Santiago to Cork via Stansted - have I made a mistake?

[Mark2012]

Hi all,

I’ll be heading out to the Camino for a couple of weeks in the early summer and on the way home have booked a connecting flight from Stansted. Basically, I’ll be flying from Santiago to Stansted and on from there to my home in Cork, Ireland. Now that I’ve booked the flights, I’m wondering if I have made an error in terms of whether or not I’m likely to have enough time to make my Cork flight once I reach Stansted.

My schedule looks like this:

Santiago to Stansted, arriving at 2.05pm
Stansted to Cork, departing at 4.50pm

I did the same route home after the Camino in 2018 and ended up with a lot of time to kill once I got to Stansted, but on that occasion the scheduled gap between arrival and departure was almost five hours, whereas this year is less than three hours.

I don’t remember very much about Stansted terminal - bar pacing up and down for what felt like an eternity before I was able to hand over my rucksack at the check-in desk! - so I’m not sure whether it’s compact or spread out or easy to get from A to B.

I’m curious as to what people think. Do you think I’ve given myself enough time or is it likely to prove too tight? My instinct is that if the Santiago flight reaches Stansted on time that I should be ok, but if there’s a delay, then the margin for error is pretty much non-existent.

Any thoughts? Similar situations?

Thanks in advance.
Mark

 

[jungleboy]

I don't know the airport, but 2:45 should be plenty of time. Even if the first flight is up to an hour late I think you'd be OK. But I'm not a worrier

 

[Aidan21]

Mark,
I think 2 hr 45 min is more than enough. And if for whatever reason you fail to connect, then you rebook for the next available flight and you have another story to tell when you get back home.
Aidan

 

[roving_rufus]

Any chance that you could take your rucksack as hand luggage to save having to leave and go to check-in a dn then go through security again?

 

[Mark2012]

I don't know the airport, but 2:45 should be plenty of time. Even if the first flight is up to an hour late I think you'd be OK. But I'm not a worrier

Alas, I can be a worrier. Walking the Camino hasn’t cured me of that, but it’s helped me come to accept that part of my nature!

 

[Mark2012]

Any chance that you could take your rucksack as hand luggage to save having to leave and go to check-in a dn then go through security again?

I’ve thought about that, but I’m one of those people who travel heavy... as opposed to light!

 

[Mark2012]

Mark,
I think 2 hr 45 min is more than enough. And if for whatever reason you fail to connect, then you rebook for the next available flight and you have another story to tell when you get back home.
Aidan

There is another flight to Cork later that day. In my more neurotic moments I’ve considered booking it as an insurance policy!

 

[Mark2012]

Thanks for all the answers above. I’m probably worrying about nothing!

 

[roving_rufus]

I’ve thought about that, but I’m one of those people who travel heavy... as opposed to light!

To be honest I think you should make the connection even with having to check-in and go through security. I am presuming it is the delights of Ryanair! Personally if I was making the connection I probably would take pressure off with trying to squeeze down to just hand luggage but I am a worrier too!

 

[André Walker]

Hi Mark,

Just like the other's I'd say that you'll have plenty of time. Especially at an airport like Stansted. Even if your flight from Santiago is delayed.

That having said I realise that this won't take away any of your worries. Being a 'worrier' nothing probably will.

My best advice is: please do worry. As much as you can. Picture every worst case scenario and then double the trouble. In the end it won't make any difference: you'll have plenty of time to catch the flight to Cork anyway. Your worries won't change that.

That having said: "Worry away...........

 

[psheehan]

Hi Mark,

I flew Cork to France last weekend via Stansted. You have plenty of time to make your connections. You would easily do it in 90 minutes.

regards,

Paul

 

[Me Fein]

Hello Mark
I have flown Santiago to Stanstead and then on to Kerry a few times and never had any problem. As soon as I picked up my rucksack I went straight to bag drop,then through security and find gate number.Then relax
Buen Camino
Maura

 

[gerryincork]

You will have plenty time. No need to worry.