London Luton Airport

This really should be called Luton Shopping Centre where airplanes take off and land. Years ago this airport was used by charter flights, was scruffy and the butt of many jokes for being down-market. The airport was modernized and opened in July 2005 to great acclaim. Initial impressions are fine … unless you want to sit down. On the Sunday that I traveled, I got there early (allowing for possible Sunday travel disruption) and found that the limited seating areas were fully occupied and because of that, all of the seating connected to the eating and drinking facilities were also packed. The screens with departure information are poorly sited which meant there was a large group of people standing while they waited for their flight information.

The impression on return is even worse. OK-  Easyjet is a no frills airline so I had to walk from the airplane to the terminal.  To go up a flight of stairs, through drab corridors and walk down another flight of stairs to the Immigration area is not acceptable. The whole thing looked like something out of Old Eastern Europe .. but of course there are no ‘shopping opportunities’ on arrival  ..  that shows where the airport planners’ priorities lie. Escalators are only provided for shoppers.

Enough!! Don’t use Luton if you have an alternative.