Stansted Airport Services

Your guide to a smoother trip through Stansted Airport

Plan your journey through Stansted Airport, from getting to Stansted Airport to finding your gate, arranging assistance, planning layover time, or handling a late arrival. Check your airline’s deadlines and live transport updates before setting off.

Jump to: Know your airport | Transfers | Departures, arrivals and connections | Airport Services | Assistance and families | Stansted Airport Lounges | Pre-travel checks | Long waits and overnight

Know your airport before you travel

• Airport and location: London Stansted Airport’s code is STN. It's located on Bassingbourn Road, Stansted, Essex CM24 1QW, northeast of London, just off the M11.
  
• Terminal and gates: Stansted has one passenger terminal and one check-in hall. Gates are spread across different areas; some require the airport transit system. Gates 1–19 are a restricted departure area: once you travel there, you cannot return to the main terminal.
  
• Flight status and notices: Check live departures or arrivals by flight number, then confirm updates in your airline’s app. Review notices on the airport website and your transport operator’s disruption page before travelling.
  
• Transport orientation: The railway station is beneath the terminal, around two minutes from Arrivals using lifts, escalators or ramps. The bus and coach station is opposite the terminal, also around a two-minute walk. Follow the signs after customs. See transfer options to/from Stansted.

How to arrange assistance and travel with children?

• Request assistance: Book through your airline at least 48 hours ahead; request support for departure and arrival.
  
• At the airport: Report to Assistance Reception in Zone A; use signed help points if you need directions.
  
• Security support: Follow Assistance signs and the purple floor line; explain your needs or request a private search.
  
• Non-visible disabilities: Collect a Sunflower lanyard at Zone A; explain your needs to staff when asking for support.
  
• Step-free transport: Use station lifts and ramps; arrange rail or coach boarding assistance separately with your operator.
  
• Babies and young children: Find the Family Room beside the departure-lounge prayer room; confirm pushchair arrangements with your airline.
  
• Family security and packing: Check baby-food exemptions; under-threes use the assistance lane. Include every child in transfer bookings.

What essentials should you check before travelling to Stansted?

• Airport and flight: Confirm STN, live flight status, check-in opening, bag-drop cut-off, and boarding deadline.
  
• Documents: Pack accepted ID and entry permissions; check UK visa/ETA requirements and link your passport to your eVisa.
  
• Airline baggage: Measure and weigh bags; check airline, coach, pushchair and mobility-aid allowances separately.
  
• Liquids and electronics: Use containers of 100ml or less; empty larger bottles. Electronics can stay packed unless staff instructs otherwise.
  
• Medicines and infant supplies: Check exemptions; carry prescription evidence for liquid medicines over 100ml and confirm baby-food screening requirements.
  
• Batteries and restricted items: Keep power banks, spare lithium batteries and vapes in cabin baggage; remove them before any gate check.
  
• Transport and assistance: Check direction, boarding stop, ticket date, first/last services and disruption; request airport assistance 48 hours ahead.
  
• Return journey: Check your return airport’s liquids and electronics rules separately; save boarding passes and transfer tickets offline.