MSE News: Airports now charging up to £4.50 for a 10-min drop-off - how to beat 'kiss and fly' fees

MSE_Jenny
MSE_Jenny Posts: 1,312 MSE Staff
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edited 17 July 2018 at 5:14PM in Flights, currency & car hire
More than half of the UK's major international airports now charge you if you spend 10 minutes dropping a loved one off outside the terminal building...
Read the full story:
'Airports now charging up to £4.50 to drop off'
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  • Crabman
    Crabman Posts: 9,943 Forumite
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    Birmingham Airport inexplicably stopped offering free time at their long stay 5 car park which had ample capacity. They claim there is a free drop off car park but this is far too small.

    The funniest thing about Birmingham Airport is the way they issue fake 'fines' for stopping on the red routes, yet their camera enforcement vehicle parks on those very same routes to 'enforce' the 'rules'. By the way, MSE's Parking tickets sub-board can help if anyone receives one of the fake fines.

    Wouldn't it be helpful if comparison sites such as skyscanner were to list parking charges for each departure airport when displaying flight results? Might make people think before blindly booking at rip-off airports.
  • grannajan
    grannajan Posts: 5 Forumite
    Be very careful when taking advantage of the free 5 minutes offered at Southend. We were recently met late in the evening, and were well within the 5 minute period when we tried to exit the car park. Unfortunately somebody was having problems trying to leave, which caused a queue of cars all waiting to get through the barrier. Consequently we went 1 minute over the time limit, and had to pay a whopping £4.50 ! We use this airport a lot and think it’s great - but come on Southend, this just isn’t enough time. If it’s not solely a money making exercise, could we have 10 minutes free like it used to be.
  • minislim
    minislim Posts: 357 Forumite
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    since the introduction of the drop off charges at Manchester airport there has been gridlock around the airport.
    i haven't been since it started but apparently the area for free dropping of is tiny. especially when you compare it to the tree terminal drop off area's it replaced.
    again common sense hasn't been applied. its all about money making.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,458 Forumite
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    "The Express Set Down charge is designed to help manage congestion in a capacity restricted area and limit the environmental impact of drop-off and pick-up journeys by private vehicles."

    My OH uses Stansted roughly every six weeks. It takes less than an hour to drive there, and the return car journey costs about £7 in petrol, plus £3.50 drop off fee.

    The train takes almost two hours one way, costs £36, and is unreliable.
  • Paul201
    Paul201 Posts: 6 Forumite
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    At Bournemouth they have constructed the approach road to deny even pedestrians. A sign says "For your own safety no pedestrian access". Cynical manipulation. When they built the access road they wanted to make it dangerous for pedestrians so that locals could not just walk there. Outside the airport there is a pavement with a cycle path. So much for following government advice about encouraging green ways of getting to transport hubs.
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,550 Forumite
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    grannajan wrote: »
    Be very careful when taking advantage of the free 5 minutes offered at Southend. We were recently met late in the evening, and were well within the 5 minute period when we tried to exit the car park. Unfortunately somebody was having problems trying to leave, which caused a queue of cars all waiting to get through the barrier. Consequently we went 1 minute over the time limit, and had to pay a whopping £4.50 !

    A similar thing happened to me although not at an airport. I pressed the button to speak to the operator, advised them of the circumstances and added that I had no intention of paying to open the barrier or moving my car until the barrier opened.

    It opened.
  • boatman
    boatman Posts: 4,699 Forumite
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    edited 18 July 2018 at 10:27AM
    Paul201 wrote: »
    At Bournemouth they have constructed the approach road to deny even pedestrians. A sign says "For your own safety no pedestrian access". Cynical manipulation. When they built the access road they wanted to make it dangerous for pedestrians so that locals could not just walk there. Outside the airport there is a pavement with a cycle path. So much for following government advice about encouraging green ways of getting to transport hubs.
    Exactly, I can't believe there isn't a single policy in the UK that stops them from blocking pedestrian access. To actual cover the pavement to stop people walking is unbelievable. It makes a complete mockery of the governments green policy if private land owners of transport hubs can do this, if they offer transport to the public then they should be forced to allow the public to walk there if they choose. Its crazy that you 'have' to get a taxi, car or bus to the airport.
    If they added a small amount the landing fees people wouldn't notice, and I think it would be more cost effective.
  • aj23_2
    aj23_2 Posts: 1,155 Forumite
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    Stansted Airport, you can either drive up onto the terminal ramp and pay, or you can drop people off in the Free Set Down area at the entrance of long stay parking which is a 2 minute bus ride away.

    People just seem willing to throw away money.
  • KTF
    KTF Posts: 4,820 Forumite
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    At Southampton, just drop people off at Parkway Station which is a few minutes walk to the terminal.


    Its a lot cheaper to get a taxi to/from Parkway as well rather than using the on-airport operator.
  • boatman
    boatman Posts: 4,699 Forumite
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    edited 18 July 2018 at 11:59AM
    aj23 wrote: »
    Stansted Airport, you can either drive up onto the terminal ramp and pay, or you can drop people off in the Free Set Down area at the entrance of long stay parking which is a 2 minute bus ride away.

    People just seem willing to throw away money.
    Sadly there is no option like that at Bournemouth.


    They have a similar system at Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow as well as Stansted, i guess there are others that use a similar system.
    https://www.london-luton.co.uk/to-and-from-lla/want-to-drop-off-for-free


    First 2 hours are free:

    https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/heathrow-parking/heathrow-long-stay-parking


    https://www.gatwickparking.com/our-car-parks/passenger-collection/
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