Finding an empty seat in a bustling airport can feel like an impossible quest, particularly at one of the UK's busiest travel hubs. Stansted Airport, which serves a staggering 27 million passengers annually, is notorious for its crowded departure lounges, especially during peak seasons. However, a savvy travel blogger has now shared a little-known secret that promises a peaceful retreat from the chaos.
The Secret Spot Revealed
In a viral Facebook video that amassed 1.1 million views, the blogger behind Inside Our Suitcase guided desperate travellers to a hidden oasis of calm. Her advice is straightforward: when faced with a sea of people, do not settle for the main concourse. Instead, she instructs passengers to 'head towards the 'All Gates' area'. Upon arrival, she says to look to the right for a sign marked 'additional seating'.
The key is to then take the escalator down to the ground floor. While some seats are visible immediately upon descent, the true treasure lies just out of sight. The blogger emphasised that the best and most plentiful seats are actually located 'around the back of the escalator'. She described this secluded spot as 'really good' and noted that in her experience, it has consistently remained relatively quiet, offering a sanctuary for weary travellers.
Holidaymakers React to the Discovery
The revelation sparked hundreds of comments from grateful and amused holidaymakers. One commenter, who was already in on the secret, jokingly pleaded, 'Don’t tell people ! That’s my go to quiet place!' Another traveller confirmed the hack's effectiveness, writing, 'That's what we did a couple of months ago after I saw a similar video. It was great and so much quieter than the main waiting area!' This feedback underscores the value of such insider knowledge for improving the passenger experience at a major UK airport.
Another Stansted Speed Hack
This seating tip is not the only clever hack for navigating Stansted Airport more efficiently. Another savvy traveller, 33-year-old Elaine Poon, demonstrated a trick for speeding through security in a TikTok video that attracted 360,000 views. On her social media account, @travelainewithme, she showed that while most passengers queue at the main security entrance, they can instead turn right towards the fast track area.
Elaine explained that the middle section of this area is often free for all passengers to use, a fact many people miss because they assume it is exclusively for fast track customers. Her video vividly contrasted the empty lanes on her side with the long, snaking queue on the other, proving that a simple change of direction can save precious time.
These shared tips highlight a growing trend of travellers using social media to exchange valuable, time-saving advice, transforming stressful airport experiences into more manageable journeys.
