Luton, the north-west door

Which parts of London are closest to Luton?

North-west and north London. From Barnet, Hillingdon and Hampstead the drive is well under an hour. Central London is about an hour off-peak via the M1 and the A41 or A5, and the eastern and southern boroughs are a long way round.

These figures come from road routing between the terminal and each area. The rush-hour column adds an allowance for the slow final miles into central London, where the M1 gives way to the A41 and the Finchley Road.

What does it cost to drop off at Luton?

The drop-off and pick-up zone outside the terminal costs £9 for the first 12 minutes and £1 for each minute after that, up to a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Payment is due by midnight on the following day. Staying beyond 30 minutes brings a £95 enforcement charge, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days.

The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which allows up to two hours without charge and has a shuttle bus to the terminal. When you travel with us, we use the terminal zone and include the charge in your price, so you walk straight from the car to the check-in hall.

How does the airport rail link compare with a car?

Luton Airport is linked to Luton Airport Parkway station by the DART, a short automated shuttle, and from there trains run to St Pancras and King’s Cross in the fastest cases in around half an hour. For a traveller heading to the St Pancras area with a single bag, it is a good option.

For most other journeys, the car wins on door-to-door time and simplicity. From Hampstead, Barnet or Harrow, the drive is short and there is no change. From the West End, a car avoids the walk from St Pancras and the onward trip across town with luggage.

Where will your chauffeur meet you?

Your chauffeur waits in the arrivals area, just outside the doors from baggage reclaim, holding a board with your name. They follow your flight, so an early or late landing changes the pickup automatically.

Luton is busy with holiday flights in the summer, and arrivals can come in waves. On those days, passport control and baggage reclaim can take longer than you expect. Your chauffeur allows for it and waits, and a short message if you are held up helps them judge when to walk in.

Is Luton a good choice for private jets?

Yes. Luton has one of the busiest business aviation operations in the country, with private jet terminals run by specialist handling agents on the airport site, separate from the main passenger terminal. For a private flight, the car goes to the handling agent’s building rather than the public forecourt.

Tell us the handling agent and the planned landing time when you book. The chauffeur will arrive early and wait at the building, and the walk from the aircraft to the car is usually very short.

How early should you leave for Luton?

Airlines at Luton generally ask passengers to arrive two hours before a short-haul flight. From north-west London, a pickup two and three quarter hours before departure usually gives a comfortable margin. From central London in the morning or evening rush, allow three hours or a little more.

Early flights are common. For a 06:00 departure from the West End, a pickup around 02:45 is typical, but the M1 is almost empty at that hour and the drive is fast. We confirm early pickups the evening before.

Which car suits a Luton trip?

Many Luton passengers are families heading on holiday, which means suitcases, a pushchair, perhaps a car seat, and children who need to sit together. The V-Class takes six people and six large cases, and the sliding doors make loading easy at a busy kerb. For two travellers with normal luggage, the Mercedes E-Class is ample.

If you are flying with sports equipment, such as golf clubs, bikes in bags or skis, tell us when you book. A single long bag can decide the vehicle, and it is much better to know at booking than to discover it at 03:00 on the driveway.

What if my flight is diverted away from Luton?

Bad weather and airspace closures occasionally send Luton flights to Stansted, East Midlands or Birmingham. If that happens, contact us as soon as you land. We will send your chauffeur to the new airport where the distance allows, or arrange the best way to reach you, and we will tell you straight away whether any extra cost applies before anything changes.