Uber and Birmingham Airport 28 August 2018 at 6:18PM in Public transport & cycling 24 replies 7.3K views

Imnoexpert_2

I traveled to Birmingham Airport with Uber and then back with them after my holiday. I did this last year too.


Amongst all the charges on the way on holiday

base fare £1.40; distance £16.74; time £1.71; distance surcharge £1.57; wait time £0.42. There was a £2 charge for pick up and drop off at Birmingham airport. This was fair enough though all the add ons make it confusing I know it costs £2 and am happy to pay that cost


On the way back
base fare £1.40; distance £17.40; time £4.24; distance surcharge £1.74; wait time £0.06; £2 parking charge for pick up and drop off at BHX and '£4 BHX Airport Parking Charge'

So why have I been charged the £4. There was no waitor excess chargethat I am aware of.

I'm not a regular Uber customer and I have to say I love the system but having queried the charge in 2 messages to them I get prompt but unhelpful replies that seem to just be fobbing me off.


Could anyone explain the parking charge to me before I put it on dispute with my credit card.


Thanks

nickcc

Presume Uber Driver had to park whilst waiting for you as it's a parking charge. Last time I used Bham A/P was 1976 so don't know if Uber are based at the A/P, if they are and you didn't book it prior to your arrival then I see no reason why you should pay their parking charge,

Johno100

I believe it may be a charge levied by the airport on all taxis and private hire vehicles (so that is Uber) picking up there.

I seem to remember threats of boycott's etc. in the local press when it was introduced some years ago.

Seems a similar charge has recently been introduced at Manchester Airport, their's appears to be for drop-offs.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-airport-passengers-new-drop-14892192

I suppose you could have taken your suitcase and wheeled it out the airport and into the Coventry Road and you'd have avoided the charge, but whether that hassle is worth £4 is another question.

agrinnall

Do what I do and get the free monorail to Birmingham International and have the taxi pick you up there, no extra charges.

Imnoexpert_2

[FONT=&quot]I think I have got to the bottom of this now. It seems that what they are saying is that my Uber guy has parked up at the airport to wait for a pick up and he is charging me for the cost of that. I have no evidence for that and when I booked, the Uber the graphic showed the car entering the airport to pick me up. I really doubt if he incurred this charge that he has passed on to me. This is Uber's third attempt to explain it. I really can't see why I should be charged for a cost incurred at their own admission 'prior to receiving a trip request'.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]"In order to perform a pick-up at Birmingham Airport, your driver has to incur a small parking fee prior to receiving a trip request (£4) and another one while picking you up (£2) so the total of the pick-up fee is £6. The total of these two parking charges is then added on top of the fare of the trip and passed in full to your driver. Uber does not take any part from that pickup surcharge. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Please note that pickup surcharges are integrated into the fare estimates provided in the app available prior to making a request on the app. We can see that the estimate you were given before your trip was £24-32 "[/FONT]

nickcc

Looks like its part of their terms and conditions and is included in their estimated cost, if so then you had no choice but to pay so trying to claim it back would be a waste of time especially as we are only talking about £4.

unholyangel

If you're not satisfied with ubers response then complain to the council.

Cisco001

Birmingham airport dropping pick up/ drop off is really expensive.
If you are not having too many suitcase or not in hurry, I suggest you pick up/ drop off at Birmingham international train station instead.

agrinnall

Cisco001 wrote: »

If you are not having too many suitcase or not in hurry, I suggest you pick up/ drop off at Birmingham international train station instead.

See post #4.

rmgaudencio

I normally use Birmingham International Railway Station as pickup/drop off point when I am travelling to and from Birmingham Airport.

Yesterday, I was surprised with a £4 BHX Airport Parking Charge!!!
It doesn't make any sense because the driver does not have to pay for anything!


I am now disputing this with UBER asking for clarification:

UBER:We can appreciate that you feel that a parking fee should not apply to your trip. However, please know that we have thoroughly reviewed and can see that the fee appears to have been charged correctly.

In order to perform a pick-up at Birmingham Airport or in the Birmingham International Railway Station, your driver has to incur a small parking fee prior to receiving a trip request.
This parking charge is then added on top of the fare of the trip and passed in full to your driver. Uber does not take any part from that pickup surcharge.
Please note that pickup surcharges are integrated into the fare estimates provided in the app available prior to making a request on the app.

Imnoexpert_2

Let me know how you get on. I have been too busy to pursue the matter but I need to do so.

It seems unreasonable doesn't it.

How are you disputing it may I ask. emailing uber is a waste of time.

D