Time to get through Stansted?

Voyager2002

Another of those impossible questions, but what would you do?

I am booked on to a Ryanair flight (from Italy) scheduled to land at 18.40 on a mid-week evening early in March. There is a convenient train with an affordable advance-purchase ticket leaving Stansted at 19.30. Can I reasonably expect to catch that train, given (i) the chance of the 'plane arriving late; (ii) possible queues to clear Arrivals? Obviously anything could happen, but would you regard that as a reasonable bet? (If I miss the train the ticket has no value and a replacement ticket on the day would be very expensive.)

eskbanker

Will you be needing to collect checked-in baggage too?

JGB1955

We don't usually have checked in luggage but did on our latest trip.  All 3 flights took 50 minutes to clear passport control and get to the arrivals area.  On 2 of those 3 our pre-booked transport had already given up and abandoned us.  I wouldn't take the risk!

Voyager2002

eskbanker said:

Will you be needing to collect checked-in baggage too?

No. It is just a question of getting myself off the 'plane and through the e-gates into the country.

Barkin

I flew in to Stansted Sunday, and the e-gates weren't working... 

martindow

That's not really leaving much slack for the flight arriving late and/ or delays.  If the advance ticket is really cheap it may be worth a risk.  How does it compare with an off-peak ticket you can buy on the day to travel on a later train if you miss the 19.30?

If you tell us your destination, someone might be able to help with split ticket or other options to reduce the price.

CheekyMikey

At Stansted I always buy fast track through passport control..you can get it as part of car parking too with the right option. Definitely worth it as Stansted can be a nightmare at passport control