Discount air travel in Europe; London airports

Kirans Cousin wrote:

> 1. If I mainly wish to use discount carriers, which is the best "hub"
> city?

This is more of a "where do you want to go" question as there are
several discount airlines based throughout Europe.

> 2. Which is the best online site to research European fares?

for discount fares, you need to go to the airline's website

> 3. When I am in London, how do its various airports rank in convenience
> for getting to/from the city? In service provide by discount carriers?

Discount airlines use Stansted and Luton airport. There is a dedicated
train going from Liverpool or Tottenham Hal to Stansted in 45 minutes
departing every 15 minutes or so.

The Luton train is 30 minutes from St. Pancras plus a bus ride to the
terminal
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

Bernie <befi17 RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:

: for discount fares, you need to go to the airline's website

OK, my question was unclear. I meant sites like or Sidestep.com or
Kayak.com in USA that look at many airlines. They do have European data
too, but I thought a similar UK or otherwise European service might be
better for European flights.

: Discount airlines use Stansted and Luton airport. There is a dedicated
: train going from Liverpool or Tottenham Hal to Stansted in 45 minutes
: departing every 15 minutes or so.
:
: The Luton train is 30 minutes from St. Pancras plus a bus ride to the
: terminal

I'll be in London, not Liverpool. Other names don't mean much to me at
present. Is Stansted or Luton more convenient from London itself?

Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

David Bennetts wrote:
> "Kirans Cousin" <kiranscousin.RemoveThis@no.email> wrote in message
> news:250820061718151909%kiranscousin@no.email...
> > Those of you who have seen my other posts (and been kindly helping too,
> > thanks!) will be glad to see one that has nohing to do with Asia,
> > Cathay, Hong Kong, AA, One World, or awards!
> >
> > With the rise of discount carriers in Europe, I am contemplating a few
> > trips within it. I have friends in London and Milan, some link in Oslo,
> > other cities would be pure tourism.
> >
> > A few questions:
> >
> > 1. If I mainly wish to use discount carriers, which is the best "hub"
> > city?
> >
> > 2. Which is the best online site to research European fares?
> >
> > 3. When I am in London, how do its various airports rank in convenience
> > for getting to/from the city? In service provide by discount carriers?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> 1. Probably London, although I understand Paris could also be considered a
> hub.
> 2. Try www.skyscanner.net - it will give you discount fares on a variety of
> airlines. Don't totally write off the major long established airlines
> either, I recently got a fare of 1 pound (+taxes) London Heathrow to Dublin
> on Aer Lingus.
> 3. Depends largely on where your accommodation is in the city. If you're
> in the south then Gatwick is OK. To the west or around Paddington is best
> for Heathrow. North for Luton and north or east for Stansted. All have
> good rail (expensive) and coach (cheaper and slower) connections. See
> www.baa.com for transport options. A lot of discount carriers use Stansted
> and Luton, but as I said previously don't rule out Heathrow or Gatwick.
> London City may offer cheap flights too.


it rather depends on where the OP is going , probably the largest
choice of budget airline is stansted .
Ryanair flies to small airports , ofter a a bit distant from the main
towns, which can sometimes be more convienient ansd less prown to
airport delays,they are normally cheaper than most, but not as customer
friendly.
Easy jet and Air berlin fly to the larger airports, so are oftern a
more expensive. You get what you pay for.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

Dave Frightens Me wrote:
> On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 22:18:13 GMT, Kirans Cousin
> <kiranscousin.RemoveThis@no.email> wrote:
>
> >Those of you who have seen my other posts (and been kindly helping too,
> >thanks!) will be glad to see one that has nohing to do with Asia,
> >Cathay, Hong Kong, AA, One World, or awards!
> >
> >With the rise of discount carriers in Europe, I am contemplating a few
> >trips within it. I have friends in London and Milan, some link in Oslo,
> >other cities would be pure tourism.
> >
> >A few questions:
>
> Easy ones at that!
>
> >1. If I mainly wish to use discount carriers, which is the best "hub"
> >city?
>
> Almost certainly London.
>
> >2. Which is the best online site to research European fares?
>
> www.skyscanner.net
>
> >3. When I am in London, how do its various airports rank in convenience
> >for getting to/from the city? In service provide by discount carriers?
>
> In order of easiest to most difficult (IMO):
>
> Heathrow
> Gatwick
> Stanstead
> Luton
> London City

> ---
> --

The easiest airport to get to must be London city as it is very close
to the city of London and with its own station , although the fares
are hardly budget .
Stansted also has a direct link from Liverpool st station which is in
the city of London
Heathrow has to be either a long tube journey ofr or from paddington
in west london, a fair distance from the city .
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

"Bernie" <befi17.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1156546967.027387.270560@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

> Discount airlines use Stansted and Luton airport.

easyJet flies to 37 European cities from Gatwick, and Ryanair to four
cities in the Irish Republic.

When looking for cheap fares from London, don't rule out British Airways.
Their fares are often as cheap or cheaper than the discount carriers and
the service is better - free food, drinks etc.

> There is a dedicated train going from Liverpool

That's Liverpool *Street* station, London

> or Tottenham Hal to Stansted in 45 minutes

That's Tottenham Hale, easily accessible from central London using the
Victoria Line of the London Underground (subway).

