Despite its small size and inconvenient distance from central London, London Luton Airport (LTN) still handles nearly 10 million passengers every year. There are plans in the works to extend the airport's limited runway facilities, which will eventually enable it to receive larger aircraft, and so serve more travelers.
Flights to London Luton Airport are mainly offered by low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways and Ryanair. The cheap flights to London that these airlines offer prove too enticing for many travelers, who are willing to put up with the 35-mile (56km) commute into the city that flying into Luton entails.
Most flights in and out of London Luton Airport serve European destinations, though there are some connections available to North African and Middle Eastern destinations, as well.
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Not applicable, as London Luton Airport has only one terminal building.
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Airport Taxi: It'll break your budget and leave a bitter taste in your mouth, but if you want to take a taxi into central London, they're readily available from the ranks directly outside the terminal building. You will pay at least £70 for the trip, and it will take more than an hour to get there.
Buses: London Luton Airport is extremely well connected by an extensive bus system. To get to central London, jump on the Green Line 757 bus, which departs the airport every 15-30 minutes from Bays 10 and 11. The bus bays are located just outside the terminal building, and are in operation 24 hours a day. It'll cost £9.50 for a one-way ticket to central London, and the journey will take at least 90 minutes to complete.
Train: A shuttle bus service connects Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway Station, where you can find hundreds of trains serving central London. The shuttle-bus between the airport and the train station operates every 15 or so minutes during the day (and once or twice an hour between midnight and 5:30am), and only takes five to ten minutes to make the trip. Train fares and journey-times from Luton Airport Parkway Station to central London will depend on the rail service you use – but expect to pay in the region of £10, and to be on the train for about 45-60 minutes.
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The three main parking options available to travelers at London Luton Airport are Short-Term, Mid-Term and Long-Term. The Short Term car park (follow the yellow signs) is located within easy walking distance of the terminal building – and charges a premium for this convenience. Fares are £3.20 for up to 15 minutes (this includes pick-up or drop-off), £4.80 for up to 30 minutes, £7.50 for up to an hour, £10 for up to two hours, £14 for up to three hours, £18 for up to six hours, £36 for 24 hours, and £36 per day or part thereof. The Mid-Term car park (follow the green signs) is located a short distance from the airport, but is connected to the terminal building via a free shuttle-bus service, that operates 24 hours a day, taking just two minutes to complete the trip. Mid Term parking fares are free for the first 30 minutes (this will cover pick-up or drop-off), £4.80 for up to an hour, £7.50 for up to two hours, £10 for up to three hours, £14 for up to six hours, £18.80 per day, and £18.80 per day or part thereof. The Long-Term parking area (follow the pink signs) is located a bit further from the airport, but is also linked to the terminal building via a free shuttle-bus service, which operates 24 hours a day, and takes ten minutes to reach the terminal building. Long Term parking fares are £14.40 per day – however, there's a sneaky three-day minimum charge clause, so effectively, you'll pay £43.20 for up to 72 hours in the Long Term parking lot.
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Money and communications: ATMs and bureau de change are widely available throughout the airport. There are Internet kiosks and an Internet cafe on Level 1, and public telephones on both levels.
Luggage: Baggage trolleys are available to rent, for a £2 non-refundable fee. Baggage wrapping is also available at £5.50 per item. Public weigh-scales are found before the check-in area (£0.50 per item weighed), so passengers can make sure their luggage is not overweight before attempting to check it in. There is a left-luggage facility available for £6 (or €7.50) per item per day. These lockers are accessible 24 hours a day, and are located next to the Outsize Baggage Unit, opposite Bar Des Voyageurs in the Check-in Concourse.
Conference and business: The Aviance Executive Lounge is located on Level 2 of London Luton Airport, offering a tranquil atmosphere, Internet, phone and fax facilities, free newspapers and magazines, and complimentary refreshments. There are no formal meeting or conference facilities available.
Shopping: There's a relatively small, but good selection of stores in London Luton Airport. In the arrivals concourse, for delicious treats, check out the Marks & Spencer Simply Food store; Tie Rack, for classy men's attire; or WH Smith, for books, magazines, newspapers and stationery. In the departures lounge (after security), you'll find JD Sports (a sports fashion store), a Kurt Geiger outlet, women’s clothing retailer Monsoon; and the Travel Galleria, London Luton's duty-free option, offering great deals on luxury items such as alcohol, perfume and cosmetics.
Food and drink: Food and beverage outlets at London Luton Airport are perfectly serviceable, but not fantastic. In the arrivals section (Level 1), your options are mainly limited to fast food outlets such as Burger King, Starbucks, and Yam Yam To Go. The pick of the bunch is The Food Village, which offers fresher, healthier fare. The departures area (Level 2, after security) is better, offering a table-service restaurant (Est Caffe), as well as a couple of good snack bars (The Real Food Company), and a decent pub (Bar 10).
Other facilities: Other facilities at London Luton airport include baby-changing rooms, a chapel and a multi-faith prayer room, and access and amenities for disabled passengers.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi access is available throughout the airport, provided by Spectrum Interactive. Unfortunately, this service isn't free. It’s about £5 per hour.
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