It might be worth getting the train if the timing is right for your flight .... not a very luxurious service, but you'd have a seat and there's a trolley service ... much safer to snooze on the train than in your car.

Ruth
Before deciding do check out if there are direct trains to Stansted from Birmingham. I travelled from Stansted up to Nottingham on numerous occasions in the late 90's through to 2007 and direct trains were few and far between. I often had to change, sometimes twice and my journeys would take well over 3hrs each way. The other option is a National Express bus, I believe there is a direct service between Stansted and Birmingham though again it will take more than three hours.
I know parking is expensive at most airports in the UK if you decide to drive but you may be able to get some sort of
reduced price by booking so far ahead.
Though as Alsa says if the timing is right then the train could be better than driving.

Judith

There are direct trains between Stansted Airport and Birmingham New Street now, they leave Birmingham at 22 mins past the hour, and leave Stansted Airport at 27 mins past the hour, right through the day. There are other trains too, but as Judith says, these need two changes!

wouldn't trust the trains, that particular bit of track between London and Cambridge seems to have more problems with with the track than any other i know, however if driving i would also be careful of the A14 between Huntingdon and Cambridge weekdays as it is often at a standstill

I've been lucky then, using that train between Stansted and Cambridge every few months for the past couple of years! Always left on time too! Totally agree, Wizard, re the A14, absolute nightmare!!

Oh, it is looking like my plans are being put to a holt by the oh who is not keen on travelling to London airports as don't trust them based on past experience with traffic / missing flights etc...

The prices are just too high at the moment.

Do they tend to stay this high? Either Mcr to Ist ot Bhx to Ist... I know Turkish Airlines hold the monopoly right now but are there no other direct airlines due out of any of those airports in the future does anybody know? I'm at a bit of a stale mate right now. :-(

Is there nothing out of EM ? [sorry don't know a lot about this airport just its becoming popular]

Ruth

Don't be put off, I flew to Stansted on a pretty regular basis for nearly 10 years and never missed a flight once. I used a variety of methods of getting to the airport and only had a real delay once, but as I had given myself ample time for the journey I still made my flight.

Judith

Hello,
Where is EM.

Thanks for the reassurance, but not sure if by the time we have got one of the London frlights with times etc one with a connecting flight works out to take less time and around the same financially... wawzers!

EMA East Midlands Aiport . Nottingham/Leicester

Oh, I will have a look. At the moment it is coming out as 579 for the 3 of us, but with connection makes it a 6 hour journey.

Ahemmm.... But the Turkish Airlines is like £300 more...!!!