“Drop Off Zone” parking charges at airports

Dropped my son back off at Barcelona airport this morning and was allowed 15mins free parking to do it. Very calm and civilised.

And so it should be. Airports are served very well by public transport, so using private transport to be dropped off is a privilege people should be paying for.

There’s a metro tram that goes yards from my house directly to the airport. I cannot however take my bike on the tram, so while I’d love to be able to use the tram, for the one time I use airplanes a year, I can’t.

No idea how it’s like the poll tax?

I meant it as in everyone that goes there has to pay. Which like the poll tax affected everyone. Bad analogy now you mention it 😆

” Its worth noting that Luton Airport is owned by the council. So the money made directly pays for local services. In these times of a huge squeeze on council funding apparently bit makes a big difference ”
OK thats one, but is every airport owned by local councils ?, I think, you’ll find not and its private enterprise.
Or are you suggesting they should all be owned by local councils. Are you of the camp that feels other institutions used by the public should be in public ownership 😕 Water, power and energy etc ?

There’s a metro tram that goes yards from my house directly to the airport. I cannot however take my bike on the tram, so while I’d love to be able to use the tram, for the one time I use airplanes a year, I can’t.

As I said:

using private transport to be dropped off is a privilege people should be paying for.

Going on holiday with your bike is a luxury, not a necessity. Why would you be against paying for luxuries? Do you think we should all subsidise your holidays?

Talk about self-entitled…

using private transport to be dropped off is a privilege people should be paying for.

Like visiting a supermarket ? or perhaps dropping a relative off at the hospital 😕

Like visiting a supermarket ? or perhaps dropping a relative off at the hospital 😕

Because they’re exactly the same! Of course! 😀

Like visiting a supermarket Lanzarote ? or perhaps dropping a relative off at the hospital Canada ?

Like visiting Lanzarote ? or perhaps dropping a relative off at Canada ?

Yup. Or are airports/hospitals special magical places 😕

You are going to A to do B.

Didn’t you cover critical thinking, or just being critical and dismissed the thinking part 😉 😆

Because they’re exactly the same! Of course! 😀

Same answer applies.

No you win; shopping for food or dropping a relative off at a hospital (presumably for medical treatment, to visit a sick/injured person, or for work) truly is a privilege.

Didn’t you cover critical thinking, or just being critical and dismissed the thinking part

You know that moment when you thought that would make you seem really clever? That moment has passed.

You know that moment when you thought that would make you seem really clever?

You are going to A to do B.

I thought it an excellent logical slap in the chops 😀

This is weird. If you want to be driven right up to the front door then paying £5 for it, after spending thousands on the holiday itself seems like a reasonable premium. As others have said, there are usually free alternatives for those that don’t need/want to be dropped off right outside the terminal. E.g Birmingham has the monorail from the station where you can be dropped off for free, then get a free 2 minute monorail ride across to the airport, others have mentioned shuttle buses etc. Just like not paying for access to the first class lounge and having to buy a meal deal from Boots instead

It’s not like the poll tax because if you don’t want to pay<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”> for the improved service then you can choose to use one of the alternatives. Or you could choose to fly from a different airport, or to not fly on holiday at all. Whereas choosing to be homeless to avoid the poll tax isn’t a realistic option.</span>

If you want to be driven right up to the front door then paying £5 for it, after spending thousands on the holiday itself seems like a reasonable premium

And if you’re dripping someone off for work every day, and heading off to your own place and back after shift? £10 per day extra travel costs isn’t nice. But as I said, there are some alternatives.

Btw, the police were nothing but lovely. In two years, I was only ever asked to “go around” once whilst waiting of an evening for him to finish. You’ll see many security guards waiting after shift if you look closely.

Michael O’Leary revolutionised the ‘monetisation’ of air travel so hard that this is the logical conclusion as the optional costs escaped out of the plane, down the jetway, through the airport and out into the surrounds. It’s no more complex than some finance director mashing his spreadsheets and wondering how much money can be made for this privilege. After the first airport did it, it was inevitable the rest would follow. Have you seen the costs to reserve seats (to sit together) on long-haul flag-carrier airlines?

And so it should be. Airports are served very well by public transport

Ha! Glasgow Airport isn’t, its bloody awful if you want to go anywhere other than the city centre. The bus to Paisley Gilmour Street (train station) is a local bus that takes you on an extensive tour of the schemes of Renfrew rather than taking you directly there. Want to get to or from the airport once the trains are off? Better be going to Glasgow cause you’re shit out of luck if you want to go anywhere else.

And its not just holidaymakers that use airports, plenty folk fly for work and not just the turn left mob.

20 mins free drop off window in Basel-Mulhouse.
I feel privileged using it.