PEK vs LTN — Beijing or London?

Verdict

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher overall at 7.8/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.8/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Beijing Capital International Airport	London Luton Airport
FlightLogic Score	7.8	6.8
On-Time Performance	7.6	6.6
Passenger Experience	7.7	6.7
Facilities & Comfort	8.0	7.0
Lounge Score	8.4	6.9
City	Beijing	London
Country	China	United Kingdom
Terminals	3 terminals (T1, T2, T3)	1 main terminal
Annual passengers	73M+	18M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	PEK — Beijing	LTN — London
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Beijing, China · PEK · #1 in this comparison

Beijing Capital International Airport

3 terminals (T1, T2, T3) · 73M+ passengers/year

7.8 / 10

How good is Beijing Capital International Airport?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores 7.8/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.6), passenger experience (7.7), and facilities (8.0). Lounge quality rates 8.4/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Beijing Capital PEK scores 7.8/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.4/10. Terminal 3 hosts Air China and Star Alliance international flights. Allow 90+ minutes for connections and immigration. Not to be confused with Daxing PKX. See /guides/beijing-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 7.8 Very Good

On-time 7.6 Departure reliability

Experience 7.7 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 8.0 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.4 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

7.6

Passenger Experience

7.7

Facilities & Comfort

8.0

Lounge score 8.4/10

Highlights

Terminal 3 is among the world's largest airport buildings — Air China First and Business lounges
Star Alliance carriers consolidate in T3 for international departures
Common connection point for UK–China and UK–Southeast Asia on Air China and partners
Beijing Daxing (PKX) serves some carriers separately — check ticket carefully

Overview

Air China and Star Alliance hub — Terminal 3 dragon-themed mega-terminal with strong premium lounges for UK–China and UK–Asia routings.

Terminal 3 and Air China lounges

Terminal 3 serves most international Star Alliance traffic including Air China long-haul. First and Business lounges offer Chinese and international buffet dining with shower suites.

UK passport holders typically need a visa for China unless qualifying for 144-hour transit visa-free in Beijing — verify current rules before planning a layover exit.

London, United Kingdom · LTN · #2 in this comparison

London Luton Airport

1 main terminal · 18M+ passengers/year

6.8 / 10

How good is London Luton Airport?

London Luton Airport (LTN) scores 6.8/10 (Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (6.6), passenger experience (6.7), and facilities (7.0). Lounge quality rates 6.9/10. See full airport guide →

In short

London Luton (LTN) is rated 6.8/10 on FlightLogic — primarily an easyJet hub. Thameslink to St Pancras ~30 min. Clubrooms for Priority Pass. UK261 covers all departures. See /guides/luton-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 6.8 Good

On-time 6.6 Departure reliability

Experience 6.7 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.0 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 6.9 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

6.6

Passenger Experience

6.7

Facilities & Comfort

7.0

Lounge score 6.9/10

Highlights

easyJet's primary London hub alongside Gatwick — dense Europe and Mediterranean network
Thameslink reaches London St Pancras in ~30 minutes — direct link to Eurostar and central London
Clubrooms lounge accepts Priority Pass — pre-book recommended at peak banks
UK261 applies to all LTN departures including easyJet and Wizz Air

Overview

London's fourth airport and easyJet's primary London base — single-terminal design, Thameslink to St Pancras, and Clubrooms lounge for Priority Pass holders.

easyJet hub and low-cost operations

Luton is easyJet's largest London base, handling dense European and Mediterranean leisure traffic from London's northern corridor. Wizz Air also operates significant schedules. For UK travellers chasing lowest fares, LTN often undercuts Gatwick on the same routes — but factor in Thameslink rail costs and easyJet baggage fees.

UK261 compensation applies to all flights departing Luton regardless of fare paid. A 3+ hour arrival delay on a UK-regulated flight triggers £220–£520 per passenger if the delay was the airline's fault.

Getting to central London

Thameslink runs to St Pancras International every 10–15 minutes at peak, taking ~30 minutes. East Midlands Railway also serves Luton Airport Parkway. DART shuttle connects terminal to Parkway station in ~4 minutes.

Compare LTN against Stansted (/airports/stansted) and Gatwick (/airports/gatwick) for your route — Luton wins on easyJet frequency; Gatwick wins on Virgin long-haul and lounge depth.

FAQ

Which is better, Beijing Capital International Airport or London Luton Airport?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher overall at 7.8/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.8/10.

Which has better lounges, PEK or LTN?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher for lounges at 8.4/10, versus London Luton Airport at 6.9/10.

Which airport is more on-time, PEK or LTN?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) has stronger on-time performance at 7.6/10 versus London Luton Airport (LTN) at 6.6/10.