due to arrive at 12.33pm (often I find they get there a couple of minutes early because some slack is built
into the timetable).
On the train, move forward after Watford Junction to be first off the train in London. On arrival at Euston
head for the Tube. From the Virgin Trains arrival platform to the Underground platform for the northbound
Victoria Line should take no more than three minutes. It is now 12.36pm. Fortunately the Victoria Line has
the London Underground’s highest frequency of any line, so you should not have to wait more than a
minute or two for a train. The journey to Tottenham Hale should take 12 minutes at most, so let us assume
you get there at 12.50pm.
You should be perfectly poised to walk up the escalators and on to the main line platform just as the
12.52pm Stansted Express pulls in. In my experience the airport trains are often a minute or two late at
Tottenham Hale, which could work to your advantage. Walk along to the second carriage from the front,
which will put you close to the lifts to departures.
All being well, you should arrive at Stansted’s subterranean station at 1.27pm. From the platform to the
entrance to the security queue is five minutes, and in the middle of the day you should be through swiftly
(having made absolutely sure you comply with the liquids rule). Even the furthest gate is only seven minutes
swift walk from security – though if you end up at one of the “satellite” gates served by the shuttle train it is
anyone’s guess.
If everything goes smoothly you can be at the gate at 1.40pm – Ryanair’s specified (but almost never
enforced) deadline of half an hour before departure. In my experience the plane is likely not to be there yet,
and so you might even have time for a drink. And if it doesn’t go smoothly and the train to London is a few
minutes late? Catch the next Stansted Express and sprint through, asking people nicely if you can jump the
security queue. While Ryanair stipulates 30 minutes, I generally observe them closing the gate 10 minutes
before departure – or even less.
If you end up half-an-hour adrift, in theory you will have missed the flight. But don’t despair. In this tough
summer for airlines, delays picked up during the morning often knock on to the afternoon. So a 20-minute
delay would not be unusual. Do let me know what happens.
Email your question to [email protected] or tweet @simoncalder