People in the South West are looking forward to a getaway abroad in time for the Easter holidays.
But, if the current staffing issues at Bristol Airport and cancellations to flights for certain airlines weren't enough to cause a bit of bother, one woman's brief experience at the airport cost her a hefty £100 fine, despite her flight costing her just £20.
Somerset Live reporter Nancy Connolly has told of her recent experience travelling from Bristol Airport for a much-needed and long-awaited trip to her hometown of Dublin. You can read her story below.
Read more: Bristol Airport LIVE: easyJet cancels planes as Easter holiday rush begins - updates
Nancy writes...
If you are travelling to some gorgeous destination for the Easter holidays be warned the parking charges at Bristol Airport have got real since the pandemic and there are serious fines being dished out.
If like me it has been a while since you travelled, things have got really serious at the airport car parks, there are cameras everywhere and hefty fines if you stop your car. An outside company called Vehicle Control Services are operating the car parks and they mean business.
Those days when you could just pull up outside and drop someone off at what was one of the friendliest little airports in the country have well and truly gone. I even remember a time when a nice parking man looked after my car at the front door while I helped my elderly mother into the terminal.
I was travelling to my hometown Dublin for a long-awaited family get together since my mum died during the Covid-19 lockdown, it was the first time we could have a celebration and family meal.
My friend kindly offered to drop me to the airport around 11am on Saturday, March 19, because my flight was at lunchtime. We were in my car so I drove to the airport from my home in Bath.
When we got to the entrance I stopped to hand over the driving to my friend, I got out of the car briefly so she could take over and that's when the cameras spotted me. (And if I'm being honest I was trying to avoid the fee for just dropping off, we are all human.)
Wrong move. I was fined £100 right there, what's worse is that my flight was only £20.
If it has been a while since you travelled just be warned, there are signs everywhere but you might be rushing or think it is alright to just stop briefly like before. Car park charges have also increased and now it is a whopping £5 just to drop someone off in the drop off area even if you are only there for a few minutes.
And the charges in the short and long terms car parks have also gone up. The new charges have been there for some time, but many people have not travelled for a long time and may not be aware.
My fine was for 'stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited'. Couldn't be more clear.
I get it, I was wrong to stop where I did, or to stop at all, and there are signs. It is just good to be forewarned as the charges are very heavy.
We appreciate the airport needs to make money after the pandemic which was devastating to its business, I just want to warn people who may not have travelled in a while there are big changes afoot in the friendly little airport where it was always such a joy to begin your holiday.
So don't stop, even for a minute or two. You are on camera and they are watching you.
Have you had a similar experience at Bristol Airport? Or something else you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
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