Tortured by Stansted Airport parking

Hi All,

I fly out of Stansted airport at least once a month and was wondering if anyone had any creative ideas for...mitigating the pain (of the parking). Firstly, like any airport in the UK, it's bloody expensive. I like to fly out on a Friday and have a long weekend break. I've been using their long-term parking, and it's just so unpleasant...you get on their ABT's (Acchordion Buses of Torture) and they are usually overcrowded and uncomfortable, and you stay on that bus for what seems like hours, making it harder to check in on time. Exaggerations aside, it does take a ridiculously large amount of time to get from the remote location of LT parking to the terminal- at least half an hour. It's even worse on the way back as the buses don't come to pick you up as often. For the "privilege" of using this service, I've been paying around £22 for three days.

I was so fed up last time that I figured I'd do short term parking on my next trip. I thought, it's only three days, how much of a difference can it make? Wrong. £63. OUCH!

Is there a happier alternative (in both cost and convenience)? I once tried one of the external services which is not directly affiliated with the airport (BSFC), and to make a long story short my car was assaulted by freaks while in their possession; it was a nightmare.

Short of hitchhiking, what can I do? Are there any clever shortcuts? Perhaps a free place to park your car just outside the airport and then take a cab?

Thanks for your advice

Leave the car at home and use the Stansted Express?

You can't do this with Luton, but with Stanstead or any BAA airport... go online and reserve/pay in advance.  I don't know how much you save but should be something.

I take the train from Peterbrough to Stanstead a lot... very reliable... (except crap for thost 7am departures)

On the www.baa.co.uk website you'll find all about trains, coaches, parking etc....

whenever possible i fly out of birmnigham- their long term parking is within EASY walking to the terminal.  a treat- (as long as its not raining!)

Thanks. One thing I should have mentioned is that I live near the Maidenhead/Windsor area, so there aren't any easy/cheap train connections direct to Stansted which originate there. Stansted Express originates in London, right?

I'll have a look and see if I can book short-term parking in advance- the last time I explored booking in advance the price was about the same, but I should have given it a try further in advance than I did.

Your profile says London.  Yes the Stansted Express goes from Liverpool St. Station.   You might be able to get a National Express coach.  It would be a lot easier for you to get  to Heathrow, there is an hourly bus from Maidenhead and it costs less than a fiver, maybe you can look into flying from there.

You can't do this with Luton, but with Stanstead or any BAA airport... go online and reserve/pay in advance

This is not true.  In January, DW & I flew out of Luton and I booked parking in advance at one of their long term carparks as we were gone for 5 days.

For 5 days it cost £22!  It is the cheapest airport to park at and it took only about 20 minutes to get to the terminal.

I'm glad you mentioned Stanstead Parking American Freak because I was looking to fly out of their as Ryanair's hub is there.  But the parking seemed so much more for what is essentially a similar airport to Luton.

As for Maidenhead/Windsor to Stanstead, that is a hell of a long way, virtually 100 miles to drive.  They are satellite towns of London, do you expect there to be a direct rail link from your house to the airport?  Trains around London mostly use the Spoke system, you go into London and then take the train out of London to your destination.

Apart from taking the coach (which may be cheaper) your most direct route is to go into Waterloo or Paddington and take the Underground to Liverpool Street and get the Stanstead express.  Beyond that, I couldn't really suggest anything else.

Matt

Try booking parking ahead of time through www.theaa.com as it's often cheaper.

Also, we just used Tesco Clubcard vouchers to book parking for a 3 week stay at Manchester Airport and it cost NOTHING!!!

Public transport options include a bus (operated by National 'Express') from Heathrow to Stansted, but then you might as well fly from Heathrow.

Sounds like there really is no easy answer for me, but I can't complain too much- It takes little more than an hour for me to drive to Stansted (I've done it in 45 minutes but I was driving a bit maniacally)...I know lots of people who drive that long or longer to get to work every day. And though parking is no bargain, the prices I'm getting for my regular weekend escapes (through Ryan Air) are truly exemplary.

Thanks for your advice, regardless.

Friday it's Leipzig.

One thing I should have mentioned- I need to try Stansted "Mid-stay" parking, which is perhaps a happy compromise- cheaper than short stay and not quite as far away as long-term...hopefully.