Luton Dart Concessionary Bookings

[spag23]

I've lifted this from the Infrastructure page, as it may cause disputes once the Luton Dart is fully operational.
This shuttle service is free for holders of concessionary passes. But they need to register, and then book their tickets 72 hours in advance. I did this for a return trip in May, flying out of Luton. But fortunately I noticed the issued tickets were both in the wrong direction. Eventually I rumbled that this was due to the confusing layout of their web page

If, quite understandably, you click on the "From the Airport" when entering your return date, the system reverses both the intended directions, and assumes your outbound trip is from the Airport, and your return is to the airport.
Basically these two radio buttons are not associated with the dates immediately below each box, despite appearing to be. To help avoid this confusion, they should be separated from the dates, and ideally stacked vertically.
In my case, I was able to go back in and book new tickets in the right directions; I'll discard the wrong ones!
But I can see disputes arising with early adopters who didn't notice the reversal.
I'd tell the operator about this poor page design, but can't find their contact details on their website.

 

[Haywain]

I'd tell the operator about this poor page design, but can't find their contact details on their website.

Try this page: Luton Rising

 

[Watershed]

The utterly artificial limitation of having to book 72 hours in advance demonstrates how Luton Airport is paying mere lip service to carrying ENCTS passengers. Together with the utter ripoff charged for using the DART and the cramped terminal, I shan't be in any hurry to use Luton again.

 

[spag23]

Try this page: Luton Rising

Cheers, Haywain.
Will do

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2023 ==

Cheers, Haywain.
Will do

I have now raised this with the operator. Reply promised in 5 days.
I agree with Watershed. What happens if your return flight is delayed by a day, or even just past midnight?
Thousands of buses have readers, despite being wireless. Surely Luton Rising could have managed a couple of fixed touch terminals, rather than create a whole new online booking system; and one that discriminates against the very passengers (ie the less tech savvy elderly) it is supposed to benefit.

 

[Haywain]

Cheers, Haywain.
Will do

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2023 ==


I have now raised this with the operator. Reply promised in 5 days.
I agree with Watershed. What happens if your return flight is delayed by a day, or even just past midnight?
Thousands of buses have readers, despite being wireless. Surely Luton Rising could have managed a couple of fixed touch terminals, rather than create a whole new online booking system; and one that discriminates against the very passengers (ie the less tech savvy elderly) it is supposed to benefit.

As this is not a bus service, and the concession is not restricted to holders of English passes, I don’t see that it's about readers to allow payment to be taken. As such I can see why there's hoops to jump through to take advantage of the concession. Whether the 14 day booking is reasonable is another matter.

 

[38Cto15E]

Will the airport bus link carry on when the DART opens? I have a National free bus concession but don't fancy all this pre booking DART business.
I note that this bus link seems to go on a longer route than when it first opened.

 

[Haywain]

Will the airport bus link carry on when the DART opens? I have a National free bus concession but don't fancy all this pre booking DART business.
I note that this bus link seems to go on a longer route than when it first opened.

The shuttle bus no longer operates. You can, if you choose, use service A from the stop on Kimpton Road on the 'up' side of Parkway, which also runs from the Interchange at Luton station.

 

[Roger1973]

(Just about to post when Haywain did, so edited version) -

Yes, the airport link bus (Go Ahead London 888) from Parkway Station has already ceased, although it looks as though the short notice cancellation hasn't fed through to all forms of information like Traveline yet.

Arriva (Busway) route A is every 10 minutes daytime and runs 24/7 (although it drops to half hourly with a few longer gaps overnight) - and it's a standard bus service so ENCTS is valid (I don't know if Luton have the statutory time restrictions or what.) Luton Interchange is basically out the front at Luton Station, and the 'Hampton by Hilton' bus stop on Kimpton Road is a minute or two's walk from the north side exit of Luton Airport Parkway Station, and last time I was there, it looked like they were improving the path between the two.

 

[Haywain]

ENCTS is valid (I don't know if Luton have the statutory time restrictions or what.)

The national time restrictions do apply.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2023 ==

, it looked like they were improving the path between the two.

The exit is now through the new building

 

[Ediswan]

The shuttle bus no longer operates. You can, if you choose, use service A from the stop on Kimpton Road on the 'up' side of Parkway, which also runs from the Interchange at Luton station.

If the rarer 100 arrives first, you could also use that.

 

[Haywain]

If the rarer 100 arrives first, you could also use that.

Yes, the 100 is an hourly service, but will show a destination of Stevenage.

 

[Ediswan]

Yes, the 100 is an hourly service, but will show a destination of Stevenage.

Currently broadly every 40 minutes (Mon-Sat), but not strictly clockface.

 

[exbrel]

does the new system accept retired staff travel cards?

 

[Haywain]

does the new system accept retired staff travel cards?

No, it's not a part of the National Rail network.

 

[spag23]

No. Just Old or Disabled Bus passes. And even then, you have to pre-register to book your free tickets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Mar 2023 ==

I see DART have fulfilled their promise to make their booking page a bit less confusing, making the erroneous selection of the "From the Airport" button less likely. Mistakenly selecting that right hand button (over the Return Date) reverses both tickets issued.
This mostly affects concessionary bookings, as anyone else (ie paying for this trip) would surely add it to their train ticket or contactless it.
It was:

It's now: