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Luton Airport is getting an express train to London

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Luton Airport is getting an express train to London.

The East Midlands Trains rail franchise passed from Stagecoach to Dutch group Abellio this month.

The rebranded East Midlands Railway has announced a new ‘Luton Airport Express’ service between London St Pancras and Luton Airport Parkway, starting in December 2020.

Details are very sketchy.  The service will run every 30 minutes from a dedicated platform at St Pancras.  It is not clear if it will run non-stop or not, although the airport claims it will take ‘under half an hour’ to get from the terminal to St Pancras.

This will need to wait until 2021, however, when the new Direct Air-Rail Transit system – a version of the shuttle train which runs between the satellites at Heathrow T5 – opens, linking the station and the airport.

You can find out more on the Luton Airport website here.

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General

Comments (156)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Craig says:
    22 Aug22 August 08:33

    OT: The current Google Amex offer. The offer mentions Pixel Phone but the T&Cs appear to suggest any Google store spend. I’m about to send my Ring doorbell back and try a Nest Hello. Has anyone triggered this offer?

    • AlexT says:
      22 Aug22 August 15:01

      According to HUKD it looks like the offer includes any spend on the Google Store

  • Matt B says:
    22 Aug22 August 08:41

    OT – like a poster yesterday I have just used a 241 for the first time, flying out in F back in CW to California next summer so thanks to all for the advice and tips I’ve read over the years.

    I called the Japan number at 2am to add my return (I’m not in the UK presently) but unfortunately spoke with quite an unhelpful person who insisted on an incorrect calculation of the adjusted fees etc. Having already paid £451 each when booking the outbound I was expecting an additional £221 ish to get to the £672 quoted by BA when I did a dummy booking.

    She was adamant I needed to pay another £380 each and despite me querying this and being put on hold for ages there was no budging. I asked to speak to someone else but she quite rudely said there was no point.

    By now it was closer to 3am and I saw that the number of seats on that route had gone from 6 to 2 and just went ahead and booked it to avoid missing out, hoping I could ring the UK in the morning to sort it out.

    Thankfully later on in the day I spoke to a very helpful chap who immediately noticed the amount quoted was too high, adjusted the booking and assured me when my card is charged it will be for the correct amount.

    The only thing left to deal with was my wife who instead of being excited for the trip spent all day moaning over the cost of the phone call (>£50). She has a Three contract so I was effectively calling UK to Japan. I’m half tempted to complain to BA as it would probably be half that if the person I spoke to had not made a mistake.

    Irregardless is there any way to avoid high call charges or just accept if I have to call at that time its the cost of securing the seats I want?

    • Helen says:
      22 Aug22 August 08:54

      I use skype for overseas calls. The cost would have been a matter of pence.

      • BJ says:
        22 Aug22 August 09:01

        Plus they have various free trial offers for new customers(accoubts) so could be 0p.

      • David Phillips says:
        22 Aug22 August 09:11

        Agreed! Let’s hope they don’t run out of LPGS now

      • Matt B says:
        22 Aug22 August 09:29

        Ah OK thanks, have flakey wifi in our apartment so probably wouldn’t have been able to use that (it can’t handle WhatsApp calls). But will definitely use it for next time.

        • BJ says:
          22 Aug22 August 10:25

          Worthwhile getting a Giffgaff or Lebarra sim with £10 on it and keeping fof such eventualities

        • Lady London says:
          22 Aug22 August 10:56

          You can still use skype app on a mobile you dont need wifi. It will take data from your allowance and these days you may well have enough.

    • John says:
      22 Aug22 August 13:39

      Why wouldn’t you find out how to make cheaper calls before you needed to do it? It isn’t like it came as a surprise….

      http://www.dialacode.com/cheap-international-calls-to-Japan is the way to do it if you don’t want to create a new Skype account. £50 would get you 21 hours of talk time to Japan.

