Buses from Luton Airport to London - TOTALLY CONFUSED!

You might want to call Easybus to make sure you get the right info.

You might want to call Easybus to make sure you get the right info.

I was hoping that could be a last resort. Don't have international plan on my phone... I sent an email to Greenbus, but am waiting on a reply. I asked to see if anyone on here happens to know the answer.

Let me decipher...Green Bus and EasyBus run the same type of bus over the same routes. (They are two different companies.)
Both have restrictions. I suggest you read them carefully from their websites below:

Easybus

Green Line Express

And remember, if you are coming from outside the UK, you'll have to go through immigration and customs.

Easybus does not allow changes to tickets. If you want to change, you have to cancel the tickets you have, for which you'll get credit, and buy new ones--which may be more than your original tickets.

Hi Frank,
We are flying in from Edinburgh with no luggage, so there should be no delays with customs or with baggage claim. The link that you provided for Easybus doesn't work, and the one for Greenline just shows their route map. And I have no desire to change any tickets. That's why I am trying to figure out if I understood the Greenline site where it looked like the ticket you buy locks you into a specific date, but not a time (which is fine). With Easybus, you have to pick an exact time, but I'm not comfortable with that for reasons that I listed above. But of course it may be more expensive if I buy these tickets at the airport... If I understand Greenline's ticket, then it's worth 3 Pounds more to have our tickets ahead of time for any time of day. Decisions, decisions....

I fixed the Easybus link.

To save money, you have to live with some restrictions.

Frank, were those links supposed to be the general websites or links to some "fine print" that I missed? I've been on their websites all day, so I have those sites. I needed help deciphering the difference between the two companies... Like I said, I'm okay spending an extra 3 Pounds on the Greenline tickets but I'm trying to figure out if the ticket is open to any busride for the date that I choose.

I couldn't find that info on the Green Line site either. You'll have to email.

If you click on the link on the right-hand side of the Greenline page, you will get more information. A single Greenline ticket is for a specific date and is good for any bus that day.

However, if you book with easyBus and get a discount fare, you'll have a 90-minute margin before you'll have to buy a new ticket. Here's a quote from the easyBus site:

"We offer conditional flexibility for travel subject to seat availability. You may travel within 90 minutes of your selected scheduled time without additional payment subject to seat availability. We do not guarantee travel on the immediate service and our staff will do their best to accommodate your changed circumstances."

Good catch, Tim, I missed those. Probably one of the reasons I stick to Heathrow and Gatwick. Less confusing transport intot town. And cheaper.

Amy,

Here's a further thought. Since you want to be able to use every possible minute during your day in London, take the train from Luton to London. The train is much faster than the bus and isn't subject to traffic delays. The fare is £12.50 and includes a shuttle bus from the airport to the Luton Airport Parkway train station. Trains run about every 15 minutes.

I agree with Tim. Having travelled back and forth to Luton several times, I much prefer the train. Almost every time I've taken a bus, I get caught by roadwork, an accident...you name it. Just make sure you grab one of the direct trains, not the local trains, or it'll take you longer to make the journey. Check on the train schedule board as you enter the station, or just ask one of the staff.

Thanks so much Tim and Norm. It's all clear now. You've lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. And I think I will consider the train instead of the bus now. The train fare is only a bit higher than the bus. And it sounds worth it as you make a great point about the traffic being unpredictable... And it looks like we can just walk up and buy the tickets. But I have another quick question: are the train tickets sold in the airport or at the Luton Airport Parkway? It looks like First Capital Connect is the train provider that you are referring to, Norm. Anyway, even if you don't know the answer to that question, you guys have helped tremendously. Thanks, again!

You should be able to buy train tickets at either the airport or the Parkway railway station. Look for the specific railway ticket sales window in the terminal building.

According to the Luton Web site, you can buy train tickets at the Onward Travel Centre in the main concourse of the terminal building. Buy your ticket there or you will have to pay for the bus ride to the train station.