DROP THE DROP-OFF CHARGES DROP THE DROP-OFF CHARGES

The British Travel Association wants Government help in setting up a fresh and fair approach to airport dropoff and pick-up charges. Mark Bursa reports

New research has shone the spotlight on the escalating cost of dropping off and picking up customers at UK airports. And the report’s authors, the British Travel Association, is calling for action to remove, or at least reduce, the charges.

The BTA is calling for industry-wide action against drop-off and pick-up charges, and is demanding that airports prioritise the traveller and eliminate these “unnecessary fees”.

The BTA is also asking for a government review into the fairness and cost of the charges.

The travel industry has recovered well since the pandemic, but unfortunately, airports have used parking charges as a way of replacing lost revenue from 2020 and 2021, when most flights were grounded and passenger numbers slumped.

At some UK airports, fees have risen by as much as 25% in recent years, said Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association. “These charges hit everyone, from families visiting loved ones to holiday makers seeking new experiences. The impact is widespread, affecting every passenger who uses air travel in the UK.”

The BTA report, entitled “Drop the Drop-off-Fees”, highlights the fact that the taxi and private hire trade is among the hardest hit by the charges.

The report states: “The businesses hit hardest by these charges are those who help to transport passengers to and from airports – taxi drivers, rideshare drivers and chauffeurs. They must factor in the cost of getting into the airport to drop-off and pick-up their passengers safely when calculating the total bill and this isn’t always a smooth experience.

As we know, there is considerable unpredictability in getting the timing right for a pick-up, with flight delays, and often lengthy queues in customs and passport control, made worse by Brexit, as well as delays in the baggage claim area. As a result, drivers often find themselves hit with hefty charges for, say, a two-hour delay.

It’s not always possible to wait offsite in order to avoid these charges, especially if the driver is unaware of how long the delay will be once they have arrived in the terminal. Heathrow provides an on-site waiting area for drivers at £1 per hour, but even this is too much for some drivers.

And drivers cannot always pass these extra charges fees on, especially when the delay is not down to the traveller. Many drivers have ethical concerns about passing on charges in these circumstances, and as a result, they end up taking the loss.

The BTA says the airports argue that the higher drop-off and pick-up fees lead to “more sustainable travel decisions by passengers” – in other words, take the bus or train. But at the same time, the airports heavily promote discounted long-term parking on site for customers - encouraging car journeys. As with the drop-off charges, the airports want the revenue from long-term parking. If a passenger takes the train, there’s nothing in it for the airport.

Public transport is not always a practical option for the traveller. Early departures and late arrivals can fall outside the operating hours of buses and trains. And while the London airports are well served by public transport from the city centre, most travellers’ journeys start and end at their homes, which are rarely close to a convenient direct public transport link to the airport.

Women in particular may not feel safe travelling alone late at night on public transport, leaving lifts and taxis as the only option where they feel safe. “With steep pick-up fees, it can feel like a tax on safe travel,” the BTA states.

Poor or inconvenient public transport means many travellers either take a taxi or chauffeur car to the airport, or get a lift by a family member, thus incurring a charge. Indeed, the number of passengers arriving by car or taxi at London Heathrow has increased since 2012. A 2022 survey found that 65% of travellers took a car or taxi to the airport, but only 34% used public transport.

The report states: “The worst-affected travellers are those who have little other option but to get a lift to the airport – older visitors, those with children, and those with reduced mobility.”

“Theoretically, many airports allow blue badge holders an exemption from these fees, but not everyone with reduced mobility qualifies for this exemption.”

If a passenger does qualify for a blue badge, it will need to be registered with any taxi that takes them to the airport to avoid the charge. If a passenger is unable to prearrange this with the taxi company before they are dropped off or picked up, they will find themselves paying an extra charge. “This is hugely unhelpful and bureaucratic – if not discriminatory,” the BTA states.

The report also highlights problems in the process for paying for drop-off and pick-up fees, which can be confusing for those who are not confident in navigating online payments.

Some payment systems, such as the one at Heathrow Airport, require travellers to register online and to set up a method of payment. This should not be a problem for taxi companies, but might be an issue for members of the public who do not use mobile phones or know how to use the internet.

The report also highlights the hypocrisy of airports in regard to electric cars. Despite the claims that these fees are supposed to reduce the emissions of airports, electric vehicles are charged at the same rate as diesel vehicles.

Some payment systems, such as the one at Heathrow Airport, require travellers to register online and to set up a method of payment. This should not be a problem for taxi companies, but might be an issue for members of the public who do not use mobile phones or know how to use the internet.

“In most cases, no incentive is offered by the airports for the use of electric cars by making it free or lower cost to drop off or pick up in an electric car. This only serves to fuel suspicions that the drop-off and pickup fees are a revenue-raising measure rather than a green one,” the report claims.

The report also said UK airports were out of step with other European cities. “UK airports stand out in Europe for their high airport drop off charges, unlike continental counterparts such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Hamburg, Cologne Bonn, Geneva and Paris Charles De Gaulle, which all provide free short term drop-off zones for passengers.”

Clive Wratten said there was very little support for the fees, with an overwhelming majority of travellers wanting them scrapped. He said: “I

conducted a LinkedIn poll on this issue recently, and the results were overwhelming. Out of the 466 respondents, 88% of them said that airport drop-off and pick-up fees should be abolished, 9% said that they were too expensive, and only 3% said that they agreed with them.

“These fees are not only a financial burden, but also a source of frustration and stress for travellers and their friends, families and business colleagues. Moreover, these fees are unfair and unpredictable, because they depend on factors that are beyond the control of travellers.

“The nature and procedures of air travel make it impossible to know how long it will take to enter and exit an airport and this varies from one airport to another in the UK.”

He concluded: “The BTA feels it is our duty to question the rationale and necessity for these fees. We want to raise awareness and highlight the impact of these fees for different groups of people, especially those who travel frequently for work.

“This is why we are urging the Government to launch a review into the principle and price of airport fees and to encourage airports to drop the charges altogether.”