Direct flights from London Stansted (STN) - FlightConnections (2023)

FAQs

Are direct flights better than connecting flights? ›

If you are looking to save some money and time, a direct flight is the best choice. No time is lost as you change planes while being transferred to another flight, and they are usually cheaper than a non-stop flight. There are usually less complications when it comes to direct flights.

Despite having a stop, direct flights are called "direct" because their flight numbers do not change (even if the plane does). Connecting flights will always have two (or more) different flight numbers.

In the same way that a direct flight means no stressing over missed connections, it also means less likelihood of lost luggage. While there is always a chance that your bag won't make it on the place with you, when that same bag has to make it between multiple planes, the chance that it will get lost is increased.

As a general guide, you will need to have checked in and be ready to go through security at least 2 hours before your flight departure time. Worried about queues?

Two hours. Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.

If you've booked on a single ticket, then the connecting procedure is super easy. There might be multiple flights, one after another, but they have been booked as one. After you've checked in your baggage, it will be passed between flights automatically, ready for you to pick-up when you land after your final flight.

To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B. Sometimes there will be more than a single stop.

Yes. You'll probably get all boarding passes at once when you check in for your first flight, whether you check in online, on your smartphone, or at the airport. For some international itineraries though, the airline will direct you to get your second boarding pass on your layover.

A ""connection" by definition means your board a different flight--which means different flight number and aircraft. A "plane change" is where you physically change planes.. It IS possible to stay with the same flight number BUT still be required to change planes en-route-- commonly called "thru" or "direct" service.

What is the recommended layover time for international flights? International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

Is luggage more likely to get lost on connecting flights? ›

“Bags are most likely to get lost in that transfer between planes at connection, especially if there's a tight connection.” And he said that's doubly so for international flights with tight connections.

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

Passengers spend an average of 18 minutes waiting in security queues at Stansted Airport - according to a new Which? survey. It's put the Essex transport hub in joint seventh, along with Belfast, in its look at wait times for leading UK airports.

survey claims average security queue lengths at Stansted during this period were at 18-minutes. A Stansted spokesperson said however the "overwhelming majority of passengers passed through security in well under 10 minutes".

There are currently no significant queues, but this may result in longer waiting times.

How much time do you need between connecting flights internationally? There is no one-size-fits-all answer here, it can vary greatly from one airport to another. Some international airports have a minimum connecting time as low as 30 minutes. But usually, when traveling internationally, the MCT is at least an hour.

If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening.

If you miss your connecting flight due to a delay, the airline will rebook you on the next available flight without charging any fee, as long as the connecting flight is part of the same booking. If you are on two separate bookings, you may have to pay for the rebooking or find another flight yourself.

If you know you'll be traveling during a peak time, it's probably still a good idea to plan on the standard two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you're heading to the airport at a slower time of day, then you can consider arriving a little later.

If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability. Some airlines, in fact, automatically rebook you.

Do airlines know if you have a connecting flight? ›

The time between connecting flights can be pretty short – as little as 40 minutes for some airports. The airline is aware of your connection and will sometimes tell you which gate you need for your next flight. They might even offer assistance if you have a short connection time.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS

If you're collecting your baggage and checking in to your next flight yourself, you need to pass through customs at Heathrow.

No, if you have checked in online and have your boarding passes available (generally via mobile app or a link they send to your email/via text message), you do not need to go to the counter.

We recommend that you allow the following minimum connection times: 1 hour for connections within the same Heathrow terminal. 1 hour 30 minutes for connections that require travel between terminals at Heathrow.

If you can't avoid connecting, don't book the shortest layover, because you'll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight. A 1-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance. In most cases, 3 hours is safe.

When it came to airlines that lost the most baggage, that same study found that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines came in ninth out of 17 major airlines. “Of all national airlines, American Airlines lost the most bags in 2022, losing 850 bags per 100,000.

