Stansted or Gatwick to AMS on EasyJet
Dec 23, 2015, 7:05 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
I have to almost completely disagree, and I go there at least twice a month.
Security: slow, always. 15 minute queue is the norm, not the exception. LHR T5 is almost always better. Really? The last two times I flew through (in the last 3 months) I have been from bus stop to airside in less than 15 minutes. I was very impressed, even at 5am with a million first time flyers.
Airside progress: slow, always, due to enforced maze of retail, and a long walk or a train to gates.No different to LGW South, and most airports require a long walk (I think LTN is better in this regard)
Seating: rarely enough, and never enough outside the winter doldrums. this is true
Gates announced only 40 mins before, never earlier, even if the aircraft is on stand overnight. This I agree with. Still, not most airlines have assigned seating, so it's not like the old days where you have to line up early to get a good seat
Crowding: between crowded and very crowded every time. YMMV. The last I passed through it wasn't too bad
Car Parking: expensive AND incompetently managed Never used a car there, and don't think the OP will
Public transport: Only from London via train, everything else is crap. I only use the bus, and think the services are fine (given its out of town location)
Car drop-off: you want HOW much to drive up so a passenger can jump out?
The only parts MAG haven't comprehensively screwed up is baggage handling (still good, done by others than MAG) and arrivals (UK Border has the new e-gates).
There are more places to eat than there used to be - if you can get a seat in any of them.
It's a horrible place now, I hate it.It's better than it was, but of course, it's still a no-frills airport
Security: slow, always. 15 minute queue is the norm, not the exception. LHR T5 is almost always better. Really? The last two times I flew through (in the last 3 months) I have been from bus stop to airside in less than 15 minutes. I was very impressed, even at 5am with a million first time flyers.
Airside progress: slow, always, due to enforced maze of retail, and a long walk or a train to gates.No different to LGW South, and most airports require a long walk (I think LTN is better in this regard)
Seating: rarely enough, and never enough outside the winter doldrums. this is true
Gates announced only 40 mins before, never earlier, even if the aircraft is on stand overnight. This I agree with. Still, not most airlines have assigned seating, so it's not like the old days where you have to line up early to get a good seat
Crowding: between crowded and very crowded every time. YMMV. The last I passed through it wasn't too bad
Car Parking: expensive AND incompetently managed Never used a car there, and don't think the OP will
Public transport: Only from London via train, everything else is crap. I only use the bus, and think the services are fine (given its out of town location)
Car drop-off: you want HOW much to drive up so a passenger can jump out?
The only parts MAG haven't comprehensively screwed up is baggage handling (still good, done by others than MAG) and arrivals (UK Border has the new e-gates).
There are more places to eat than there used to be - if you can get a seat in any of them.
It's a horrible place now, I hate it.It's better than it was, but of course, it's still a no-frills airport
Jul 3, 2022, 11:01 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
LCY, followed by LCY and then LCY.
small, efficient, less disrupted that either LHR or LGW. The only time it’s a bit painful is a mid-winter fog day. Easy hop on the Jubilee and DLR from Bankside.
small, efficient, less disrupted that either LHR or LGW. The only time it’s a bit painful is a mid-winter fog day. Easy hop on the Jubilee and DLR from Bankside.
Jul 3, 2022, 3:05 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
Jul 5, 2022, 12:07 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: Marriott
Posts: 51
I am really intrigued by the option for traveling from St Pancras to Amsterdam Central via Eurostar. While I have no experience getting on the Eurostar, do you think it worths to pay like 200 pounds one way, or better off to be getting on flight by paying 100 pounds?
ALso, I had some bad experience in a Paris train station before = got pickpocketed. May I look for your opinions on the general security for the London and Amsterdam stations?
Many thanks!
ALso, I had some bad experience in a Paris train station before = got pickpocketed. May I look for your opinions on the general security for the London and Amsterdam stations?
Many thanks!
Jul 5, 2022, 12:28 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,920
I have done the Eurostar many times, and given the choice will take that over a plane. Easy, comfortable and more room to stretch out than a plane. London to Amsterdam is 4 hours "central" London (depends of course where you are in London) to central Amsterdam. Getting out to the airport in London, having to be there an hour before to clear security et al, the flight and then heading from Schiphol to your accommodation can take as long. And with the way that the airports in London and Amsterdam are now, the train might be safer.
