Which London airport is best for carry-on only?
Without checked baggage fees, Stansted's budget airlines become genuinely cheaper. No €45 bag fee means the ticket price advantage translates directly to real savings. But Heathrow's cheaper transfer (€18 vs €28–35) narrows the gap. Here's how they compare.
Which airport is best?
Ryanair/easyJet fares from €20–50 with carry-on included. No €45 bag fee to erode savings. The cheapest door-to-door option — even with the longer transfer.
Fare €20–50 + transfer €28–35, no bag fee
Higher base fares but cheaper transfer. With carry-on only and a competitive fare, Heathrow can be close. Check both on the Decision Engine.
Higher fares, cheaper transfer — check both
Transfer comparison
Stansted is significantly cheaper for carry-on-only travellers. The budget airline advantage is real when you're not paying baggage fees. Use the Decision Engine to confirm for your dates.
Compare carry-on STN vs LHR → →How we determine this
This guide is generated from the Travelvus Decision Engine using verified airport datasets, destination transfer profiles, and door-to-door comparison methodology. Recommendations are data-driven — not editorial opinion. Transfer costs are illustrative EUR values. Airfares are illustrative planning estimates.
Last reviewed: July 2026