r/ukpolitics • u/Desperate-Drawer-572 • 13h ago
Airport drop-off charges to be reviewed after sharp increase
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwp8gynk13rro156
u/PeterG92 13h ago
They should be banned as long as people do it within a reasonable time frame. It shouldn't cost to drop someone off.
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u/evenstevens280 13h ago edited 13h ago
Large train stations all have free drop off points and their throughput is probably about the same as a mid sized airport
Bristol Temple Meads sees about 11 million passengers a year, and Bristol Airport sees about 10.5
Bristol airport - in the middle of nowhere - charges £8.50 for the 10 minute drop off/pick up area
Temple Meads - admittedly not in the very centre of Bristol, but in a busy area regardless - charges £0 for the 20 minute drop off/pick up area
Private companies are just milking us unapologetically
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u/avalon68 12h ago
Their parking charges are steep too. Paid more for parking than my last flight out of there.
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u/Lost_And_NotFound Lib Dem (E: -3.38, L/A: -4.21) 9h ago
in the middle of nowhere
Yes hence why there’s magnitudes more drop offs despite the same number of passengers.
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u/ProjectLeeds 12h ago
You say private companies, plenty of airports are publicly owned and still do it....
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u/superioso 3h ago
plenty of airports
Most British airports are privately owned. Some, like Manchester, are still companies operating for a profit despite the local council owning part of the company.
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u/Minimum-Accident-821 8h ago
Bristol airport - in the middle of nowhere - charges £8.50 for the 10 minute drop off/pick up area
You can drop off/park for free for an hour in the pickup zone
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u/Any_Perspective_577 11h ago
Look at the price of a flight Vs a train and you see why there is a difference!
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 13h ago
I accidentally took the wrong turn going to the airport. I was going to long stay for pre booked parking. Drove through the drop off zone, I didn’t even stop. Got charged for it. That made me viscerally angry.
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u/Salty-Bid1597 13h ago
I had to stop for a few seconds just after leaving the multistorey parking at Bristol because i hadn't closed my boot properly. £120 fine, no appeals allowed because it's a red route. And after I had just paid god knows how much for two weeks parking (in which their shitty system didn't even recognise my number plate or reserve me a space).
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u/horace_bagpole 9h ago
It's probably not actually a proper red route because that would require the road to be actually restricted by the local authority. Most airport roads are regulated under airport bylaws instead, which also means that private parking companies can't assume the registered keeper was driving under the protection of freedoms act. That gives them very little power to make people pay their invoices, so they rely on muddying the waters and making them look officious as possible to con people into paying.
If you ever get that sort of ticket, always fight it because the odds of winning are very high.
Private parking companies are outright thieves and it infuriates me that they are allowed to operate in the way that they do. It's tantamount to highway robbery.
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u/hellcat_uk 8h ago
Well that answers it. The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in the red zone.
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u/commonlurker 13h ago
Just on the off-chance it was recent and you still have time, I did the exact same recently at… I can’t remember if it was Luton or Stansted.
I called them up, explained and gave them the pre-booked reference number I had and they cancelled the drop-off charge
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 12h ago
It was ages ago unfortunately. I probably should have pursued it at the time but with the stress of travel I just didn’t get round to it. Thanks though, if I ever make the mistake again I’ll follow your suggestion.
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u/theevildjinn 9h ago
I've done exactly the same - pre-booked the long stay, arrived for my flight in the early hours of the morning, got confused about which lane I needed to be in after exiting the main terminal roundabout, then had to pay to get out of the drop-off zone. So annoying.
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u/Open_Question5504 13h ago
I understand people parked up there waiting to pick people up could cause chaos - so I’d be a happy for there to be a 3 minute grace period - that’s enough time for someone to get out the car and say goodbye and get on there way.
Longer than that, then charge people - that would stop people using it as a pickup area.
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u/Orcnick Social Liberal 13h ago
It has to be while you are stopped though, 3 mins in a que shoudnt count.
