Luton Airport Express - Misleading Ads?

[DynamicSpirit]

Seen recently on the Underground (If I recall correctly, at Bank):

Is this misleading or what! As far as I'm aware, no EMR train has a destination of Luton Airport - not least because there isn't a station at Luton Airport! The trains simply pass through nearby Luton Airport Parkway en route. To my mind, this ad gives the false impression that you can hop on an EMR 'Luton Airport Express' train which will be displaying 'Luton Airport' as the final destination, and which will therefore directly take you all the way to the airport.




(Image is of an EMR advert for the St-Pancras-Corby trains, showing a train with the destination 'Luton Airport')

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Seen recently on the Underground (If I recall correctly, at Bank):

Is this misleading or what! As far as I'm aware, no EMR train has a destination of Luton Airport - not least because there isn't a station at Luton Airport! The trains simply pass through nearby Luton Airport Parkway en route. To my mind, this ad gives the false impression that you can hop on an EMR 'Luton Airport Express' train which will be displaying 'Luton Airport' as the final destination, and which will therefore directly take you all the way to the airport.


View attachment 142621

(Image is of an EMR advert for the St-Pancras-Corby trains, showing a train with the destination 'Luton Airport')

Surely you must know by now that it connects (for free with a Luton Airport Express through ticket) with the DART? And does indeed get you there with a combined time of 32 minutes minimum.

I hate EMR and their cheek to advertise this new brand without even giving the inside of their knackered trains a dust, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not wrong in saying the combined fares do get you to the airport.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I'm sure the trains can display "Luton Airport Parkway" should the need arise, (engineering work requiring terminating short) and given the length of the name it would have to scroll so would, intermittently, display "Luton Airport"!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seen recently on the Underground (If I recall correctly, at Bank):

Is this misleading or what! As far as I'm aware, no EMR train has a destination of Luton Airport - not least because there isn't a station at Luton Airport! The trains simply pass through nearby Luton Airport Parkway en route. To my mind, this ad gives the false impression that you can hop on an EMR 'Luton Airport Express' train which will be displaying 'Luton Airport' as the final destination, and which will therefore directly take you all the way to the airport.


View attachment 142621

(Image is of an EMR advert for the St-Pancras-Corby trains, showing a train with the destination 'Luton Airport')

With the shuttle it's no different from Gatwick North. So I think this is perfectly fair.

Indeed had the station been built at the same time as the shuttle I suspect it would have just been called Luton Airport, though really it is "Luton Airport and M1 Parkway" in intention.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'm sure the trains can display "Luton Airport Parkway" should the need arise, (engineering work requiring terminating short) and given the length of the name it would have to scroll so would, intermittently, display "Luton Airport"!

The 360’s external displays are flipdot and don’t scroll.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Surely you must know by now that it connects (for free with a Luton Airport Express through ticket) with the DART? And does indeed get you there with a combined time of 32 minutes minimum.

Yes I am perfectly well aware of that. But changing to the DART at Parkway is not the same thing as a train taking you directly to the airport.

Or have you actually seen an EMR train displaying 'Luton Airport' on the front as its final destination?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes I am perfectly well aware of that. But changing to the DART at Parkway is not the same thing as a train taking you directly to the airport.

Or have you actually seen an EMR train displaying 'Luton Airport' on the front as its final destination?

I know, but EMR are all about misleading advertising.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes I am perfectly well aware of that. But changing to the DART at Parkway is not the same thing as a train taking you directly to the airport.

So do you think Gatwick North, Birmingham and Manchester are taking the mick too? (OK, the latter is travelators, but it is a fair way).

 

[Tetchytyke]

Yes I am perfectly well aware of that. But changing to the DART at Parkway is not the same thing as a train taking you directly to the airport.

No different to changing to the monorail at Gatwick Airport tbh.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2023 ==

Manchester are taking the mick too? (OK, the latter is travelators, but it is a fair way).

It isn’t anymore. They’re life-expired and so MAG have switched them all off. It’s quite the hike from the station to T3.

Obviously the train destination isn’t accurate, but it’s a stretch to call that misleading advertising.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

With the shuttle it's no different from Gatwick North. So I think this is perfectly fair.

I wouldn't say it's the same thing. For Gatwick, the train takes you to a station that is called 'Gatwick Airport' and which is pretty much directly located within the airport complex - so the train does take you directly to the airport, even if you then need to transfer to a different terminal (Although if an ad showed - say - a Thameslink train showing 'Gatwick Airport' as its final destination, I'd still quibble that it's showing a fiction since Gatwick Airport isn't the final destination for any such regular services).

