Luton Airport advertises their trains from London costs as little as "a tenner" - but what are you realistically going to pay?
Warning
Unlike the Stansted Express or the Heathrow Express - cheap Luton Airport Express tickets are only valid for a specific train. So if your flight is late, you will be charged for a new ticket or an upgrade fee. I have personally been charged for missing a train by 30 seconds - so this definitely does happen!
Alternatives
Whilst Luton Airport Express does all the advertising - don't forget that Thameslink also serves Luton Airport Parkway station. And whilst Thameslink trains usually stop more often, a through train from south London may be more convenient, especially with luggage. And if you're travelling from west or east London, the connection at West Hampstead (most Luton Airport Express trains don't stop there) is incredibly quick and may also be more convenient.
Today
If you want to travel today instead of "a tenner" you will be paying a whopping £24.10 or if you've got a suitable railcard you could get that down to £16.05
Tomorrow and Beyond ...
Booking a ticket for travel tomorrow is a mixed bag - some trains cost the full £24.10 whilst there are also trains for £10.70 and the odd one that's even under a tenner! Just remember that these tickets are only valid on the specific train - if you miss the train, you're in trouble.
Saturdays Good - Sundays Bad
There seems to be a pattern for the next few weeks of at least one cheap train every half hour, but plenty of trains are still expensive even when booking weeks in advance. Saturdays generally have more cheap trains, but weirdly Sundays seem to have fewer cheap trains.
Don't book 85 days in Advance
Whilst most journeys are cheaper if you book well in advance - Luton Airport Express has an 85 day penalty system! If you're too eager you'll only be able to book full fare tickets. Leave it until 84 days in advance, and some trains are indeed "under a tenner".
Flexiblity
If you're travelling to the airport, you will probably be happy booking a specific train. Or if you're prepared to spend plenty of time hanging out in the airport drinking expensive coffee, you may decide to book a cheap train from the airport giving plenty of time for your flight landing late, or your bags taking a long time to show up on the carousel.
However what about a ticket that gives you some flexibility?
Anytime Day Single
On most UK rail routes you can buy an Off Peak Day Single, or a Super Off Peak Day Single but Luton Airport Parkway and Luton Airport will only sell you an Anytime Day Single. Even if you book months in advance, you cannot purchase an off peak flexible ticket.
Super Off Peak weekend fares - Not Available
If you go one stop beyond Luton Airport Parkway, suddenly Super Off Peak fares are available - and especially at weekends they are very attractive. And of course these prices are further reduced if you have an appropriate railcard.
Conclusions
Travelling to the airport it's worth booking a cheap specific train in advance - but you only need to do this about a week in advance to get a decent fare. And by then you will know about any engineering works or planned strikes.
Travelling from the airport booking a cheap specific train probably isn't worth it. So you might as well just book an Anytime fare on your phone after you've actually landed whilst your plane taxis around Bedfordshire!
After being charged for missing my pre booked train, I no longer book train tickets in advance when flying into Luton Airport.
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