Originally Posted by
Jenbel
So what you are saying is that this could be quite a good way of incentivising people to take public transport over driving - wouldn't that be the aim of it? So your argument against it is that it would work?
The other area it would likely have a massive effect on would be the limo services offered by some airlines.
I'm as guilty as driving when there are other options available as the next person. And precisely because of that behavioural pattern, we have to start looking at other ways to get people out of cars...
I live close to Brum and sometimes I get dropped off at LHR, but of course I could go by train and then coach (or four hours on the coach)...when they have a direct train from New Street to Heathrow, I will stop flying MAN-LHR or being dropped off, but until then, I will be dropped off. It's not fair to penalise passengers like that. I know we need to reduce car use, but not at an airport -it's typical of Ferovial trying to stop BAA's loss making. They don't care about the environment, instead, they know people like to be dropped off/picked up at the airport. The local transport isn't great, I would argue -Stansted is much easier to access IMHO -even Gatwick is easier than Heathrow!
If I lived locally, I might consider doing it if it was direct or one easy change, but it's never that simple -especially not with luggage. I don't have a choice most of the time to fly from LHR directly to say HKG, JFK, LAX, GRU, NRT, etc. Let alone with a proper airline.
People pay enough tax on their cars already.
Alternatively, I could fly with Lufthansa from BHX via FRA -that way the German economy benefits.