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u/Open_Question5504 11h ago
The way it works right now at Glasgow is there is a number plate recognition camera right at the entrance to the drop off point.
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u/tomoldbury 12h ago
3 minutes is a bit short if you've got a disabled person - unloading wheelchair etc. 10 minutes is fine: even if you're picking someone up that's fine if they're ready.
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u/Open_Question5504 11h ago
Yeah, there can obviously be variances for people with disabilities but I think in general most people should be fine with 3 mins. Any longer and you’ll have the ones who try to chance doing a pickup there and that’s when it creates chaos.
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u/whatisuser 12h ago
Just don’t pay. They legally can’t charge you
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u/Thomasinarina Wes 'Shipshape' Streeting. 11h ago
This was true until about 15 years ago when the case went to court and the parking firm won. Don’t take this advice, whoever reads this, it’s very out of date
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u/horace_bagpole 9h ago
Nope, different rules apply on airport grounds. They don't know who was driving, and you don't have to tell them. They can't transfer liability to the registered keeper unlike with private parking invoices on other properties.
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u/whatisuser 10h ago
Literally did it last year. Nice try NCP’s burner account.
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u/Thomasinarina Wes 'Shipshape' Streeting. 10h ago
Why on earth would NCP have a burner account on Reddit?
So you didn’t ’just not pay’ did you? You contacted them and discussed the matter with them, and they decided not to proceed.
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u/whatisuser 9h ago
I didn’t say the process afterwards. I only said you didn’t need to pay. Which is true. I sent them a 1 sentence dispute.
> I am appealing as the registered keeper and I deny liability, because Gatwick Airport is land on which parking is subject to statutory control (airport byelaws) and so is not "relevant land" under paragraph 3(1)(c) of Schedule 4 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 ("any land on which the parking of vehicles is subject to statutory control"), which means you cannot transfer liability to me as keeper.
There was no discussion.
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 13h ago
It shouldn't, but I really don't see this as something that the state should be banning or regulating a set price to.
For example is the government going to price set my loaf from tesco or my theatre ticket or parking charges at the shopping center etc
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u/wedontneednoeduc 13h ago
Airports have a lack of competition
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 13h ago
Ok, but on that basis you would be for the government setting parking or rent prices at the shopping centre as most towns only have one. Most cities outside London only have one theatre, should the government set ticket prices? Should they set england ticket prices at Wembley? Google have a monopoly on search, should the government set the price of search ads?
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u/wedontneednoeduc 13h ago
Google has been subject to complaints. Ticketed events are not a reasonable comparison to transport. Shopping centres compete with the internet or another one up the road.
You do realise competition investigations are standard stuff.
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 12h ago
Let's go one at a time
- the government has not tried to set prices for Google search
- ticketed events are entirely comparable. They are far more of a monopoly as there is no viable substitute. We don't have the government set prices
- shopping centres aren't comparable supposedly because another city has them and you can use an alternative channel. Well airports are in other cities and you can use alternative transport options.
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u/beste-chetwynde 12h ago
None of those are captive markets. Flying from an airport is.
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 12h ago
Explain to me how it's a captive market? Certainly how it is moreso than lots of other services and products the government doesn't price set on.
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u/beste-chetwynde 5h ago
Can you just Google it or use Gemini and let me know what it comes up with. You’re only cheating yourself by not looking it up
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u/Bakunin1876 12h ago
The government heavily subsidises theatre, and more widely are also legislating to ban ticket resale at above face value
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 12h ago
Grant funding is different from price setting or banning.
So is banning touting quite a different things
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u/Someone4350 11h ago
shopping centre as most towns only have one.
There’s a whole internet as an option to shopping centres… And government or local authorities regulate on similar grounds how long you can park in a high street.
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 13h ago
It doesn’t take much consideration to realise why it might need legislation. Unlike your local Tesco you don’t have options when picking someone up from the airport. There is no competition, it’s basically a monopoly. And monopolies need regulation.
