Readers react to Gatwick parking charges

Gatwick Airport announced plans to charge people dropping off passengers and it has got our readers talking.
Picture: Gatwick AirportPicture: Gatwick Airport
Picture: Gatwick Airport

The plans will see people being charged £5 for ten minutes when dropping off passengers directly in front of both terminals.

Ant Ellis said: "As Gatwick have said you can still drop off free but you have to use the long stay car park and get the free bus shuttle. It's a great idea. Maybe people will take trains or coaches to the airport and help out the transport industry a bit more. National E is am easy way to get there and the driver looks after your luggage whilst you relax."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Claire Kulsdom said: "Yet another money making ploy. However, there is two hours free parking at the long stay car parks at both terminals and you can hop on their frequent shuttle buses free to and from the car parks. This also applies to Heathrow long stay car parks. We’ve been using them for years. Easy for people to pick up as they don’t pay any parking charges. They also don’t advertise this option well either."

Gail Quinn said: "£5 is a bit steep just to drop someone off."

Sue Jefferys said: "Very unfair on those that don’t or can no longer drive and cannot drag suitcases on and off trains. We have a very unreliable train service too!"

Kay Lockstone said: "Luton airport has the highest prices for this and has been charging for years. These airports are a rip off from start to finish."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sue Mitchell said: "What’s £5 in the scheme of things...people pay out hundreds for holidays yet moaning about £5.. they say much of the revenue will help to make up the huge losses sustained during Corona pandemic & airport roads are private so need maintaining.."

Paul Ceccherini said: "So they have gone through a challenging period and their first thought is how to rip off customers... this is disgusting."

Jean Mendham said: "At a time when airports and airlines need to reassure and encourage customers back to travel by air this revenue raising exercise is badly thought through and ill-timed - travellers wary of using public transport and cabs will turn to friends and family to drop them off but who would want to incur a charge doing so? Surely dropping off counts as through traffic as it takes only a few minutes? This is just mean spirited - the airport may have lost money during the pandemic but so have their customers some losing more than that!!

Related topics: