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Which London airport is actually cheapest?

Stansted's €58 ticket looks much cheaper than Heathrow's €126. But real trip cost tells a different story. After adding baggage (€45), seat selection (€12), and the longer transfer (€32), Stansted's advantage narrows significantly. For some destinations, they're nearly tied. Here's the real comparison.

Which airport is best?

RecommendedSTNStansted

Lower ticket prices (€58+) but higher transfer costs (€28–35) and baggage fees (€45). The real cost advantage depends heavily on your destination and whether you need a checked bag.

Ticket €58+ + bag €45 + transfer €28–35 = real cost from €131

LHRHeathrow

Higher ticket prices (€126+) but lower transfer costs (€18–29) and baggage often included. For central London, the real cost gap is often smaller than the ticket prices suggest.

Ticket €126+ + bag often included + transfer €18–29 = real cost from €156

Transfer comparison

STN ticket + bag + transfer
Real cost for 1 person with checked bag
€131+
LHR ticket + bag + transfer
Real cost for 1 person (bag often included)
€156+
STN cheapest total
Carry-on only, no bag fee
€86+
LHR cheapest total
Carry-on only
€144+
The bottom line

Stansted is usually cheaper — but the gap is smaller than it looks. With a checked bag, Stansted saves ~€25. Without one, it saves ~€58. But the longer transfer (70+ min vs 50 min) and late-night constraints mean 'cheapest' isn't always 'best value.' Use the Decision Engine.

Compare real cost LHR vs STN →

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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