Tips to Avoid Parking at UK Airports when collecting people

Pincher

paddyrg wrote: »

Seeing as international texts can't be much more than say 30p, maybe suggest she uses a payphone to give your mobile 3 rings...that is free at least... Bit rude if someone is doing you a favour and picking you up though.

In Wrath of Khan, you would be accused of two dimensional thinking.

In Big Bang theory, you would be accused of limiting yourself to 3 dimensions.

Text
____

Any text that is forwarded overseas cost money.
I am guessing she has (junkmail) sources that will not stop sending.

Calls
____

If she can guarantee only my call will get forwarded, maybe she would switch on, but she probably gets a lots of "friends" with plenty of inclusive minutes. So it's free for her friends, but she ends up paying the overseas leg.



Pick up a pay phone? There is a 20p phone card?
You are assuming she has the correct change in Sterling when flying in from overseas.

Actually, I used to have a BT ChargeCard, so I can do exactly what you are describing when I land. I sent the numbers by e-mail, and then they can't be bothered to use it.

savemon3y

Thanks for all the responses.

Does anyone have similar tips on Luton, Stanstead and Southend on Sea airports?

Voyager2002

Pincher wrote: »

In Wrath of Khan, you would be accused of two dimensional thinking.

In Big Bang theory, you would be accused of limiting yourself to 3 dimensions.

Text
____

Any text that is forwarded overseas cost money.
I am guessing she has (junkmail) sources that will not stop sending.

Calls
____

If she can guarantee only my call will get forwarded, maybe she would switch on, but she probably gets a lots of "friends" with plenty of inclusive minutes. So it's free for her friends, but she ends up paying the overseas leg.



Pick up a pay phone? There is a 20p phone card?
You are assuming she has the correct change in Sterling when flying in from overseas.

Actually, I used to have a BT ChargeCard, so I can do exactly what you are describing when I land. I sent the numbers by e-mail, and then they can't be bothered to use it.

She could pick up a pay-phone and request a reverse charge call to your mobile. You don't have to accept (so there is no charge) but you would know it was her.

Pincher

Voyager2002 wrote: »

She could pick up a pay-phone and request a reverse charge call to your mobile. You don't have to accept (so there is no charge) but you would know it was her.

I have always assumed Pay As You Go mobile phones cannot accept reverse charging, but never put it to the test. Actually, it would solve the problem theoretically, if my relatives were not lazy beyond belief.

Last year, another relative's solution was to ask the nearest stranger with a mobile phone to call me. They have no intention of finding a payphone and then having to read the instruction to work out how to call the operator to do a reverse charge, and certainly not getting small change or getting a phone card.

Pincher

Just got back from Stansted. Paid £2 to pick up.

The signs say Express Drop off, so I though it's Departures Drop off, i.e. FREE, but I don't think it exists any more.

The guy I was picking up says he's waiting outside,
buit nowhere to be seen. Fortunately he's a sensible relative, with mobile ON, so we managed to rendezvous at the Express Drop Off rank. Where loads of sign say £2 to 3 , and £50 fine if you stay more than 15 minutes.

PAY ON EXIT, and God knows what would have happened if I didn't have two £1 coins in the car, as I had been inside at least 15 minutes.

mcfisco

Pincher wrote: »

In Wrath of Khan, you would be accused of two dimensional thinking.

In Big Bang theory, you would be accused of limiting yourself to 3 dimensions.

Text
____

Any text that is forwarded overseas cost money.
I am guessing she has (junkmail) sources that will not stop sending.

Calls
____

If she can guarantee only my call will get forwarded, maybe she would switch on, but she probably gets a lots of "friends" with plenty of inclusive minutes. So it's free for her friends, but she ends up paying the overseas leg.



Pick up a pay phone? There is a 20p phone card?
You are assuming she has the correct change in Sterling when flying in from overseas.

Actually, I used to have a BT ChargeCard, so I can do exactly what you are describing when I land. I sent the numbers by e-mail, and then they can't be bothered to use it.

Buy her a £10 phone and SIM card for Christmas, tell it'll only work for texting you.
It'll last forever **

**give or take

Pincher

mcfisco wrote: »

Buy her a £10 phone and SIM card for Christmas, tell it'll only work for texting you.
It'll last forever **

**give or take

The previous Pay As You Go "guest" phone was dropped (by the guest) and now has a corner crack.

The current one is drop-proof and water resistant.

But the visitor does not have it when they land.

Yes, I want to trade-in my relatives for beautiful intelligent human beings.
I hear people will buy anything on eBay.

jackieblack

Pincher wrote: »

Just got back from Stansted. Paid £2 to pick up.

The signs say Express Drop off, so I though it's Departures Drop off, i.e. FREE, but I don't think it exists any more.

The guy I was picking up says he's waiting outside,
buit nowhere to be seen. Fortunately he's a sensible relative, with mobile ON, so we managed to rendezvous at the Express Drop Off rank. Where loads of sign say £2 to 3 , and £50 fine if you stay more than 15 minutes.

PAY ON EXIT, and God knows what would have happened if I didn't have two £1 coins in the car, as I had been inside at least 15 minutes.

Stansted Mid-Stay Car park is free for the first hour and a 5 min bus ride from the terminal. Buses run every 10 mins

http://www.stanstedairport.com/transport-and-directions/pick-up-and-drop-off

Roger1

jackieblack wrote: »

Stansted Mid-Stay Car park is free for the first hour and a 5 min bus ride from the terminal. Buses run every 10 mins

http://www.stanstedairport.com/transport-and-directions/pick-up-and-drop-off

Good tip, and a second hour costs £1 which is not too bad unless the incoming flight is seriously delayed.

Be aware that the 5 minute bus ride is actually 5 Stansted Airport minutes and is optimistic! You need to add waiting time at the bus stop, too, so this could total perhaps 10-20 minutes.

jackieblack

Roger1 wrote: »

Good tip, and a second hour costs £1 which is not too bad unless the incoming flight is seriously delayed.

Be aware that the 5 minute bus ride is actually 5 Stansted Airport minutes and is optimistic! You need to add waiting time at the bus stop, too, so this could total perhaps 10-20 minutes.

True, but is still do-able within an hour unless flight is delayed