Ian
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

"Kirans Cousin" <kiranscousin.RemoveThis@no.email> wrote in message
news:250820061718151909%kiranscousin@no.email...
> Those of you who have seen my other posts (and been kindly helping too,
> thanks!) will be glad to see one that has nohing to do with Asia,
> Cathay, Hong Kong, AA, One World, or awards!
>
> With the rise of discount carriers in Europe, I am contemplating a few
> trips within it. I have friends in London and Milan, some link in Oslo,
> other cities would be pure tourism.
>
> A few questions:
>
> 1. If I mainly wish to use discount carriers, which is the best "hub"
> city?
>
> 2. Which is the best online site to research European fares?
>
> 3. When I am in London, how do its various airports rank in convenience
> for getting to/from the city? In service provide by discount carriers?
>
> Thanks.

1. Probably London, although I understand Paris could also be considered a
hub.
2. Try www.skyscanner.net - it will give you discount fares on a variety of
airlines. Don't totally write off the major long established airlines
either, I recently got a fare of 1 pound (+taxes) London Heathrow to Dublin
on Aer Lingus.
3. Depends largely on where your accommodation is in the city. If you're
in the south then Gatwick is OK. To the west or around Paddington is best
for Heathrow. North for Luton and north or east for Stansted. All have
good rail (expensive) and coach (cheaper and slower) connections. See
www.baa.com for transport options. A lot of discount carriers use Stansted
and Luton, but as I said previously don't rule out Heathrow or Gatwick.
London City may offer cheap flights too.

Regards

David Bennetts
Australia
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

RAK wrote:
> "Kirans Cousin" <kiranscousin DeleteThis @no.email> wrote in message
> news:250820061718151909%kiranscousin@no.email...
> > Those of you who have seen my other posts (and been kindly helping too,
> > thanks!) will be glad to see one that has nohing to do with Asia,
> > Cathay, Hong Kong, AA, One World, or awards!
> >
> > With the rise of discount carriers in Europe, I am contemplating a few
> > trips within it. I have friends in London and Milan, some link in Oslo,
> > other cities would be pure tourism.
> >
> > A few questions:
> >
> > 1. If I mainly wish to use discount carriers, which is the best "hub"
> > city?
> >
> Maybe London but it depends where you want to go. Plus London is expensive
> in general which could wipe out some of your savings on fares.

I disagree with this. It's not more expensive than most other major
cities in Western Europe. Certainly four-star luxury will cost more in
London than in most places. But there are plenty of inexpensive hotels
and restaurants also, and many museums and interesting places are free
and many sights are cheap. Unless you want to see a lot of plays and
musicals (and there are often excellent, relatively inexpensive shows
in smaller theaters), it doesn't have to cost a fortune.
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

"Kirans Cousin" <kiranscousin RemoveThis @no.email> wrote in message
news:250820061842415896%kiranscousin@no.email...
> Bernie <befi17 RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> : for discount fares, you need to go to the airline's website
>
> OK, my question was unclear. I meant sites like or Sidestep.com or
> Kayak.com in USA that look at many airlines. They do have European data
> too, but I thought a similar UK or otherwise European service might be
> better for European flights.

www.skyscanner.net


>
> I'll be in London, not Liverpool. Other names don't mean much to me at
> present. Is Stansted or Luton more convenient from London itself?

The trains go from Stansted to Liverpool Street Station, which is one of the
major London railway stations. NOT to be confused with Liverpool city, where
the main railway station is Lime Street.

Regards

David Bennetts
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

David Bennetts <davibenne-nospam.DeleteThis@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

: www.skyscanner.net

: The trains go from Stansted to Liverpool Street Station, which is one of the
: major London railway stations. NOT to be confused with Liverpool city, where
: the main railway station is Lime Street.

I should have known.
Thanks!
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

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 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

"John L" <johnl.RemoveThis@iecc.com> wrote in message
news:ecqffl$m85$1@xuxa.iecc.com...

> London City and Heathrow are reachable by underground

<pedant>LCY is not reachable by Underground, but by Docklands Light
Railway (DLR)</pedant>

Ian
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

Kirans Cousin wrote:
>David Bennetts wrote:

>:www.skyscanner.net

>:The trains go from Stansted to Liverpool Street Station, which is one of the
>:major London railway stations. NOT to be confused with Liverpool city, where
>:the main railway station is Lime Street.

>I should have known. Thanks!

Beware of shortening London place names!
You have just seen one example of the confusion it can cause.
I know of an American at LHR with a bus ticket to Gloucester
instead of a tube ticket to Gloucester Road.
A London taxi driver once told me that there are 23 Church Streets
in London and without the complete address he was sunk as far
as Church Street was concerned.
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports 

Kinetic <chtfj21.RemoveThis@ml1.net> wrote:

: > 3. When I am in London, how do its various airports rank in convenience
: > for getting to/from the city?
:
: Not much difference. Transport links are very good to all five
: airports. It also depends on what part of London you're staying in.

My friends are 1/2 way between London city and Heathrow. (I could get
the town's name of course, but don't have it now). Which non-LHR
airports will be good from there?

: If you except any level of "service" then don't fly with a discount
: carrier.

I do understand. By "service" I meant number of flights and how many
different destinations they go to etc. Call it "schedule" if you wish.
I don't expect any "human service".
 >> Stay informed about: Discount air travel in Europe; London airports