Auto Club Says British Airport Parking is Too High

Joe Cortez August 12, 2016

British flyers charged nearly $65 for dropping off passengers at airports.

The Royal Auto Club (RAC) says parking at British airports is too high and wants to see some resolution to the situation. The Independent reports the group is decrying expensive parking rates at many of Britain’s airports.

According to their data, most airports across the United Kingdom charge a minimum fee for dropping passengers. However, a long stay at some of the biggest could result in fees that cost the same as flying on a low-cost carrier within Europe. At London Stansted Airport (STN), the minimum fee to drop off a passenger is just under $4, with a ten-minute time limit. Those who stay past their allotted time are charged nearly $65 in parking fees.

Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, London Luton Airport (LTN) charges $1.30 per minute for every minute past ten minutes. Parking at Edinburgh Airport (ETI) is around $5 per every 15 minutes.

Picking up passengers at British airports can be equally pricy. Those picking up passengers arriving at LTN can pay up to $9 for 40 minutes of parking, while those who want to pick up passengers at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) can expect to pay over $4 for 30 minutes of parking.

“While it is true that many airports provide a range of different parking options for drivers depending on how long they expect to stay, motorists need to be aware of the sky-high charges levied by some for parking close to the terminal,” Pete Williams, head of external affairs for the RAC, told The Independent. “Drivers are running the risk of incurring some hefty charges if they drive to a pick-up zone to collect somebody whose flight is delayed, or who has to wait a long time at baggage reclaim.”

Many of the airports deny that the facts presented by the RAC are fully accurate. A spokesperson for ETI told The Independent that they were one of six British airports to offer a free pickup and drop-off zone, while officials at LTN said they offer up to two hours of free parking at the long-stay parking.

[Photo: Telegraph.co.uk]