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u/Prestigious_Risk7610 13h ago
It's no more of a monopoly than theatres have, but we don't state control theatre tickets. Airports aren't even a monopoly - if you live in Carlisle you'd look at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester and liverpool
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 12h ago
If your wife lands at Manchester, you cannot pick her up at Glasgow.
If your son lands at Heathrow, you cannot pick him up at Gatwick.-3
u/Prestigious_Risk7610 12h ago
Come on... that's just dumb and obtuse. You choose where to fly from based on the price and service. If your wife has chosen Manchester that's her choice.
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 11h ago
I will assume, based on the fact that you have resorted to words such as "Dumb" and "Obtuse" that you have now understood my point and the debate is at a close.
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u/CyclopsRock 12h ago
Some airlines won't even let you get on the plane without paying for a ticket.
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u/7952 12h ago
An airport like Heathrow has loads of options and competition. The person could take the tube, crossrail, Heathrow Express, various bus and coach services. There is even free 30 min parking via a shuttle bus. And the area is notoriously congested already without encouraging people to drive even more.
There is more of a case with airports with poor transport options. And I don't think they should be able to charge a ridiculous amount. Although, price should be compared to other options (like Heathrow express).
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u/Someone4350 11h ago
This greedy practice is putting citizens at risk as many get dropped off and walk in areas clearly not made for walking along moving traffic.
The cause is very clear, and the government can mandate that up to 10 minutes it is free in the interest of public safety. We get taxed to the hilt for shit less dangerous than this too.
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u/CyclopsRock 12h ago
I agree. This is simply not a problem requiring a legislative solution. It's like complaining that Netflix is too expensive so the government needs to intervene.
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u/wedontneednoeduc 12h ago
No it isn't because airports are national infrastructure where competition either doesn't exist or has serious friction meaning in effect it is very limited.
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 12h ago
It’s not the same. I can cancel Netflix. If my family member is arriving from abroad I can’t refuse to pick them up.
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u/CyclopsRock 12h ago
Would you feel better if the cost was moved onto their ticket?
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u/FreshPrinceOfH 12h ago
That depends. What exactly am I paying for when I am charged to use the drop off/pick up areas
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u/CyclopsRock 12h ago
I dunno. What does a "Service Fee” or "Admin Fee" or "Tourism Tax" get you? It doesn't matter - it's part of the cost of the thing, regardless of how it's chopped up and labelled.
If the problem here is that it's awkward to ask your family member to give you the £8 (or whatever) when you pick them up then, again, I don't think that's a problem that requires the state's intervention.
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u/VOOLUL 11h ago
It doesn't cost to drop people off. Every airport has free drop off. Do you really think it's feasible to have free drop off for thousands of people each hour, right outside the front door?
My local train station has free drop off area and it's utter carnage. No one understands the 20 minute drop off time applies to the big multistorey carpark too. The same as you lot don't understand free airport drop offs.
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u/RoyaleWCheese_OK 13h ago
Today i learned people found yet another way to extract cash out of taxpayers pockets. This and paying for hospital parking should be outlawed.
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u/Early_Enthusiasm_787 13h ago
I’m ok with a small fee but now it’s extortion for airports. No issue with hospital parking really. Free for blue badge and a lot cheaper for staff.
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u/Tammer_Stern 12h ago
Edinburgh airport has the 2nd highest airport drop off fees in the uk.
No charges to park at hospital these days though.
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u/EarFlapHat 12h ago
Need it for both for longer stays to make sure people who need it can get it. Charging to pickup and drop off is taking the piss. People aren't coming out by the stadium-full.
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u/Bartowskiii 4h ago
Problem is with this is all the d heads who will use it as free parking to go around town and take spots from people who need it. Guarantee-
It is shit though, and it should be free for any workers
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u/superioso 3h ago
Airports in the UK are private companies, they're not owned by the government.
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u/partywithanf 2h ago
Not all. Prestwick is publicly owned, for example.
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u/superioso 1h ago
Prestwick is still owned by a private company, just one that's owned by the government. It is however still tiny compared to others, and seems like it's only owned by the government because otherwise it was going to collapse.
