Normally, Luton Airport is a thriving airport with hundreds of flights arriving or leaving every day; making it one of the busiest airports in Britain. However, recent developments have resulted in all flights being cancelled from not only Luton airport, but the vast majority of flights across Europe have been grounded because of the recent volcanic eruption that has taken place in Iceland. There are hopes that flights may be resumed within the week, however for the foreseeable future, they are likely to be disrupted as the volcano continues to spew tons of volcanic ash into the atmosphere – a process that could possibly continue on and off for the next few months.

The reason why this has caused so much disruption is the effect that it has on the way the aeroplane functions. During flight, the engines become incredibly warm which usually isn’t an issue. However, in the atmosphere where the plane is flying through a lot of space that is contaminated with ash, a lot of this ash is deposited onto the hot engine. The net result of this is that the ash melts and becomes a viscous, tarry substance. As well as the additional weight that this causes, the melted ash then enters the engine which, as you can appreciate, is not good news and causes the engine to stop working – catastrophic for the plane in mid flight. So whilst it is an inconvenience for the flights out of Luton airport to be so disrupted, it is for the safety of all passengers.

Of all the London airports, the one that is least heard of is undoubtedly London Luton airport and this is something that is relatively understandable. Luton airport isn’t one of the larger airports in London, let alone in the country and because of this it can often be overlooked as a place to depart from. It isn’t helped by not being on an easily accessible or direct route and relies on travelling for some time out of London – which can understandably put some people off; many people from the north of England are unable to reach the airport easily on the day of a flight which means staying in London overnight – further pushing the price of your holiday up. However, because of various features this is not really an adequate reason to not use the airport (not just in the sense that the car park is incredibly well equipped to handle cars).

The most important feature about Luton airport is the fact that many of the budget airlines fly regularly from the airport to many of the world’s largest cities. Most of these flights are, in fact, some of the cheapest that you are able to find in the country which ensures that you are able to offset the cost of accommodation or of transport if need be. The airport also boasts one of the most comprehensive departures and arrivals areas and is certainly worth using the facilities that are available here – whether you are taking a flight or dropping somebody off.

Luton airport isn’t the most accessible of airports in the London area, yet it is one of the busiest – with flights operating between Luton and many of Europe’s largest cities. As such, there are thousands of people flying out of Luton every week. This isn’t an issue unless the airport is slightly inaccessible by train, which Luton is, because then the majority of people are inclined to drive in (although a few do get dropped off, the vast majority prefer to use their own cars). It is, therefore, essential that the airport car park is of a sufficient standard to be able to cope with the demand.

This is certainly the case at Luton airport where there is no worry about parking your car. With both a long and short stay car park there is no problem of a lack of space; you will always be able to find a space to drop your car before jetting off as spaces won’t be taken up by people who are just dropping people at the airport. The system is made even easier by the online service. This allows you to book tickets well in advance and reserve a space – no more arriving hours before you’re due to check in simply so that you can be assured of a parking space! The price is nothing to be concerned about either – each full day is only £10 which is well worth the peace of mind that comes with leaving your car in a CCTV monitored car park.

It can be difficult, when you arrive at an airport to get yourself organised and think about anything beyond booking in for your flight on time. You arrive at the departure lounge and probably have quite a lot of time to waste before your flight arrives. You have probably looked out of the window for five minutes and then taken a further 10 minutes to have a coffee and wander round the shops, what else is there to do. One great way to spend your time is to plan things for your forward journey or for your return. It is worth looking into things like car hire and where to stay, if you have not yet organised it. If you plan on hiring a car on your return to Luton, you may be able to organise that while you wait, rather than having to hope they have a decent car left when you return.

If you are flying abroad it is a good opportunity to learn some of the foreign language or at least search the airport shop for a phrase book. It might even be a good opportunity to catch up on some sleep as you may find it tricky to sleep on the plane. It is a good idea to use this time wisely as you may regret it otherwise. There is always something useful to do if you think about it and so plan before you fly so that you can make the best use of your time.

Luton airport may not be one of the biggest airports in the UK, but at times it can certainly feel like the busiest. That is why it is helpful to have some knowledge of the layout and facilities available in Luton airport arrivals hall. The will reduce your stress levels (especially after a long hall flight) and help you get to your final destination as quickly as possible.

Flight arrivals are actually located in the same terminal building as departures – on level one. You can find many facilities here including Internet cafe’s, a bureau de change, a game arcade section and ATM machines.

There are also many places to grab a bit to eat or drink if you need to refuel before your onward journey. The airport had its own special ‘onward travel centre’ which is also located in level one of the terminal building. Here you can find out all sorts of travel information for your journey – including train and bus timetables. This is also where you can find car rental companies – although it is recommended you book in advance to ensure you get the best deal and first choice on your car.

If you are not actually arriving, but just waiting for a friend or relative then there are several ways you can check of flight arrival information. The first is via the Internet, Luton airport provides a real-time arrival board which tracks the progress of every flight and will let you know if it as landed on time. The second is in the arrivals hall itself – there are many screens which show flight status updates.

Luton isn’t known for being a thriving city, in fact if you ask anyone what you should do in Luton they would probably reply “leave”! However there are several places nearby that could be of interest if you have half a day to kill and want to keep yourself occupied.

Luton Airport is located in Bedfordshire, just off the M1 motorway, so it does have some good transportation links. If you are arriving at the airport you can find all the major top brand car rental companies in side the terminal and if you have booked in advance your car should be ready and waiting for you.

If you fancy a little shopping then take a trip to Milton Keynes. Although not one of the prettiest places to visit, it does have an extra large range of shopping and dining facilities. It is also home to a huge shopping mall which features all the top name and designer brands from around the country. There is also a special Xscape park nearby where you can learn to ski, rock-climb or even skydive inside!

There are several cinemas in Milton Keynes that have films for all the family, which makes it a great place to spend a couple of hours. If it is summertime you can enjoy a picnic at one of the many parks or river banks.

If you are visiting the city the best way to get around is by car, if you have yet to book your rental car simply fill out a few details and to get a quote within minutes.

If you want a hotel close to Luton airport then the Holiday Inn is the closest that you can get. As it is so close you will need to make sure that you do book it well in advance as it is likely to be popular and it may be more expensive that some of the ones that are further away. However, if you know you will be shattered when you arrive then it is a good idea to get somewhere close rather than picking up your hire car and drivings somewhere when you are half asleep.

The Holiday Inn has newly refurbished rooms which are all en-suite. Many have rooms of the runway which is great for those that like to watch the planes. It does offer great value for money as the rooms are comfortable and offer everything you would expect. They can offer family rooms and have the option on non-smoking rooms too. There is luggage storage if you need it and dry cleaning. If you require it you can pay to use their Internet connection either wireless in the rooms or wired in public places. They have a currency exchange service as well as business facilities such as meeting rooms and a business centre.

Each room has a power shower, satellite television and tea and coffee making facilities. There is a restaurant on site as well as a bar where snacks can be bought. So consider them as a convenient stop over when coming in to Luton airport.