Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Neil Lancefield

Holidaymakers parking at airports warned over ‘serious financial sting’

Holidaymakers are being charged up to four times more for airport parking if they pay on arrival rather than in advance, according to new research.

Consumer group Which? said its analysis of prices at 16 UK airport car parks revealed the “serious financial sting”.

It compared prices for a week’s stay in mid-August paid for on the day with those paid in advance four months earlier.

Book early wherever possible to lock in the best price
— Rory Boland, Which? Travel

The largest price difference was at Manchester airport, where paying on arrival was £406, compared with just £95 if booked in advance.

Other airports charging a significant premium for travellers who pay on the day include Heathrow (£583 compared with £190 in advance), Birmingham (£392 compared with £150 in advance) and Gatwick (£180 compared with £106 in advance).

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “When you’re planning a holiday, sorting out your airport parking can easily slip down your to-do list, but our research found leaving it to the last minute can come with a serious financial sting.

“Take the time to shop around and compare the options on offer – comparison sites can be a great starting point – and book early wherever possible to lock in the best price.

“It’s also worth comparing off-site and onsite options, as further away doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper.”

Mr Boland added that holidaymakers should consider “unconventional options” such as renting someone’s driveway or garage, although he acknowledged this “may not be for everyone” due to concerns about vehicle security.

RAC research published last month revealed that drop-off fees for drivers have increased at more than a third of major UK airports in the past year.

The biggest upswing in existing so-called kiss and fly charges – which are typically levied for dropping off someone as close to a terminal as possible – were at Southampton and Belfast International airports.

The former has raised its fee from £4 to £6, while the latter has hiked its price from £1 to £3.

Belfast City Airport previously allowed drivers to drop passengers near its terminal for free, but this now costs £3.

Many airports offer free options for dropping passengers off in mid or long-stay car parks connected to terminals by buses.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.