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u/beste-chetwynde 12h ago
I found another way myself today. If you Google any insurers name and then “claim line” the first link is always a rent extracting claims middleman and not your insurer
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u/buythedip0000 13h ago
We pay through the roof for everything in this country, from fuel tax to every other fucking tax. Truly should become more French and start striking
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u/Scantcobra Genuinely unsure 13h ago
My two pence for pick-up, not drop off; I made the stupid mistake of trying to be a good brother and offered to get my disabled sister from Manchester airport. Ended up paying £6.60 to stressfully navigate her to my T2 car spot with only 15 minutes (not as long as you think in the moment) - managed to leave with less than two minutes to spare. An crazy small amount of time for the price paid, especially as it would have been a £60 fine if I took a little longer getting her in the car.
For my good deed, my details were hacked in the Manchester Airport breach back in Sept.
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u/MakesALovelyBrew 13h ago
Manchester pick up or drop off is just horrific even before having to pay for it. Stressful place.
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u/newngg 2015 Burnham-stan 12h ago
Manchester Airport is horrific full stop. How they managed to spend billions on it and make it worse is beyond comprehension
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u/XenorVernix 11h ago
I don't know how long you have been using Manchester Airport but the experience for me has improved massively in recent years.
I used to label it the worst airport in the world (that I have been through) for airport security but these days it's on par with the best.
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u/MakesALovelyBrew 11h ago
T2 is much nicer now - when you're inside - but the parking for all terminals is just awful. even the route through the site is messy
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u/3ader 12h ago
If you have a disabled card you should get a discount.
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u/Scantcobra Genuinely unsure 12h ago
She had broken her ankle while on holiday, rather than it being a terminal issue, so I don't think I would have applied?
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u/Solid-Resource4985 7h ago
You wouldn't get the automatic discount with a blue badge, however they might still be able to help. At Luton you can get "booked assistance" where you contact the airline and they contact the airport. Assuming most airports have something similar.
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u/PrinzRagoczy 13h ago
I can understand airports wanting to ration the limited space at the front doors, but they should only be allowed to charge if there are reasonable alternatives, such as free space elsewhere or really good public transport
Newcastle airport used to have a carpark with free drop-offs about 5 minutes walk away. That seems reasonable to me, you can be dropped off right outside and pay for the privilege, or walk a short distance
Sadly they started charging there as well a couple of years ago, was a good hack
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u/tomoldbury 13h ago
Most airports do offer free drop off zones but you have to take a bus from somewhere like a mid-stay or long-stay car park. This is the case for Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted for instance. The buses are usually free and run by the airport.
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u/PrinzRagoczy 12h ago
Yep, no problem with that, as long as you can expect to get from the car to the entrance in 15 minutes or less
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u/XenorVernix 11h ago
It was January this year that they started charging and they've already increased it. Pure profiteering.
As if the flight prices from there aren't bad enough already compared to Leeds and Manchester.
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u/RoboLoftie 13h ago
It's worth noting, IIRC Stansted have free drop offs/pick ups from medium stay via a bus. However I only found this out from someone who uses the airport frequently as I don't recall seeing anything about it when I looked.
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u/Salty-Bid1597 13h ago
They all do. It's only drop offs right at the terminal doors that are charged. Not that this makes it better.
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u/Informal_Jacket2215 12h ago
I do frequent runs at Stansted. Sometimes those buses are packed and you can’t even get back within an hour. Guess you can drop off whoever is flying onto the bus but I’d rather take them right to the door
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u/liquidio 12h ago
I’m a bit late to this party, but I think anyone who wants to comment on this has to understand how airport regulation works.
Heathrow, like many other large airports in the UK, is regulated under a ‘single till’ system. That crudely means that all of Heathrow’s commercial income is added up, and the airport company is only allowed to keep the amount that represents a fair return on assets for the operator, in the eyes of the regulator.
