Picking up from Birmingham airport at midnight

[lurchermummy]

As the title says I have to pick up DH around midnight - he booked the cheapest flight without thinking about me having to park and walk through a multi-storey car park at that time - I’m a bit creeped out - anyone familiar with Birmingham
airport who knows where the best and closest car park is for pick ups please? Thanks

How far have you got to travel? If it's not far, I'd just get him to get a cab or if you must pick him up arrange to text him your car park location, stay in the car and get him to walk to you.

I've not picked up there but have been dropped off in the Premium drop off which is right outside the terminal. I just looked this up for you and the premium drop off (Which is where I would want to pick up) is apparently drop off only. They have cameras but I don't know how well it's policed.

The nearest car parks are a bit of a walk (it says 1 - 2 mins on the website I am suspicious of this timing see below) but I think that's an exaggeration. When I was dropped off the taxi said to me I can drop you here (free) but it's a walk or you can pay for the premium so I said I'd pay and he drove on. We drove past what seemed to me to be a long unpleasant walk with luggage (a souless long narrow pavement with hordings on one side and on the other the road I was being driven down). I was glad I'd say I'd pay.

I don't know the ins and outs of it like I said but personally I wouldn't be wanting to walk round there alone that late at night. It has a sort of creepy goods road/warehouse vibe if you know what I mean. Those sort of empty souless places that are dead.

In the day it looks like it would be a bit of a pain in the arse too but less creepy.

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/parking/drop-off-and-pick-up/

Like I said I've not done it but from the driving route, it didn't look like a 1 or 2 minute walk to me more like 5 mins if you were close or 10 mins if parked further. I would defer to any other posters who can give you more info from their own experience.

The whole thing looked utterly fucked up to me. Why they wouldn't have a drive through for both drop off and pick up for people (Which they used to have in the past) is insanity

Hi yes thanks I’ve picked up in the day before and exactly that - also the multi stories are the kind where all the lights go if if no one is moving - eek! Very post apocalyptic vibes! Sadly too far to get a cab.

Make him do the hard work, and get him to get the mono rail through to Birmingham International train station. You can then wait in the short stay car park there. It's free for 20 ish minutes and he can meet you there.

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/transport-links/by-train/

The other option is the short stay car park at the airport which isn't a multi storey but you do have to pay to enter.

I don't know if this will work but attempting to link street view to where the taxi driver said I would have to walk from if I didn't pay for premium drop off - so I'm assuming this is by the car park.

The hording tunnel on the left is what I would have had to walk down - you may get a better idea if you have a bit of an explore on street view so you can see how far it is or if the other car parks are better. My info is drop off based.

https://tinyurl.com/3cyhwmkm

that's a bit weird. I post a street view link to the hording "tunnel" but it looks like my post has been hidden.

Sadly too far to get a cab.

No where is too far to get a cab unless it involves a ferry-less body of water.

It will just cost money. Look at it this way:

What would you pay to avoid being shit scared alone at night in an airport car park?'
What would you pay to avoid being assaulted?

What would he do if you couldn't pick him up because you were ill/in hospital/called to a real family emergency?

If he's travelled alone, he's old enough to sort out his own transport home without inconveniencing his wife and putting her in an uncomfortable, possibly frightening situation.

I'd just say he should sort it out as it's just too late at night but you'll happily pick him up in daylight hours.

He needs to get the monorail to the station. There's a small car park right by where he comes out. Saves you money too.

I always call when I’ve got luggage and then walk to the drop off car park that’s free for 10 mins. There’s a covered walkway and by the time I get there my dad is just pulling in to the car park. Make him do the walk, not you!

Actual insanity.

You don't need to meet him at the airport, you can stay in your car.

Seems a bit mad to not collect him because you're scared of a car park.....

Thanks @Jelliferbut where does your Dad loiter when he is waiting for you to call?

@Hercisback1but I’ve been in the car parks before and all the lights go off when no one is moving - I do not fancy sitting in a pitch black car park even in a locked car!

Just park up and stay in the car and he can come to you. He surely isn’t expecting you to come into arrivals at midnight?

Does your dad not get a ticket? If you read the info, it says the drop off is drop off only not pick up.

That's useful to know if you can get away with it.

@Hercisback1 it's not insanity - quite apart from it basically being unpleasant for a woman alone at night to be in a carpark, the basic point is why should a competent adult expect someone else to inconvenience themselves at midnight to pick them up? Sort out your own transport home FFS if you are booking a ticket that late.

He's not her child.

Cross post. Can you park in the station car park instead and he get the monorail?

DH booked that flight because it was cheap, I think he literally didn’t think about the pick up situation. I’ve picked up from Stansted loads of time and it is so easy but Birmingham is just a horrible airport!

So get him to go to the station like a few people have said.

Apparently the mono mail stops at 12.30 am

And there's a shuttle bus 12.30-3.30 when the monorail is closed.

Absolutely get him to go to International on the monorail. You can park in the waiting area for 20 minutes which is just by the doors on the right. Go past the station entrance and just pull in on the right and park up. Much easier than faffing about at the airport

Either Bham international station or he gets a taxi.

Has he given any thought to you at all?

Never got a ticket, we’re always in and out in less than 5 minutes.

He waits in a lay-by just before the Stonebridge island

Thanks I’ll suggest that to him. Either that or I’ll park in car park 5 which is an outdoor one and he can walk to me. Somehow that feels preferable to sitting in a multi storey. Thanks all for your advice.

But they're partners, I genuinely don't think he's being unreasonable to ask. Especially if he gets through to Birmingham International train station where the car park is not multi storey and fully flood lit. I'd happily do it for a partner or friend.

I’m sure it’s just a matter of pressing the button to call it after midnight. IIRC it doesn’t run between about 3am -5am as there are no flight arrivals. But there will be tonnes of people using it at that time!

That lay-by may be blocked off due to HS2 cones/works depending on when you go OP. but there's plenty of other options nearby to wait. Even the train station and then drive through to drop off if you do that.