Outcry over sky-high parking fees just for a drop-off at airport
I’ve not seen such chaos, so stressful, and at gone midnight, not peak time
MOTHER-OF-ONE Hayley Joplin had to fork out £6.50 to pick up her friend’s 17-year-old daughter at half-past midnight on Tuesday.
She describes the whole experience at Manchester Airport as “ludicrous”.
The 50-year-old IT worker from Hale, Cheshire, just a few miles away, said: “Our friend’s daughter was flying alone for the first time and had already been delayed two hours so we said we’d pick her up.
“She said she’d get a cab, but we said, ‘No, we’ll come and get you. It’s no hassle.’ Famous last words! We live around the corner and pick people up at DRIVERS blasted “greedy” UK airports yesterday for charging them even when they do not get out of their vehicles while dropping off people catching flights.
Known as Kiss and Fly Zones, the areas where family members or taxi drivers take only seconds to drop-off or pick up holidaymakers used to be free.
But this month Manchester Airport became the latest to introduce stinging charges.
Now a Daily Express investigation found nearly all major airports charge.
Yesterday passengers branded the charges “cynical and greedy” and demanded that the extortionate tariffs be axed.
Of major airports only Gatwick, Heathrow and Cardiff do not have charges in place.
Manchester Airport saw chaos last week when angry drivers became stuck in Kiss and Fly lanes as queues built up, with charges increasing every minute. The airport bills £3 for five minutes or £4 for 10 minutes.
Luton Airport charges drivers £3 for 10 minutes but this rises by £1 per minute after that, the equivalent of £53 an hour.
Eye-watering
the airport about half a dozen times a year.
“We had to queue for a car park that was rammed. People were struggling to find spaces.
“We found one and got our ticket. We were no more than 10 minutes.
“But by the time we got back to the car, we were blocked in because people were just stopping in the driving sections, picking people up.
“There were normal cars, Ubers, taxis… it was chaos.
“We eventually queued for a machine to pay our fee but there was only one pay machine has
Birmingham Airport, charges £2 for 10 minutes in its Premium Set Down spots by the terminal.
Stansted charges £3.50 or £25 for 15 minutes in Down lane.
Express drop-off at Liverpool Airport costs £3 for 20 minutes while East Midlands Airport charges £2 for 10 minutes for Rapid Drop Off and £1 per minute thereafter.
Drivers dropping passengers off at Glasgow Airport have to pay £2 for up to 10 minutes.
Paul Brent, chairman of the National Taxi Association, fumed: “The whole thing is a cash cow. It’s all about money-making.
“I’ve had many taxi drivers saying they just won’t do airport runs because of the extra charges.
“Ultimately it will be the customer who pays the charge, meaning it will probably cost more getting from your home to the airport than a cheap flight to Spain.”
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “The eye-watering drop-off and pick-up costs at some airports are viewed by drivers as another way of making money out of them.
“Many are pulling up for less than five minutes and often don’t even get out of the car for 10 minutes its Express Set and about 10 people waiting. It was taking about five minutes for every person.
“The whole thing was a traffic jam. There were drivers trying to come in, people trying to pay, some parked up.
“I’ve never seen such chaos and it was half-past midnight – not a peak time.
“It was so stressful, the worst experience I’ve ever had there and there were people there with young children.
“It’s just a money earner.” themselves.” Alam Zeb, manager of Oldham taxi firm Startax, said Manchester Airport runs are a major part of heir service.
He said: “If someone is parking there for half an hour I can understand why – but for literally a few minutes it’s too much.
“We aren’t happy doing those runs with these extra charges; it’s just not going to be worth it.”
The Airport Operators Association, who represent UK airports, said: “Airports do a good job of providing information on their different parking options.
“As a result, travellers have a high level of awareness of the different ways they can choose to get to the airport, from public transport to travelling by car.”
While all the regional airports have a “free” option, it is usually a designated car park some distance away from the terminal, involving a five or 10-minute walk or even a bus ride.
But in Cardiff there is still a free drop off zone directly outside the terminal for the first 10 minutes. Heathrow said: “There are drop-off points outside all the terminals and it is free of charge.” And Gatwick Airport said it had marshals to ensure drivers did not delay too long at their drop off points but added: “Unlike many airports Gatwick does not charge.”
Passenger Chris Barrow, 64, of Hale, Cheshire, was so angered by Manchester’s charges and queues he posted a video.
He explained how the barriers letting cars in and out were moving too slowly, causing long queues on either side of the car park.
Describing the scene he said: “It is in utter chaos and complete pandemonium.” He told airport bosses: “You are just money grabbers. You have no concern about passengers.”
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “As with any new scheme there is always a transition period while it beds in.”
Chief operating officer Tricia Williams added: “The express drop-off charge is similar to those introduced at most UK airports in recent years.”