So the cash from this does not necessarily go directly into the airport’s pockets. Any ‘surplus’ profit actually goes towards reducing charges to airlines. Over time, Heathrow is not likely to benefit much from these charges unless there is a significant shortfall in another area of its business.
(There are complexities in some of the detail around things like forecast vs actual revenue which I won’t get into).
When this charge was brought in, during Covid, the aviation sector was suffering a lot. So in some respects I understand this was created to help the corporates as part of an agreed move to shift the cost of airport facilities from airline to passenger.
At the same time, I understand there were plans to enforce progressively higher environmental regulation - and potential penalties - on Heathrow to reduce congestion and air pollution. So the airport had been lobbying to have a congestion charge type mechanism brought in to help it avoid government pressure on this. We got this drop-off fee scheme and then ULEZ extension as part of Khan’s ‘clean air’ strategy.
Now I’m not an expert on this specific regulatory implementation, so I can’t talk about it with complete authority.
But the key point here is that the simple view ‘the airport is just profiteering’ isn’t really reflective of the full picture. It’s quite possible that an airport that is operating as per regulatory forecasts gets no material revenue benefit from this.
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u/Salty_Salamander2555 11h ago
This is only true for Heathrow though right? I think all other airports are not run on this regulated tariff model
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u/liquidio 11h ago
Yes Heathrow.
Gatwick is regulated differently and more loosely on the financial returns side, but there is a mechanism that does regulate overall profitability over time. But they can profit in the short term.
The smaller airports I think can more or less do what they want on the commercial side.
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u/Serious-Comment5458 12h ago
It never usually is reflective of the full picture. Thanks for taking the time to share that, very insightful!
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u/Gloomy-Storm-9183 10h ago
Very insightful. I've generally been of the view that in principle I don't agree with the charges, but if there is a free option involving a slightly longer walk, I can accept that. The problem though is now it seems airports (take Newcastle) have come to a point where they've removed or made the logistics of the free option so impractical (e.g. Newcastle - there's a free shuttle from Callerton Parkway, the next metro stop from airport, yet it's every 30 mins. Why they couldn't agree to allow passengers free travel on the metro which runs every 12-15 is bonkers).
Air fares haven't really increased that much over the years so the money has to come from somewhere, but it's now at a point where often the cost of logistics to/from the airport matches or exceeds the flight price, which I think is too far.
If government are able to regulate drop off fees, where else is the money going to come from? Higher air fares? More charges for other airport related facilities? That having said I fundamentally disagree with the private ownership models of our airports and other key infrastructure as ultimately, regulated or not, profit remains the key target.
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u/Chippiewall 9h ago
The environmental aspect will be a very big part of it for Heathrow.
A lot of their third runway and terminal expansion plans are predicated on the basis that they don't materially increase the number of car journeys. If they increased the traffic demand on the M25 by 50% it'd never be allowed.
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u/hmsmanchester 11h ago
In general, there are costs associated with running an airport, improving security etc, and as you mention this is split between the fees airlines pay to use the airport, and retail revenues. Retail includes drop-off and parking charges.
At Heathrow (and undoubtedly many other locations) airlines have persuaded the regulators that they can't increase the fees much, so there's a pressure to raise drop-off charges instead.
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u/Salty-Bid1597 13h ago
Any sane government would have stopped this long ago. It's only airports' special dispensation via government awarded TROs that make it possible. An abuse of power if ever I saw one.
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u/maxmarioxx_ 13h ago
Manchester Airport's moving walkways have been broken for years if not decades. Maybe charging for parking would be justified but it seems all the money gets syphoned out.
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u/CharterAnAccountant 12h ago
Note, if you ever get a fine for forgetting to pay the drop off fee, appeal with the below. There is no need to name the keeper and I have got our of two fines this way.
"The land is subject to statutory control by virtue of airport byelaws and is therefore excluded from the definition of "relevant land" for the purposes of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, pursuant to paragraph 3(1)(c).
As the location is not relevant land, the provisions of Schedule 4 do not apply and there is no lawful basis upon which liability can be transferred from the driver to the registered keeper."