In the case of Luton, the EMR train takes you to a Parkway station that is not part of the airport, and simply happens to be the most convenient station from which you can get to the airport via other transport - in this case, the DART.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In the case of Luton, the EMR train takes you to a Parkway station that is not part of the airport, and simply happens to be the most convenient station from which you can get to the airport via other transport - in this case, the DART.

I think you're being unnecessarily picky, to be honest. Worldwide, plenty of airports have this sort of arrangement. The only quirk of this one is that it's chargeable.

I would agree that it wasn't really an airport station when you had to use the horrid bus service, but that was different. (And if you still want to use a bus and pay £2 instead of the shuttle fare, you can do - it's out the back by the Holiday Inn).

 

[PGAT]

I wouldn't say it's the same thing. For Gatwick, the train takes you to a station that is called 'Gatwick Airport' and which is pretty much directly located within the airport complex - so the train does take you directly to the airport, even if you then need to transfer to a different terminal (Although if an ad showed - say - a Thameslink train showing 'Gatwick Airport' as its final destination, I'd still quibble that it's showing a fiction since Gatwick Airport isn't the final destination for any such regular services).

In the case of Luton, the EMR train takes you to a Parkway station that is not part of the airport, and simply happens to be the most convenient station from which you can get to the airport via other transport - in this case, the DART.

I feel like this is all just a technicality. In practice, travelling on the Gatwick shuttle is more or less the same experience you would get on the DART

 

[Sunil_P]

The TV ad campaign has been going on for around six months or so, roughly when DART opened. Still appears now and again.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The TV ad campaign has been going on for around six months or so, roughly when DART opened. Still appears now and again.

The soundtrack of it is also used as an audio ad on LBC and other radio stations.

 

[1D54]

I know, but EMR are all about misleading advertising.

Surprised they haven't pulled the same stunt on their Inter City services for East Midlands Parkway!

 

[Purple Train]

Surprised they haven't pulled the same stunt on their Inter City services for East Midlands Parkway!

"East Midlands Parkway Express... bringing you the quintessential East Midlands view in as little as 80 minutes."

(I hasten to add, I still love the East Midlands )

 

[1D54]

(I hasten to add, I still love the East Midlands )

Couldn't agree more... Well Leicestershire anyway!!

 

[Clip]

Hasnt 'Luton Airport' been a destination for quite some time though? Im sure ive used it once when we flew from there before. May have had to take a bus to the aiport though

 

[norbitonflyer]

More to the point, how do you get the £10 fare?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

More to the point, how do you get the £10 fare?

I found a £7.60 full price advance ticket so I think they must've rounded up for £10

 

[dk1]

Very effective advertising. Well done to EMR.

 

[father_jack]

(And if you still want to use a bus and pay £2 instead of the shuttle fare, you can do - it's out the back by the Holiday Inn).

I thought the bus was done and dusted. It mustn't be connected to First anymore because the RDG staff travel advice said it (and the free travel) had ended....

 

[skyhigh]

I thought the bus was done and dusted. It mustn't be connected to First anymore because the RDG staff travel advice said it (and the free travel) had ended....

I seem to remember it's a normal Arriva service bus route that happens to include the airport.

 

[alholmes]

I thought the bus was done and dusted. It mustn't be connected to First anymore because the RDG staff travel advice said it (and the free travel) had ended....

The shuttle buses have been shipped to Ukraine and given to the Ukraine army, to help them move personnel around.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I seem to remember it's a normal Arriva service bus route that happens to include the airport.

It is yes, Arriva route Busway A from the back of the station by the Holiday Inn. I've long used that anyway, much more civilised than the official bus. Always been separate from the shuttle bus, more aimed at locals and airport workers, but anyone can use it as it is a normal service bus.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I found a £7.60 full price advance ticket so I think they must've rounded up for £10
View attachment 142657

How odd, I must say if it was down to me I’d want to flaunt that fare with all I could!

 

[sp503]

This is no different from Newark Airport (EWR) which the NJ Transit sells a combined ticket for train to Newark Airport Railroad Station and Newark AirTrain.

 

[Djgr]

Initial thoughts are that this advert is misleading and potentially unlawful. Will be interested to see if anyone complains!

 

[Western Sunset]

I seem to be in the minority here, but I find it very misleading. As a traveller, I'd be expecting to be carried the whole way to Luton Airport directly on the train.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It'd be interesting if someone mentioned this to the Advertising Standards Agency and got an opinion.