Families heading abroad are being hit with extra charges of up to £389 before they even board the plane, according to new research. The costs include inflated meal and drink prices, long-stay parking fees, and last-minute baggage charges, often exceeding the price of the flight itself.
James Walker of customer resolution website Resolver, which compiled the figures for the Sunday People, said: “Airports should give customers a break.” The research examined costs at Manchester, Birmingham, and Gatwick airports for a family of four.
At Gatwick, a week’s long-stay parking this month is £165, but only £74 if booked in advance. At Birmingham, a week’s long-stay parking costs up to £107.08 without booking, rising to £288 for the week. A non-refundable £1 is charged to hire a baggage trolley at Birmingham and Manchester, while a hot drink and sandwich can cost up to £8.
Airports also charge up to £5 to jump to the front of a security queue, and Gatwick charges £10 to avoid passport control queues. Birmingham was named the dearest airport, with a total bill of £389.08 including Ryanair’s check-in baggage fees.
All but five of Britain’s 30 airports charge for dropping off passengers, and more than a third charge for clear plastic bags to carry liquids through security. Stansted and Luton have the highest drop-off fee at £3 for 10 minutes.
The Airport Operators Association defended the charges, stating: “Non-aeronautical income allows airports to keep charges to airlines low, benefiting travellers through lower air fares and increased connectivity. It also supports the record investments airports are making in improved facilities and infrastructure.”
