Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
Airport stealth tax rant......
Birmingham airport (but all the robbing are the same ).
Following all the security hoo-ha a few years back, Brum airport initially closed it's drop-off facility outside the terminals. This then re-opened', with barriers "for security" with a charge of £1 for 20 minutes.
Imagine how much they rake in daily, 24 hours a day........
That was then reduced to £1 for 15 minutes and finally £1 for 10 minutes.
It then closed for 'refurbishment' and you were directed to the closest multi-storey car-park that had no actual drop-off area, no signage, no help and majority of people found themselves 'stung' for £4.90 flat-fee for 1 hour........
Whilst closed for refurbishment what looked suspiciously like a drop off zone was built around 500 yards away.
So lo and behold it is indeed the free drop-off zone (yes, I know it's only 500 yards away) and the original drop-off zone is now the "premium drop-off zone" and costs £2 for 10 minutes.
As per my first line; robbing
25th Aug 2017 10:59 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Liverpool Airport is the same. They even have a camera car now to stop people chucking people out on the main road on the approach to the Airport.
Airports in general seem to be 'stressy' and expensive places to be these days. Shame.D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
25th Aug 2017 11:06 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9402
Same with Bristol, used to be free in front, then a specific car-park built at the side, but free for the 1st 10 mins, but with barriers
Now there's no free time at all!
So you have to drive around, wait for who you're collecting to call you, then drive in pay and hope you can get out in 10 mins and only have to pay £1
Duration
Up to 10 mins = £1.00
10 - 20 mins = £3.00
20 - 40 mins = £5.00
40 - 60 mins = £20.00
1 hr - 24 hrs = £50.00
Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
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- Gone but not forgotten:
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MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
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1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
^ which is why there are always cars parked up in the lay-bys on the A38, with drivers in, waiting for a call. Last week, was held up briefly by a car stopping on the zigzags by one of the ped. crossings from the terminal to the short-term parking to uplift passengers and luggage to save £1. As it was right in front of the "no waiting-police surveillance " sign, I expect that'll be £60 fine & three points in the post instead. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
I picked the wife up from East Midlands a few weeks ago, I got there just when the plane was due to land and parked in the short stay (max time 30mins). The plane landed half an hour late and it took a further 45 minutes to get them in to the arrivals lounge.
Paid for parking on the way out, cost £3 for well over an hour. Very surprised in a nice way!1972 Range Rover Classic 2 door V8
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25th Aug 2017 11:44 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23370
I massively resent these charges. So I was pleasantly surprised that Gatwick allows you up to 2 hours free parking when picking up/dropping off. Yes it's a bit of a pain having to park in the long stay car park and use the shuttle bus, but I was happy to do that.
At Bristol, I wait about 10 minutes away and whoever I'm collecting phones me when they're through passport control. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
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25th Aug 2017 11:47 am
MarkOne
Member Since: 23 Jul 2011
Location: County Antrim
Posts: 3345
The both roads that lead to Belfast international airport has nothing but cars parked all over them waiting for people to come through arrivals. And in turn farmers have placed concrete blocks and various other items on verges to stop people (mostly 4x4 owners) parking.
Using the excuse of security to fleece and annoy the hell out of you at airports seems to be the norm.
25th Aug 2017 12:14 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
Compare that with what I saw in Fort Myers airport in Florida, a honking big "cellphone parking area" where peeps could happily wait on the call then drive to the pick up area. All free. Totally sensible but no option of screwing as much money out of peeps as possible, so we won't be seeing that here.
PS And even put a gas station there so you've got coffee, ice creams, drinks, and all other assorted scuby snack ready for your delectation.
Click image to enlarge
Last edited by DSL on 25th Aug 2017 12:26 pm. Edited 1 time in total
25th Aug 2017 12:20 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Manchester Drop off is free and right outside Terminals, Arrivals (T1) pick up you get fleeced if you have to wait.
Malaga had a good system IMO - ticketed and have to use car park, first 15 mins free - introduced this year and reduces the chaos outside the Terminals
Trolleys are a con in Mcr - £1 - non-refundable
25th Aug 2017 12:23 pm
Luapno
Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 871
Tip for Birmingham Airport. If you are dropping off head for Birmingham International Railway station. Plenty of drop off areas and then up the escalators or lifts to the concourse. Then get the monorail thingy across to the airport (free and runs about every 5 minutes) which drops you off right next to the departures entrance. No hassles at all When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you are stupid.
25th Aug 2017 12:26 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
Never had an issue with SWMBO picking me up at LRW using the drop off area. I just wait right at the start and be ready to dive in the car quickly. It helps if SWMBO stops but that's optional.
25th Aug 2017 12:27 pm
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
I have a little bolt hole at both Glasgow and Edinburgh but its a secret. 8)
25th Aug 2017 1:43 pm
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
Leeds Bradford same, £3 for drop off
Taxi drivers offer to let you out on the approach road to avoid the charge (and to be fair they do reduce their fee I'll add!)2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
25th Aug 2017 2:10 pm
nrich
Member Since: 04 Jan 2015
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 269
Parked at Leeds Bradford for 2 days £62 quid cheers.
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are the same 
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