Stansted airport, queues and how early to arrive?

delmonta

Hi

I have just booked to fly to Ancona, Italy on Tuesday 23rd November at 17.50 from Stansted. I normally arrive at airports a couple of hours before for European flights and am through with loads of time to spare. I booked a train to arrive at Stansted at 15.30, (coming from Bristol via London). So I arrive with 2hrs 20 mins until my flight

Normally I wouldn't worry about this, but have just been reading recent google reviews for Stansted and there are so many talking about insanely long queues, mostly at security, but also checking in bags etc. Lots of people talk about it taking 1.5 hrs or more to get through! 

I don't know if I'm being paranoid, but I have a bag to check in, and can't miss this flight. I also travel with expensive camera equipment, and I know that Ryanair make a certain amount of people check their cabin luggage if its full. I need to take it on the plane with me

The google reviews don't say what time of day, does anyone have any advice on this...when is it likely to be very busy? Will 2 hours 20 mins be enough? I didnt book fasttrack for security, but maybe I can or should now, I dont know if it makes a lot of difference if many people book it

I don't think I can change my train now I've booked it, but consider buying a new one if it would make a difference. But if you arrive too early can you even check a bag in and get through? 

Thanks in advance

Caz3121

I would be concerned about train delays and/or missed connections. Looks like you are travelling on a Sunday where both Bristol to London and London to Stansted trains operate every 30 minutes so any delays results in arriving less than 2 hours before.
re the hand luggage, now that Ryanair sell cabin baggage (if you want to take anything other than a small under seat bag) there should be less instances of bags requiring to be put in the hold as they limit the sale of overhead luggage. Have you purchased Priority & 2 Cabin Bags?

delmonta

Caz3121 said:

I would be concerned about train delays and/or missed connections. Looks like you are travelling on a Sunday where both Bristol to London and London to Stansted trains operate every 30 minutes so any delays results in arriving less than 2 hours before.
re the hand luggage, now that Ryanair sell cabin baggage (if you want to take anything other than a small under seat bag) there should be less instances of bags requiring to be put in the hold as they limit the sale of overhead luggage. Have you purchased Priority & 2 Cabin Bags?

Sorry I put the wrong date for some reason, I travel on Tuesday 23rd. 

I have bought priority 2 cabin bags and also 20kg luggage to check in. I'm mostly worried about security and the complaints on google, but I have no idea when its busy or not

I dropped a friend their today to fly back to France and they said it was the quickest they ever went through any airport, but it was 12.30pm on a Sunday