also a time consuming and boring experience (although I have memories of loving it as a child!?) but it's just the same in every airport I've ever been to. I've never had my bags lost or damaged at Stansted but that's not to say lots of other people haven't! Once you have claimed your bags you then have to go through passport control. The staff at this point vary - mostly they are very boring and seriously but the last time the man that took our passports was talking about tattoos with us! You can then go through to arrivals, where there are yet more shops and food and drink places. This is where your pick up can wait for you.
The staff around the airport which I have dealt with in the past have been very helpful, nice and professonal. I have never had any problems or incidents at Stansted Airport. I think the majority of problems that people get in to at the airport are usually down to the airlines rather than the airport itself.
The whole airport is wheelchair and pushchair accessible and has lots of toilets and baby changing facilities scattered around. Toilets always seem clean and well maintained. I've never found the airport hard or confusing to find my around - everything is well laid out and signed up. There are a number of information desks if I did have a problem of any kind. There are also plenty of baggage trolleys around so I don't have to lug around my suitcases and bags.
Overall Stansted Airport gets my holiday off to a good start and stress free end.
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Stanstead is good but it is missleading that it is a London airport by name.. I was confused when I was took a flight from there and arranged to go there by train.. I thought it would be closer.
plod591 01.04.2009 00:42
"20 miles isn't far but I don't think I would like to live that close to a busy airport ! Nicely reviewed. x
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