Manchester Airport have now introduced charges for picking up passengers (it was announced a while ago).
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6176279.stm
Hypothetically does anyone think picking up passengers in the drop off zone would cause any problems? Providing they were waiting at the kerb, so no hanging around in the car
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Another money making ploy by the thieving watsits at BAA.
I live locally to Gatwick and I always pick up passengers in the drop off zone there.
I've never never had a problem. I just get them to phone me when they are in the airport baggage collection and by the time I get there - 20 minutes or so later they are out and waiting.
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First of all, it?s not BAA (for once!) ? Manchester Airport is owned by a group of NW local authorities (Manchester City Council owns 55%). They also own Bournemouth, Eat Midlands and Humberside airports.
My first reaction when I heard this was anger and dismay! It?s not that I mind paying so much, just that the palaver of getting into the car park, finding a space, paying, and then getting out again is a right pain. I try to time picking people up so that I get there a bit late (I learned this trick off my FIL who will offer to pick us up and then quite cheerfully make us wait 30 mins!).
The arrangements at T1 (a surface car park right outside the terminal) do work pretty well, and the first 10 mins has been free. The problem with that is people drive to exit barrier after 15 mins (without paying) and then can?t get out! (Not sure what the airport does ? I assume they must have to let people through?). I suppose that charging everyone will at least prevent that from happening.
The airport operator has said they?re going to monitor the drop-off areas and I can certainly visualise scuffles breaking out with over officious attendants as people try to pick up (or be picked up) there. I?m sure the next thing will be penalty notices dropping through drivers doors.
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I had to pick my outlaws up from Bournemouth last week, went to the set down area as that is where I had dropped them off, and so where we agreed to meet - one of the HiViz brigade taps on the window, I was expecting a bit of a row, but the guy was as polite as could be, very apologetic, but said I would have to go to the collection point. He did tell me that the first 10 minutes were free, so just keep driving in and out if i didn't want to pay. I pointed out that the 10 minutes thing was not signed anywhere, and hence why people were waiting at the drop off point.
In contrast, had to pick a family member up from Southampton earlier in the month, again supposedly no picking up from the drop off point - I just kept circling and just as I was being spotted by the HiViz brigade my passenger turned up. There is no 10 minute grace period at Southampton from what I could see - when will these places ever stop trying to make money out of people!!!!!
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Free market economy and capitalism apparantly.
Its ok to make money out of us that is what we are there for !
Sorry if it sounds cynical but its the message I keep getting on another thread !
Kepp paying or else the airport will get moved to east rurope too !
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Rubbish, don't use the airport because you object to the charges, and they'll have to lower them to get your custom back.
It's only because people are stupid enough to pay anyway that this sort of rubbish, or the M6 toll for another example, survives.
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In contrast, had to pick a family member up from Southampton earlier in the month, again supposedly no picking up from the drop off point - There is no 10 minute grace period at Southampton from what I could see
>>- when will these places ever stop trying to make money out of people!!!!!
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From BAA SOU web site. (IIRC The carpark info is clearly signposted at the terminal.)
"Short Stay Parking
Check out the prices here and remember there is free parking for motorbikes and bicycles in dedicated bays.
Duration Prices 0 - 15 minutes FREE
15 minutes - 30 min £1.50
30 minutes - 1 hour £2.10 "
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From BAA SOU web site. (IIRC The carpark info is clearly signposted at the terminal.) "Short Stay Parking Check out the prices here and remember there is free parking for motorbikes and bicycles in dedicated bays. Duration Prices 0 - 15 minutes FREE 15 minutes - 30 min £1.50 30 minutes - 1 hour £2.10 "
I admit I never bothered checking the web before i set off (but then it is only 10 minutes from my door), but there is nothing on the signs that can be seen from the car telling you this!!!!
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I dont' see why anyone should pay for less than 3 hours of short stay airport parking full stop. It's not like people come around airports to hang out or dine, so there is no issue of commuters leaving their cars or whatever. And at the end of the day why should we allow situation when its in airports best interest to delay luggages, flights and checkouts just so they can rob few pounds from waiting families and pickups. Let's say arrival was at 12:00, if I get there at 12:00 and by 12:30 my passengers are not out of the restricted area, or worse yet, not even landed I should be able to wait for as long as I want for free. How is that my fault they were delayed. It's opperators and airports fault. So how about they pay for it. Am I right or am I right?