      In the good old days of telecom wars I was involved in (1990s), £50 got you a year’s unlimited dialup internet or a permanent connection between Hong Kong and the big 4 (US, UK, CA, AU). Unfortunately Hutchison (owner of 3) ran us out of business because they wanted to raise prices.

  • BJ says:
    22 Aug22 August 08:56

    Thanks Rob, just came back to add the link having realised I forgot it.

  • Jordan D says:
    22 Aug22 August 09:12

    A new low. My Accelerate is 1 challenge: stay 1 night, get 1000pts. That’s it. Easy to obtain, but my goodness, could it be more paltry?!

  • Kai says:
    22 Aug22 August 09:20

    1687 miles surely gets you 80 Tier points instead of 40?

    • Rob says:
      22 Aug22 August 09:24

      80 return, 40 each way.

      Whilst a similar length flight on BA probably would fall into the 160 TP return category, oneworld partner flights use the 2000 miles rule.

      • Kai says:
        22 Aug22 August 09:32

        Interesting. DOH-SOF is 2002 miles and earns 140 TP. Makes me wonder what distance will actually earn 80 TP..

        • Lumma says:
          22 Aug22 August 09:50

          I don’t think any flights on Qatar earn 80tp one way. There was a £900 fare from Bucharest to Colombo recently which also only earned 360tp despite Bucharest to Doha being only a few miles shorter than Doha to Colombo

        • John says:
          22 Aug22 August 11:48

          Only selected BA flights and Finnair MAN-HEL earn 80TP IIRC

          • Stu_N says:
            22 Aug22 August 13:22

            EDI-HEL is 80TP as well but DUB-HEL, which usually overflies Edinburgh, is only 40. It’s almost like there’s no real logic to it…

  • Jack says:
    22 Aug22 August 09:43

    Noticed a comment in one of yesterday’s article to say Capital on Tap changing card to corporate credit card.
    Anyone else heard anything?
    I have only recently signed up and paid the £200 plus, based solely on ability for me to pay HMRC !
    Thanks

    • Rob says:
      22 Aug22 August 09:50

      Article tomorrow. Due to Brexit no-deal risks they need to move from their existing banking partner. Card moves to a proper corporate credit card.

    • The Savage Squirrel says:
      22 Aug22 August 09:55

      It was me and it was received by Email. The lack of other comments and the fact other users haven’t received the same is making me slightly paranoid that I’ve been singled out! Typically put about 4K/month to HMRC as well as other supplier payments, so I’m hardly exceptional. The justification was that it protects them from complications related to a hard Brexit!?

      • The Savage Squirrel says:
        22 Aug22 August 09:58

        Phew. Rob just beat me to the reply. At least it’s not just me. Does make them a MUCH less attractive product if they’re pitching as offering working capital when needed. Other than paying employees, HMRC is surely the largest liability that eats away cash at hand for many/most businesses…

    • PaulC says:
      22 Aug22 August 11:48

      So what are the implications of this? I was just looking into signing up as my draft end of year accounts have been done by my accountant so I’ll be ready to meet the £5k spend to trigger 20,000 Avios.

      • PaulC says:
        22 Aug22 August 12:05

        I guess it means HMRC wont accept it as a payment method.

        Squirrel – Did your email say when it was due to come into effect?

        Rob – Can you advise if it is worth signing up today in the hope they will give current customers 30 days notice and all new applications will be straight on to a corporate card?

        • Rob says:
          22 Aug22 August 12:27

          Article tomorrow. Apps by 31 August should get the current card for 2 months but I am waiting to get this in writing.

        • The Savage Squirrel says:
          22 Aug22 August 13:57

          Says old (debit) card will stop working on 31st Oct.

      • Rob says:
        22 Aug22 August 12:29

        Nothing changes except HMRC payments will no longer be free.

    • Ben says:
      22 Aug22 August 19:04

      …..And for that reason, I’m oot.

