THE AIRPORT

Arrgh: Luton got the charisma bypass operation back in the 1970's, and no amount of rebuilding has changed anything.

It is not quite the third world, but from the potholed hire car return area, to the soul-less collection of buildings, straggling check in queues, and departure lounge tacky mix of shopping mall and fast food, it is definitely not the glamourous suave end of air transport.

There is one cafe-bar at the far end of check in that does a decent coffee, but the rest is best missed.

This was my first departure since the "Upgrade" of the departure lounges. Previously, you at least sat in a lounge, and when the flight was called you walked outside, and along a wet and windswept ramp for up to 100 metres while dodging the service trucks.

Following "Upgrade" you now walk up to 100 metres in a dry corridor, to a stuffy concrete box room where 120 passengers stand, corralled in rows, before the door opens to allow access to the aircraft (we waited about 15 minutes). The arrangement is similar to any livestock market, where the dumb animals are herded as efficiently as possible. As a concession to the elderly and infirm there are about 10 seats, but since these are only visible to those at the head of the queue, weaker passengers can safely be left to collapse or die where they stand

THE FLIGHT

It was fine. Check in was straightforward (it's just the hundreds of other people checking in for other flights in the same congested area that is the problem).

Security was not too bad - I have seen it much slower (same problems of hundreds of passengers in a small area).

The aircraft (Boeing 737 G-EZYB) pushed back from stand about 5 minutes late, for a routine uneventful flight, to arrive on stand at Inverness about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Cost with all tax and extras paid was £52 - good value.