Emirates to launch London Stansted Flights
Dec 20, 2017, 4:04 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I haven't even mentioned the location of STN but since you're bringing it up. For those heading to London the West, South, South-east and South-West of London, it's probably not ideal in terms of location. Undoubtedly those will prefer flights to LHR and LGW but that doesn't change that I find STN the worst of the London airports EK will be flying too.
STN has managed to push the whole duty-free malarkey to the extreme. The security line spits you out into a snaking corridor full of shops into a tiny departure hall where you'll wait until very shortly before the departure. Think of it like IKEA that make you walk through every department... Come to think of it even IKEA has a couple of short-cuts here and there.
Nah that's HHN.
Dec 20, 2017, 4:45 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,222
People in this thread seem to forget that the majority of 77W pax sit in Economy...
As for STAN being remote. Only if you're heading into the city. European countries are more densely populated and less urbanised than for instance South Africa or the US or India. When I used to live in Germany my home airport (HAJ) was a 60-80 minute drive, that's not far for a once a year holiday trip, and for those living on the outskirts of even completely outside LON but not nearer to BHX or other EK airports this will possibly be a solid option.
People need to stop assuming their personal travel pattern and preference (especially on a site like Ft which skews heavily to the frequent, often business traveller) is the blueprint for airline decision making
As for STAN being remote. Only if you're heading into the city. European countries are more densely populated and less urbanised than for instance South Africa or the US or India. When I used to live in Germany my home airport (HAJ) was a 60-80 minute drive, that's not far for a once a year holiday trip, and for those living on the outskirts of even completely outside LON but not nearer to BHX or other EK airports this will possibly be a solid option.
People need to stop assuming their personal travel pattern and preference (especially on a site like Ft which skews heavily to the frequent, often business traveller) is the blueprint for airline decision making
Dec 20, 2017, 5:23 pm
#34
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I dont think people are saying it is remote, they are saying how poor it is to get to, in terms of public transport and the road links for that matter. Not only that it is a terrible airport. The Germany example you gave, that once a year 60- 80 minute drive is somebody going from places such as Cambridge to LHR, which is their solid option.
Dec 20, 2017, 8:05 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
). At the end of the day Y passengers will care primarily about the £/$/€ they'll have to spend to get where they want to go.
Dec 20, 2017, 8:17 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 959
In my previous dealings with EK they were pretty fixated with the ethnic markets that live in NE and East London and not just the well heeled in Cambridge. They will get volumes of traffic to Bangladesh pulled off QR, GF or EY at LHR. Nigerians populate areas just south of the river east of Woolwich.
As someone earlier said, EK needs plenty of economy class passengers as well. Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Thamesmead, Ilford and Barking are where potential EK passengers live with a motivation to see distant relatives.
As someone earlier said, EK needs plenty of economy class passengers as well. Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Thamesmead, Ilford and Barking are where potential EK passengers live with a motivation to see distant relatives.
Dec 20, 2017, 8:25 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
I have no doubt that they will. For C/F flights they may have to either invest quite a bit to make it a pleasant ground experience or slightly lower the prices compared to LGW and LHR, but I'm pretty certain that they'll have no trouble filling Y ex STN since Y passengers. While I don't like STN for the reason stated above, it still gets plenty of passengers every year. Same goes for LTN (maybe we should as LTN_Phobia for a thorough review ). At the end of the day Y passengers will care primarily about the £/$/€ they'll have to spend to get where they want to go.
). At the end of the day Y passengers will care primarily about the £/$/€ they'll have to spend to get where they want to go.
Dec 20, 2017, 9:17 pm
#38
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Dec 20, 2017, 11:01 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: In transit
Programs: AF/KL BA GF EK EY LH QR
Posts: 587
Dec 21, 2017, 1:31 am
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: AUH
Programs: EY Guest Gold, Hilton HHonors Gold, Le Club Accor Silver, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 552
Back then I flew once, twice or thrice a year in J. Once/Twice a year to see my grandparents in India and once on holiday to places like MRU, BKK, MLE.
I was not concerned about loyalty and flew primarily EK. Now I fly more - a lot more and so loyalty and the benefits that come with it matter a lot more to me!
I was not concerned about loyalty and flew primarily EK. Now I fly more - a lot more and so loyalty and the benefits that come with it matter a lot more to me!
Dec 21, 2017, 2:17 am
#42
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: London, Dubai, Hong Kong
Programs: EK Platinum, BA/SQ Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 139
Just priced up some random dates next September
STN-DXB £7628 and LGW-DXB £4315 other destinations are similar.
This is not encouraging despite it being on the doorstep, its not worth £3k more, Emirates seems to have rather odd pricing these days though.
I would have loved a 1700-1900 departure time though, so I think I will stick to LHR for the foreseeable.
Lets hope somebody with some sense sorts this out.
Dec 21, 2017, 2:21 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: London, Dubai, Hong Kong
Programs: EK Platinum, BA/SQ Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 139
I have some employees that use STN but generously air their ongoing complaints about security queues being ridiculous, and that immigration can take up to 2 hours with most of the gates not operating. Some have now opted to use LGW instead they are just so fed up with it. I live 5 miles from the airport and I think I may still prefer the drive to LGW or LHR given that I could be home earlier than if it was STN.
Dec 21, 2017, 2:40 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,222
Well that will take some swallowing,
I have some employees that use STN but generously air their ongoing complaints about security queues being ridiculous, and that immigration can take up to 2 hours with most of the gates not operating. Some have now opted to use LGW instead they are just so fed up with it. I live 5 miles from the airport and I think I may still prefer the drive to LGW or LHR given that I could be home earlier than if it was STN.
I have some employees that use STN but generously air their ongoing complaints about security queues being ridiculous, and that immigration can take up to 2 hours with most of the gates not operating. Some have now opted to use LGW instead they are just so fed up with it. I live 5 miles from the airport and I think I may still prefer the drive to LGW or LHR given that I could be home earlier than if it was STN.
Dec 21, 2017, 3:05 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,164
I used to fly Glasgow or Edinburgh to STN quite a bit. The security was always a pain in the neck but manageable with fast track. The new 10minute walk around duty free borders on insulting.
Last year I did my first international arrivals and it was a mess.
Agree with the thoughts of others, EK needs to massively increase ground experience or discount flights for me to consider STN. A 777 passenger arrival going into that immigration queue is the work of nightmare's.
Last year I did my first international arrivals and it was a mess.
Agree with the thoughts of others, EK needs to massively increase ground experience or discount flights for me to consider STN. A 777 passenger arrival going into that immigration queue is the work of nightmare's.