Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

I travelled from Stansted to Ireland last week and the experience was pretty terrible, partly thanks to Ryanair (I know, I know..) but also due to the fancy redesign of the airport. After queuing for 45 minutes to get through security, passengers are now channelled directly through the duty free shop in a narrow winding 'river', grind to a halt crowded into a small space where there is a flight display board, and then have to continue through a further meandering channel of shops until finally arriving in a waiting area which seems to have been stripped of most seats. If you then want to return to the shops, having deposited your family/bags etc somewhere, you have to fight your way back 'upstream'.

There probably isn't time to sit down anyway as by now you are having to run to your gate, which is as before, miles away down endless corridors or even at the end of a monorail shuttle.

Whoever designed this as a way of coping with vastly increased passenger numbers needs their head examining. It took me every minute of two and a half hours to get from arrival at the airport to the gate, just managing to grab a coffee en route, let alone stop and browse in the shops. Several people who had allowed the recommended two hours almost missed the flight.  (I was forewarned, having flown to Greece in June, but without the additional long queues for Ryanair baggage drop - also at least 45 minutes.)

Coming home, I flew from Shannon in Ireland - immediate check-in, no security queue to speak of, pleasant waiting area. Then a rather long boring tube ride home from Heathrow, although much cheaper than Stansted Express - all in all I think that is the preferred route for me from now on.

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Sure you'll be fine. I reckon that Thursdays might be busier than Fridays- possibly cheaper tickets? Not sure though. It did used to be a good airport but too popular now. Still will use it though as some good flights out of there and easy journey from Tott Hale. 

To be honest the new exit from domestic flight basically kicks you out of the building for you only to have to walk up and re-enter to get to the car pack levels, bus station or train station feels very unwelcoming...every time I land I just think it comes across like arriving passengers are an inconvenience that they want out of the airport asap. This is the only airport I'm familiar with that makes me feel so unwelcome on arrival.

That sounds grim. Luckily I'm flying back into a different airport! The flights into Stansted on Saturday morning were so early that I've been diverted to Heathrow instead. Phew!

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