Stansted Airport set down rip-off

[Osem]

Just to warn people who might be using Stansted in the near future and haven't been there for a while. The passenger drop off arrangements have changed and you can no longer set down friends/relatives outside the terminal. There is now a combined 'express set-down/pick-up' located adjacent to the short term parking area. There is now a minimum £2 fee for dropping off passengers which allows just 10 mins., it's £3 for 15 mins. and a £50 penalty if you go over 15 mins. You must not leave your car unattended and if you do it will be clamped/towed.

Since this area is quite a lot further from the terminal, if you're dropping off someone who needs help with their bags you will be in trouble if you stray into this area. Anyone who turns up without cash and is tempted to drop their passenger(s) off in the access road just outside the various parking zones is liable to get fined as CCTV vehicles patrol the area for this purpose.

The new arrangements have been in operation since Nov. apparently but when I was there a few days ago it was clear that they are still causing lots of confusion to people, including me. Not expecting such a dramatic change, I found the signage very confusing and you can't just stop to take it all in.

If you need to drop off and escort passengers to the terminal you can use the short stay area at its usual rip-off prices of:

0-25 mins @ £2.80
25-50mins @ £5.50
50 mins- hours @ £10.00

Or use the Mid-Stay car park which is a short bus ride from the terminal so not ideal if you're in a hurry.

Here's a taste of the problem:

http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/c...cm24/stansted/

[Stephen]

Without the charges Glasgow airport has had the drop off point well away from the entrance for a number of years now, for security reasons of course and the pick up is in the short stay car park.

Am sure all UK airports will be like that soon.

The charges though are a bit ridiculous though.

Already happened at Southampton airport.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Osem

You must not leave your car unattended and if you do it will be clamped/towed.

Doesn't sound like they have lawful authority if it's as you describe.

[alferret]

EMA used to be free, last time I used it for drop off/pick up it was £1.00.
Don't know what it is now tho as it's been a year or so since I last used it.

[GrimUpNorth]

Leeds Bradford are £2 for using the drop off, have been for some time. If you've no cash, you can pay with a card, but I think the price is then a good £5!! That's what happens when you sell your local airport to the private sector!!

Cheers

Grim

[Osem]

Originally Posted by alferret

EMA used to be free, last time I used it for drop off/pick up it was £1.00.
Don't know what it is now tho as it's been a year or so since I last used it.

That's part of the problem isn't it. A lot of people only tend to use an airport maybe once or twice a year or even less so may find they turn up, as I did, only to find a whole lot of changes have taken place which aren't adequately explained or signposted.

I'd have less of a problem if the signposting wasn't so confusing and the Stansted Airport website's description of its parking facilities was a lot clearer than it is. I get the distinct feeling that, so far as the operators are concerned, confusion amongst airport users is a good thing since it generates revenue. Given it represented a major change to a longstanding procedure, I wonder if the Stansted website ever really highlighted the changes to the drop off procedure or simply mentioned it in deep within the parking section.

Clearly, if all airports are doing the same then there's no way to avoid being fleeced in this manner. However, from what I've read, I understand that the penalties being charged by some parking companies operating on private property may not be strictly legal since it's a civil matter and the penalties levied (often made to resemble official parking fines) for any breach of the terms, should apparently only represent the revenue lost as a result of the parking infringement.If that's the case it'd be hard to argue that the cost of someone being 1 minute too long dropping off their elderly aunt justifies a £50 'fine' being added to an already hefty £3 charge for 15 mins. Maybe that's why some companies seem very keen to get tow trucks and enforcement staff involved ASAP, since they can then claim an actual cost for the particular incident which justifies the penalty imposed. Oddly enough, I've read that some of these companies seem reluctant to take matters to court where their numerous written demands for payment are ignored. I wonder why? Nice work if you can get it anwyay eh?

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Its a pound to drop off a passenger at Edinburgh even it the stop only takes 20 seconds!

[Hom3r]

I wait down Long Border Road when picking someone up

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by alferret

EMA used to be free, last time I used it for drop off/pick up it was £1.00.
Don't know what it is now tho as it's been a year or so since I last used it.

It is still £1.00
I was there last week.

Stansted is a rip off though, especially for breakfasts and any food you buy.