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u/mistakenhat 12h ago
Just challenge every time when you get a fine, there are scripts online. Legally they are not enforceable.
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u/navinjohnsonn 12h ago
So many major airports around the world don’t charge, but in the UK you’re up to £10 for 15 minutes. Utter shambles.
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u/Salaried_Zebra Nothing to look forward to please, we're British 1h ago
This is what happens when you let businesses own your critical infrastructure.
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u/Ubiquitous1984 11h ago
Can anyone find a link to an actual press release for this or something on gov.uk with more detail?
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u/Mannginger None of the above. 1.0,-1.03 11h ago
About chuffing time. Absolute piss take these charges
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u/Sugar_Rox 4h ago
I sent a grumpy email to Manchester after having a right nightmare trying to pick up my partner. We always use the free drop off/shuttle which is awesome, but it doesn't return passengers there - to the airport only. Manchester has barriers everywhere - you make a wrong turn- tough! My email was to moan about the fact that there is absolutely no option for a free pick up, not shuttled or anything. I don't mind it being "off-site", I'd probably prefer it to reduce stress. But it's offensive that it's one big trap of poor signage and fee zones with no actual free option. Pick up shouldn't cost £6 when you drive in, and immediately locate your passenger and leave!
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u/kingceegee 1h ago
I hate that you can't pay on the day and they only give you a 24 hour window to pay!
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u/PreparationBig7130 13h ago
This is going to be controversial. Airports are private businesses. They can charge what they like for their services, market forces will determine if people continue to use their services. All airports offer free drop off zones, usually in the long stay with a free bus transfer. You’re paying for the convenience of being dropped at the door.
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u/Winston_Carbuncle 13h ago
Private but also critical national infrastructure. There's a middle ground.
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u/LongsandsBeach 13h ago
Many airports aren’t private. They’re either wholly or partly owned by local authorities.
That’s the case for Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands, Luton and more.
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u/horace_bagpole 13h ago
All airports offer free drop off zones, usually in the long stay with a free bus transfer.
Nope, not all do. I had to visit one recently where the options were pay £8 for a 10 minute drop off, or park and pay either £12 for half an hour or £25 for 10 mins (!) in a closer car park. Also, 1 second over the 10 minutes and you get an invoice for £100 from a parasitic private parking company who make unreasonable behaviour their standard of operation. Fortunately the protection of freedoms act doesn't apply to airports and you can usually tell them to get stuffed without much consequence.
Also, airports might be private businesses, but like many other companies providing a public service it's not quite so simple as using someone else. Competition does not really apply in the same way as it does when shopping for groceries for example. You often do not have that much choice which airport you use, either because the destination you need isn't served from there or for practical reasons getting to/from the airport.
It's perfectly reasonable for such companies to be regulated to stop abusive behaviour. This drop off charge nonsense is purely a method to extract money from people for no benefit to them.
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u/HopefulGuy123 10h ago
It's to encourage the use of public transport of which the majority of UK airports have decent services.
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u/TapMinute9409 10h ago
My nearest, Bristol is terrible
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u/jimmygwabchab 🇪🇺 10h ago
The A1 isn’t terrible, what pisses me off is the national express if you need to go to Cardiff, if your flight is delayed and you miss your bus there’s no leeway
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u/Hopeful_Salad_7464 9h ago
And also costs a fortune when you're sat with all the other traffic on the A38
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u/HopefulGuy123 10h ago
The service from Temple Meads leaves every 8mins during peak times.
https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/to-and-from-the-airport/by-bus-and-coach/
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u/TapMinute9409 10h ago
Have you ever done the journey? It’s like an hour.
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u/HopefulGuy123 10h ago
Yes. I used to live near Bristol. So the drop off fee is a convenience fee for congesting the A38 etc.
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u/Salaried_Zebra Nothing to look forward to please, we're British 1h ago
No it isn't. It's because private companies own the airports and enjoy that extra revenue stream.
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