DUB vs STN — Dublin or London?

Verdict

Dublin Airport (DUB) scores higher overall at 7.5/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.9/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Dublin Airport	London Stansted Airport
FlightLogic Score	7.5	6.9
On-Time Performance	7.3	6.7
Passenger Experience	7.4	6.8
Facilities & Comfort	7.8	7.0
Lounge Score	7.6	6.8
City	Dublin	London
Country	Ireland	United Kingdom
Terminals	2 terminals (T1 legacy, T2 main)	1 main terminal
Annual passengers	32M+	28M+

Operational comparison

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

Policy	DUB — Dublin	STN — London
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Dublin, Ireland · DUB · #1 in this comparison

Dublin Airport

2 terminals (T1 legacy, T2 main) · 32M+ passengers/year

7.5 / 10

How good is Dublin Airport?

Dublin Airport (DUB) scores 7.5/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.3), passenger experience (7.4), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 7.6/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Dublin DUB scores 7.5/10 — Ireland hub with US Pre-Clearance on Aer Lingus. Strategic UK positioning for transatlantic. See /guides/best-airlines-uk-dublin-2026 and /guides/dublin-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 7.5 Very Good

On-time 7.3 Departure reliability

Experience 7.4 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 7.6 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

7.3

Passenger Experience

7.4

Facilities & Comfort

7.8

Lounge score 7.6/10

Highlights

US Pre-Clearance — arrive in US as domestic passenger on Aer Lingus transatlantic
Dense UK schedule — Ryanair, Aer Lingus, BA from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and 15+ regional UK airports
Aer Lingus T2 lounge for business and AerClub Gold; 51st & Green US Pre-Clearance facility
UK261 on UK-departing Aer Lingus; EU261 on DUB EU departures

Overview

Ireland's hub and a strategic UK outbound gateway — Aer Lingus US Pre-Clearance, dense Ryanair/easyJet Europe network, and short hop from UK regional airports.

UK positioning and Pre-Clearance

UK travellers use DUB as a lower-fare transatlantic gateway via Aer Lingus — Pre-Clearance saves 60–90 min at US immigration. Factor positioning flight cost from UK regional airports.

Ryanair's largest base offers cheapest UK–Europe fares — compare total cost vs Stansted/Luton on same route.

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

London Stansted Airport

1 main terminal · 28M+ passengers/year

6.9 / 10

How good is London Stansted Airport?

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

In short

London Stansted (STN) is rated 6.9/10 on FlightLogic — primarily a Ryanair and Jet2 leisure hub. Stansted Express to Liverpool Street ~45 min. Escape Lounge for Priority Pass. UK261 covers all departures. See /guides/stansted-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 6.9 Good

On-time 6.7 Departure reliability

Experience 6.8 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.0 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 6.8 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

6.7

Passenger Experience

6.8

Facilities & Comfort

7.0

Lounge score 6.8/10

Highlights

Ryanair's largest UK base — dominant low-cost hub for Europe and Mediterranean leisure routes
Stansted Express reaches London Liverpool Street in ~45 minutes — fastest rail link among London secondary airports
Single-terminal layout simplifies navigation; Escape Lounge accepts Priority Pass with pre-book recommended
UK261 applies to all UK-departing flights — including Ryanair and Jet2

Overview

London's third airport and Ryanair's largest UK base — single-terminal design, Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, and Escape Lounge for Priority Pass holders.

Ryanair hub and low-cost operations

Stansted is Ryanair's largest UK base, handling the majority of Europe and Mediterranean leisure traffic from London's eastern corridor. easyJet and Jet2 also operate significant schedules. For UK travellers chasing lowest fares, STN often undercuts Gatwick and Luton on the same routes — but factor in Stansted Express rail costs and strict Ryanair baggage rules.

UK261 compensation applies to all flights departing Stansted 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

Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street every 15 minutes at peak, taking ~45 minutes. National Express coaches serve Victoria and other London terminals — often cheaper but slower in traffic. Uber/Bolt use signed ride-app zones landside.

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

FAQ

Which is better, Dublin Airport or London Stansted Airport?

Dublin Airport (DUB) scores higher overall at 7.5/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.9/10.

Which has better lounges, DUB or STN?

Dublin Airport (DUB) scores higher for lounges at 7.6/10, versus London Stansted Airport at 6.8/10.

Which airport is more on-time, DUB or STN?

Dublin Airport (DUB) has stronger on-time performance at 7.3/10 versus London Stansted Airport (STN) at 6.7/10.