      Chances of a refund on the annual fee?

      • Ben says:
        22 Aug22 August 19:26

        If there is a partial fee refund I’ll clear 92k Avios off £166 card fee. Not bad but not amazing.

        • Rob says:
          22 Aug22 August 20:27

          Eh? Under what scenario is 92,000 Avios for £166 not ‘amazing’, assuming there was no opportunity cost (and paying HMRC means no opportunity cost, since there was no alternative, assuming you’ve maxed out Curve).

          • Ben says:
            22 Aug22 August 21:42

            Fair one. It is pretty good. I’m just a bit bitter it’s being canned.

    • Polly says:
      22 Aug22 August 23:03

      Curve???

  • Sarah says:
    22 Aug22 August 09:59

    OT but does anyone know what is the least number of points and where to that can be used to fly from Scotland using Avios and 2-4-1 voucher that doesn’t involve having to use Avios to get to London. I’m sorry if this has been asked a million times before but if anyone can give me a quick answer as to what my options are that would be great.

    • BJ says:
      22 Aug22 August 10:21

      Your domestic connection from Scotland to London is ‘free’ provided you are travelling longhaul from London. ‘Free’ means that it will not cost you any extra avios but you will pay the extra £ costs that BA levies for airport charges etc. If you depart Inverness and subsequently connect to a departure from Lobfon within 24h you will not pay any Air Passenger Duty so saving on longhaul premium flights is substantial and can make it worthwhile but watch out for high hotel costs in Inverness should you need to stay overnight before your flight. You can depart Inverness but return to another Scottish airport if you wish. If you are not connecting to a longhaul flight from London you will need to pay avios at the usual rates for the Scotland to London flights.

      • Alan says:
        22 Aug22 August 21:48

        That’s interesting re: returning to another airport.

        Is it just a case of booking the outbound leg from Inverness and then when you call the call centre for the return leg booking it back to say Edinburgh or Glasgow?

        How do they calculate that for a 2-4-1 in terms of Avios?

    • Anna says:
      22 Aug22 August 12:11

      Hi Sarah, it’s not clear whether you mean you want to avoid London altogether which is night on impossible when using a 2 4 1, although I don’t know whether anyone discovered definitively whether the 2 4 1 can be used on the direct CityFlyer routes from the regions (I think someone did use a Lloyd’s upgrade voucher with one of these). It wouldn’t be the greatest use of avios but could save you 30,000 or possibly more if you used it for CE seats.

    • BJ says:
      22 Aug22 August 12:34

      Apologies Sarah, I think I misunderstood your question on first reading it. I believe the lowest number of avios for a reward flight without extra avios departing Scotlabd will be destination in zone 4 exLondon. These will cost from 10,000 avios in economy off-peak up to 42,000 in first class off-peak. Zonne 4 equates to destinations between 2,001 and 3000 miles. Take a look at this great table Rob produced; run down the first two columns and identify all the cities in zone 4 from those requiring 10,000 points in economy off-peak. I think I got that correct but no doubt Rob or others will correct me if I’m wrong.
      https://headforpoints.com/2019/01/09/british-airways-avios-redemption-pricing-by-route-2/

  • William says:
    22 Aug22 August 10:21

    OT: re Lloyds Avios Reward Card – Been charged interest again even though I’m still in the interest free period. Double check your statements again just in case

    • BJ says:
      22 Aug22 August 10:35

      I was too, they are aware of the problem so just call them and they will credit it back to your account. It had knock on effects with the subsequent bill too so you will likely need to contact them again next month. It is fixed and settled from month three.

    • John says:
      22 Aug22 August 12:59

      They credited me back 7p more than they incorrectly charged. That’s the most compo I’ve ever got out of Lloyds.

      • BJ says:
        22 Aug22 August 13:20

        NLol, never had anything, I must have been one of the few for whom Lloyd’s worked like a Swiss watch.

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