I wouldn't worry about safety in either St. Pancras or Amsterdam Centraal. Paris Gare du Nord is dodgy, but St. Pancras and Amsterdam I've been to many times and never felt it was a bad area. Of course, pick-pocketing can happen anywhere, so no guarantees.
As a caveat, I have taken the train from London to Amsterdam, but it was back before Eurostar ran straight through, and I changed in Belgium. So I've not done the Amsterdam run as it exists today, but I think it can only be easier with a direct train rather than having to change.
I wouldn't worry about safety in either St. Pancras or Amsterdam Centraal. Paris Gare du Nord is dodgy, but St. Pancras and Amsterdam I've been to many times and never felt it was a bad area. Of course, pick-pocketing can happen anywhere, so no guarantees.
As a caveat, I have taken the train from London to Amsterdam, but it was back before Eurostar ran straight through, and I changed in Belgium. So I've not done the Amsterdam run as it exists today, but I think it can only be easier with a direct train rather than having to change.
Jul 5, 2022, 12:34 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
I am really intrigued by the option for traveling from St Pancras to Amsterdam Central via Eurostar. While I have no experience getting on the Eurostar, do you think it worths to pay like 200 pounds one way, or better off to be getting on flight by paying 100 pounds?
ALso, I had some bad experience in a Paris train station before = got pickpocketed. May I look for your opinions on the general security for the London and Amsterdam stations?
ALso, I had some bad experience in a Paris train station before = got pickpocketed. May I look for your opinions on the general security for the London and Amsterdam stations?
If the price were equal, I'd definitely take the train over plane to Amsterdam these days, but not sure I'd pay £100 more unless that was for Standard Premier. Do be aware also that there can be significant queues for check-in for Eurostar at St Pancras too, depending on time of day.
Jul 6, 2022, 8:30 am
#26
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,089
Both St Pancras and Centraal are generally considered more pleasant/less 'dodgy' stations than Gare du Nord, though as with any major tourist area there can be petty criminals. It's easy enough not to get pickpocketed wherever you are though, just have your wits about you.
If the price were equal, I'd definitely take the train over plane to Amsterdam these days, but not sure I'd pay £100 more unless that was for Standard Premier. Do be aware also that there can be significant queues for check-in for Eurostar at St Pancras too, depending on time of day.
If the price were equal, I'd definitely take the train over plane to Amsterdam these days, but not sure I'd pay £100 more unless that was for Standard Premier. Do be aware also that there can be significant queues for check-in for Eurostar at St Pancras too, depending on time of day.
Jul 6, 2022, 8:49 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: Marriott
Posts: 51
Thanks for all the wonderful inputs for a 1st-timer to Eurostar.
Sorry one more question - is the luggage space widely available on the train ? I will have 2 big luggage and worry if I need to 'fight' for a space on board.
I had a bad experience of traveling intra-Europe and the luggage space is not sufficient for everyone >_<
Thanks much!
Sorry one more question - is the luggage space widely available on the train ? I will have 2 big luggage and worry if I need to 'fight' for a space on board.
I had a bad experience of traveling intra-Europe and the luggage space is not sufficient for everyone >_<
Thanks much!
Jul 6, 2022, 8:51 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
(We got there 75 minutes before our train, and managed 20 mins in the lounge before boarding. Sadly they were enforcing the "Amex Plat gets you lounge but not priority checkin" rule)
Jul 7, 2022, 1:59 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
Thanks for all the wonderful inputs for a 1st-timer to Eurostar.
Sorry one more question - is the luggage space widely available on the train ? I will have 2 big luggage and worry if I need to 'fight' for a space on board.
I had a bad experience of traveling intra-Europe and the luggage space is not sufficient for everyone >_<
Thanks much!
Sorry one more question - is the luggage space widely available on the train ? I will have 2 big luggage and worry if I need to 'fight' for a space on board.
I had a bad experience of traveling intra-Europe and the luggage space is not sufficient for everyone >_<
Thanks much!