LONDON NEW FOREST UNFAIR TRAVEL Rip-offs at airports exposed

Rain? It must be lolly-days

NO sooner do the schools break up for summer than the heavens open.

The first weekend of the holidays were a washout, with torrential downpours across the UK yesterday. But it did not stop some hardy souls braving the beaches in wet-weather gear. It doesn’t look any drier today, with more heavy rain forecast.

Tomorrow should be a bit brighter, but the week ahead looks unsettled with not much sunshine.

There’s plenty of chance for a drip to the seaside then... HOLIDAYMAKERS jetting abroad face a bill of up to £389 even before they board the plane. month is £165 – but £74 if you booked ahead. If you book at Birmingham, a week’s long-stay parking costs up to £107. Without booking, you could be charged as much as £288 for the week. It costs a non-refundable £1 to hire a baggage trol- ley at Birmingham and Manchester. A standard bottle from an airport vending machine is £2 while a hot drink and a sandwich cost up to £8.

Airports charge up to £5 to jump to the front of a security queue. Gatwick charges £10 to avoid passport control queues. Birmingham was named the dearest airport, including Ryanair’s check- in baggage fees, with a total bill of £389.

Manchester was next at £381, followed by Gatwick at £302.

All but five of Britain’s 30 airports charge to drop off loved ones, while more than a third charge for clear plastic bags to carry liquids through security.

Stansted and Luton have the highest drop off fee, at £3 for 10 minutes.

The Airport Operators Association said: “Non-aeronautical income allows airports to keep charges to airlines low, benefiting travellers through lower air fares and increased connectivity.

“It also supports the record investments airports are making in improved facilities and infrastructure.”