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
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How is that my fault they were delayed. It's opperators and airports fault. So how about they pay for it.
I?m not a conspiracy theorist, but there?s no denying that the airport will benefit from internal (so that people think the flight is still on time) delays. The charges really do escalate quickly. We were held up (nothing major, just 15-20 mins at every stage) coming through Manchester recently when our daughter was picking us up and it cost £5 something as the time clicked over the hour.
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The charges really do escalate quickly.
I have only once had charges escalate. That was when it took well over two hours for my daughter to get from Concorde to arrivals ( NO one had any bags with them and there were no terminal hold ups whatsoever).
The time wasted was getting from the aircraft, left on the runway, to the terminal building.
I always read Ceefax, BAA website, carriers website etc before I venture out.
I then hover near the airport and await a call to say they are totally through the mayhem.
Only then do I aim for the terminal building.
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A few years ago a young girl I know was really excited @ going for an interview down South - more money, Co car etc. Parked in the short stay Edin Airport car park by mistake - got a bill of £70 as a result.
Got the job at a higher salary - current employer matched it - £5-6K increase for a £70 parking ticket cannot be bad looking back 4 yrs but at the time it was a sore point.
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"free parking for motorbikes and bicycles"
How useful. Will collect family, friends and luggage by bicycle in future.
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I noticed in the Telegraph this morning that Liverpool Airport are going to charge taxi drivers £2,400 per annum for the privilege of picking up passengers. Apparently there is some sort of dispute going on.
I think Peel Holdings own Liverpool Airport, together with a chunk of properties around Manchester.
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LIverpool are also charging £2 for each passenger to pay for the additional security.
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"LIverpool are also charging £2 for each passenger to pay for the additional security"
To stop scousers nicking everything
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I once had ( now deceased ) father in law when he was in his eighties and slightly forgetful insist on picking up SWMBO and I at Gatwick. It was around ten years ago.
I said don't bother as taxi fare to home was only £8 but he said it was OK .
He got to the airport early, he hated being late , parked up in the short stay and then our flight was delayed by an hour so by the time we got through I was well fed up and he had been waiting around two to three hours.
We then went through to the car parks and he literally could not remember where he had parked the car, the only thing he could remember was that it was near to a lift door so I had to go on a car hunt.
By the time I had checked the area round the lifts on each of the half dozen floors in the three short stay car parks and found the car, collected him , SWMBO , trolley and luggage I was well fed up.
We then got to the barrier to be presented with a parking fee of double the taxi fare.
If we had taken the taxi I would have been home an hour earlier at half the cost.
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From BAA SOU web site. (IIRC The carpark info is clearly signposted at the terminal.) "Short Stay Parking Check out the prices here and remember there is free parking for motorbikes and bicycles in dedicated bays.
Who on earth is going to drop off/pick up people at an airport on a bicycle???
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Who on earth is going to drop off/pick up people at an airport on a bicycle???
In the past I have cycled to Heathrow Terminal 1 to catch an early morning flight.
On one occasion, on my return ( and having only a camera bag with me) I retrieved my bike, hopped over the central reservation and sped off to the tunnel. I did not make it as a passing patrol car had seen me and gave chase. I was stopped and I had some explaining to do.
I still smile at the event.
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Its no conincidence that several of the airports mentioned above (Bournemouth, Southampton and East Midlands especially) are predominantly served by low cost airlines who are well-known for their reluctance to pay landing charges.
When Mr. O'Leary and Co. are paying rock bottom rates per passenger, the airport has to recover the cost somehow - hence drop off/pick up/higher car park charges.
So if you don't agree with Mr. O'Leary's "pay as you go" policies, opt for a full-service airline flying from a full service airport when you can. You may be surprised to find that, as often as not, the full cost of your round trip is no higher, but the experience can be a lot more pleasant.
And for those of you who don't agree, simply fly Ryanair/EasyJet/BMI Baby etc., stump up for whatever extras you want/need/can't avoid, grin, and bear it! :-)
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