How to beat Luton Airport’s sky-high £2 luggage trolley fee

Andypandyboy

Mr_Wangers_Wang wrote: »

For me its more rocking up off a red eye from the other side of the world with no GBP.

Luton is the worst airport in the world though imo. Only FLL comes even remotely close.

That is the same the world over though, and the amount is not relevant there either. As for the kids and bags scenario, if you need a trolley you just have to suck it up, £2 is hardly going to break the bank.

Off to FLL shortly,

Mr_Wangers_Wang

Andypandyboy wrote: »

That is the same the world over though, and the amount is not relevant there either. As for the kids and bags scenario, if you need a trolley you just have to suck it up, £2 is hardly going to break the bank.

Off to FLL shortly,

Was in Heathrow T5 a week back - No charge.
Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kathmandu, Delhi, Leh, Mumbai, Seattle, Vancouver, Jammu, Oakland, Madrid in the weeks before. No charge. And...Though I'm not 100%, Newark too. I am thinking perhaps I found a random one? Can't remember.

Trolley charges are like resort fees, or booking fees, a complete scam.

Andypandyboy

Mr_Wangers_Wang wrote: »

Was in Heathrow T5 a week back - No charge.
Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kathmandu, Delhi, Leh, Mumbai, Seattle, Vancouver, Jammu, Oakland, Madrid in the weeks before. No charge. And...Though I'm not 100%, Newark too. I am thinking perhaps I found a random one? Can't remember.

Trolley charges are like resort fees, or booking fees, a complete scam.

Those that don't charge are the exception though.

buglawton

Well welcome to Britain anyway, where every organisation seems to have a manager whose entire bonus is built up from thinking of stealth sources of income. Trouble is, he never talked to Marketing which would tell him that tarnishing the user experience results in less repeat business.

flippin-nora

I'm very curious how this policy passed an Equality Impact Assessment as travelers with disabilities are disproportionately affected by such a scheme: individuals with mobility difficulties are much more likely to HAVE to use a trolley to be able to access the airport. I would imagine pregnant women may be disproportionally affected as well. Both groups need to be considered in a change in policy, as both are included in the Equality Act, through a EIA and if they are disproportionally affected then Luton needs to explicitly justify their reasons. As the fee isn't a security issue someone at MSE might like to send the airports involved a freedom of information request to see their EIAs....

Perhaps everyone who is affected should request the highest level of assistance from the airport - from door to plane. The sheer cost of having to do that should make them change their mind in a less than a week!

I had never used a trolley before I developed a mobility problem and realised how difficult and knackering it is to get from the taxi at the door to your seat on the plane, and how you have to rethink issues like avoiding hand luggage altogether or just carrying the bare minimum.

Vortigern

If there was a £2 returnable deposit, people would return their trolleys to the proper place, rather than abandoning them at the check-in desk or all over the car parks.

duchy

flippin-nora wrote: »

I'm very

Perhaps everyone who is affected should request the highest level of assistance from the airport - from door to plane. The sheer cost of having to do that should make them change their mind in a less than a week!

I had never used a trolley before I developed a mobility problem and realised how difficult and knackering it is to get from the taxi at the door to your seat on the plane, and how you have to rethink issues like avoiding hand luggage altogether or just carrying the bare minimum.

What a great idea ......abusing services so those genuinely in need of them will be deprived of them. If you do indeed have a disability you've not really thought this one through have you. Those using airport assistance aren't charged as they wont be shelping their own bags anyway so it's only entitled toss ers trying to save a couple of quid who'd benefit. If you miss a flight because of a backlog due to people abusing the system as you've suggested, actively affecting genuine users of the service please don't come back to whine about it.

Mike_Newcomb

Relating to Luton Airport, herewith some tips on travelling to and from using Public Transport.

The Luton Airport Shuttle Bus is operated by Thameslink

When booking Rail tickets online, if 'Luton Airport' is used as one of the stations, the Shuttle is included.

However, crazy but true, if the Shuttle is booked separately (using Stations 'Luton Airport' and 'Luton Airport Parkway') overall one's journey works out cheaper.
Shuttle Prices today:-
£2.10 (£1.40 with Railcard) single - valid 1 day,
£3.40 (£2.25 with Railcard) return - valid day of travel or following 4 days, return within a month
Onboard the shuttle, tickets can be purchased for cash only. Railcards are not accepted when purchasing in this manner.but can be used Online, and presumably therefore at regular Ticket Offices.

When booking any Rail Tickets I use Virgin East Coast as their website is much easier to use than many other Rail Operator's sites.

After much difficulty obtaining a response, Thameslink recently confirmed (as I suspected) that:-

'Any pass showing the English Rose (including the Freedom Pass) can be used on the Shuttle Bus in accordance with Luton Borough Council scheme rules. This can be used to and from Luton Airport Parkway Station.'

Almost certainly this means numerous travelers may needlessly have purchased Shuttle Tickets.

Also worth noting:

a) Concessionary Passes are accepted on Greenline Buses. Routes 755 and 757 provide 24 hour service on the London / Luton route. For journeys starting in London, there is no Peak Time.

b) London Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster Cards are valid anytime on National Rail to West Hampstead.

c) London Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster Cards are valid off peak on National Rail to Elstree & Borehamwood.

Have a Nice Trip - Regards Mike!