Some of you may well remember the awful advert for Luton Airport, featuring Lorraine Chase responding to the above line with "Naaah, Loootun Airport." Thankfully for all of us in the town, things have come on from the days when the height of glamour was a Cinzano and lemonade.

Firstly the new station. This is still over a mile from the terminal, but is serviced by a fairly reliable bus link. You can see the bus coming a mile off, as it is normally covered in bright orange Easyjet logos (More on them later) Many locals cannot see the point of the new station, as it is not much closer than the central rail link, and an improved bus service may well have sufficed. Still, who are we to decree where our tax subsidies are spent,I say. On the plus side, the station is very clean and sparkly at the moment, and it does improve the options for getting from one side of town to the other very quickly. To get to the station, you would have a 30 - 45 minute journey from Kings Cross Thameslink, which isn't too bad.

Inside the building is quite nice now. As you enter, there is a bit of a shopping centre, to relieve you of all your unwanted currency. Shops here include the inevitable Tie Rack, Ann Summers and a book store. There is also a fairly good range of expensive cafes to cater for the captive audience.

Once you have completed the ubiquitous security checks, and had your legs rubbed down by a security officer (who will be of the same gender as you to avoid any embarrasment) you enter the mecca that is the Departure Lounge. In here you will find more expensive cafes (which will stay open until all the passengers are safely aboard, so if you get stuck here, you will always be able to buy extortionatly priced food and drink) and some fairly run-of-the-mill shops. However, there is a Boots (in case you've forgotton your toothbrush) a bookshop, and also a jewellers (in case your other half has forgotten to buy you an expensive gift recently) There is also a small "pub" which is always overcrowded with those seeking a mild restorative/muscle relaxant prior to boarding.

Smoking is restricted throughout the terminal, but you will find several areas where the sinful among us gather in tight little groups to furtively puff away, while avoiding the glares of all other passengers whose air we are polluting. The extractor fans are quite good though, so no-one seems to suffer too much. Toilets are well signposted, and generally in good working order, if sometimes a little lacking in sanitation - the poor bods who work here do try and keep it under control though. The general standard of cleanliness has improved over recent years, and is certainly acceptable most of the time.

There is a wide variety of destinations to travel to from Luton. You can go as far as Florida, which is a new service that began this year, or as near as somewhere else in the UK. Most destinations are in Europe though - long haul is still strictly limited. The bread and butter business of the airport is cheap flights, package holidays and short distance business travel.