Horrendous airport drop off charges

[Cardhey]

AIBU to be pleased that the UK consumer watchdog is investigation the ridiculous drop off fees at airports and the increases over the past few years. It’s just a con. Hope they get banned.

Frankly you can have mid 20th century style pricing, "all in", high ticket prices, with, for example the airport happily levying high charges from the airline (so ultimately you pay for the infrastructure to support car access without noticing)..

Or..

21st century low fares where everyone comes after you for extra cash - for example the airline with regard to seat choice, the airport with regard to parking and/or drop off (so you pay, but now you do increasingly notice)

They also made the roads at least half a mile away from the terminals no stopping (red lines). Plus hotels you are only allowed to park in the car parks if staying overnight. As I have done that in the past of walking to a hotel car park. That was around ten years ago

Then a couple of airports that have petrol stations in the area (which are service stations prices) have no stopping unless you are buying fuel. As my friends used to get picked up there

Then you don’t moan about paying £3 for a bottle of water. This airport allows more than 100ml bottles now

It’s also free for 2 hours in the long stay car park according to their website.

Londoners getting stuff for free that people in other cities have to pay for shock.

Although i think th eprices are highway robbery i can understand why they do ot. If joe bloggs was given free reign they would park at the door and bugger off for their week on the Costa's. I do believe 5 minutes at a standstill by the door should be free after all you do not need any longer.

Disabled travellers usually don't have to pay the charge.

If you're confident you won't be more than half an hour, it's actually cheaper to go in the short stay car park opposite, which is £8 if it's less than 30 minutes.

(Well, it was cheaper last time I did a drop-off a few months ago, they may have increased it to match by now.

Are you going to come back to the thread @Cardhey and tell us how much they are? I have no idea. Always get a taxi.

If it gets cheaper then the drop off points will just get rammed with people milling around and cars sharking trying to get spaces. It will be chaos.

The whole idea of charging money is to try to get as many people as possible to not use it if they can come up with an alternative.

Edit : Actually I think it should be classed as a luxury and be more expensive.

Gatwick is hardly London is it 🤣
Its nearer Brighton.

Literally called London Gatwick.

Well Oxford airport is called London Oxford and I'm not convinced most people would claim that is situated in London.

I know that but it’s in Sussex!

Yes, I'm sure Londoners don't use Gatwick at all and go to some other airport like Norwich.

Norwich airport charges a development fee of £10 per person which might put travellers off.

And looking at their website, an £8 drop off fee.

And it doesn't have a train station.

Londoners also subside the rest of the country.

At Stansted, two years ago it was £7.50 and you swiped your card in the way out. Now, it’s £10 for up to 15 minutes. Even one second over that and it’s £28. Also you can no longer swipe when you are there. It’s online. You have 24 hrs to pay or you pay more.

Another charge to watch for , I parked and did not get out of the car, at Starbucks up the road from Stansted, for 16 minutes and 4 seconds waiting for a relative to message to say they were ready to come out of the airport and for that “parking”which is NOT within the airport, I got a £100 fine. It’s up to 60 minutes free stay, if you register, in the store (which was closed!) I am appealing the fine. It was dark, Starbucks was closed. I hope this is all stopped it’s ridiculous.

For anyone who struggles with mobility, a taxi or drop off by family is often the only option. Unless you have no luggage.

Glasgow Prestwick Is 32 miles from Glasgow. Paris Varty is over 100 miles from Paris.

Yes they do

So people in Glasgow don't use Glasgow airport but some other airport?

Shush peasants, you should be grateful you even have an airport.

Thanks for reminding me about this - DH has to drop me off an an insane hour next weekend at Luton and better prepare for the cost. There is a free option at the long stay carpark but given the hour and that my back is not feeling great at the moment I think we'll have to stump up the 9 blimmin' quid this time!