Is Stansted Airport complicated? ›

Stansted Airport has been named as the 'hardest airport to access' from the major city they serve. Although the airport is located in Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex, London Stansted Airport is one of the major London airports that many passengers travel to.

Map of layout of the airport for you...it's actually really easy to find your way about, very well signposted and easy to find the security screening area. All the desks for check in are really easy to spot, once you've checked in head to security once you're through you have shopping and restaurants.

Peak times at Stansted airport are in the morning from 8 am to 1 pm and in the evening from 5 pm to 10 pm.

Staff illnesses due to Covid, and a shortage of staff after many were laid off in the pandemic, has meant longer queues and cancellations as many airports struggle to recruit. Stansted, which has seen relatively few cancellations, still has a major staff shortfall and needed to fill some 800 job vacancies.

Passport Control FastTrack aims to give you the quickest access to Passport Control using the exclusive lane, so it is ideal for passengers who don't need to wait in Baggage Reclaim for their bags to be delivered by the airlines.

The best and most feasible time to arrive at Stansted Airport is either early in the morning or in the night after 7 PM. The reason being, these are the two times when Stansted Airport rush hours is at peak, otherwise it's mostly packed with tourists and international travellers.

Overall… Data provided by RadarBox.com. It remains clear that London Stansted is a busy airport in the UK, with them only two daily movements away from matching London Gatwick Airport.

Short stay parking available at Stansted airport has no minimum stay length. Typically, short stay parking is for an average of 3-5 days and is always better pre-booked to guarantee you a space.

Drive into the dedicated waiting area located at the Birchanger service station or Mid-stay parking. Note, waiting up to 1 hour in the Mid-stay parking is free, but there are charges for staying over 1 hour. Click here to find out the charges per hour in the Mid-stay parking.

Ideally, you want direct, non-stop flights if you want to avoid your luggage getting lost at the connections. The longer the time between flights, the less chance your luggage will get left off the next plane during the changeover.

Which is better nonstop or direct flight? ›

Non-stop flights behave exactly as they sound; you'll fly straight from one airport to another, with no stops along the way. Direct flights, on the other hand, aren't quite as convenient. While the flight number doesn't change, the term “direct” means the plane may make one or more stops along its route.

It all goes back to supply and demand. Most travelers want to take the nonstop flight as it means getting there quicker and with less chance of disruption. That demand ultimately pushes prices higher.

They'll either match the price or refund the difference, potentially even throwing in credit vouchers or discount codes for use on future bookings. 2. You have more leverage in case of changes, delays or cancellations. You'll have better luck dealing with travel interruptions if you book directly with the airline.

“Bags are most likely to get lost in that transfer between planes at connection, especially if there's a tight connection.” And he said that's doubly so for international flights with tight connections.

When it came to airlines that lost the most baggage, that same study found that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines came in ninth out of 17 major airlines. “Of all national airlines, American Airlines lost the most bags in 2022, losing 850 bags per 100,000.

Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes. The carrier has been flying the route since 2021.

Demand is the biggest reason; other reasons is competition in the area. Which airports specifically?

A direct flight is from one airport to another, but includes stops in one or more cities along the way. The flight number or aircraft and your boarding pass remain the same, however, until the final destination is reached.

Do people prefer direct flights? ›

If you are looking to save some money, a direct flight is the best choice for you. Direct flights are usually cheaper than non-stop flights, and depending on the route, passengers will have to disembark, go through airport security and board on the same aircraft.

Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

Red-Eye Flights Are Less Likely to be Delayed

Fewer flights take off at night. The diminished runway traffic means that red-eye flights are more likely to depart and land on time! Depending on the wind, you may even land early.

Booking Fees and Commission

Booking through an OTA will cost more. The OTA deducts its own fee before paying for your reservation. So, when you book directly with the hotel through phone, email or online booking, you get a more economical rate. You also get a chance to form a more personal relationship with the hotel.