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EnergyAirport parking 385% more on the day
Filed under: Holidays
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Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
New research from online parking website parkatmyhouse.com has revealed that thousands of holidaymakers who drive and leave their car at the airport this Christmas face being stung by high pay-on-the-day prices.
The news comes as ABTA - the Travel Association - reveals that an estimated 4.25 million Brits will be heading overseas during the Christmas and New Year period (16 December - 3 January).
The research found that those who don't book parking spaces in advance could pay up to five times more to park their car.
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The research looked at the cost of parking at the UK's 10 busiest airports for a two-week period between December 23 2011 and January 6 2012, it found huge variations in the parking charges at the airports - in Manchester it could be 385 percent.
ABTA's research shows that millions of us will be leaving the country through the major airports; 1.7 million from Heathrow, 750,00 from Gatwick, 425,000 from Stanstead, 340,000 from Manchester, 210,000 from Luton, 165,000 from Birmingham and 120,000 from Glasgow.
But travellers who turn up at the airport and pay on the day can add as much as £230 to the cost of their Christmas holiday, according to parkatmyhouse.com.
"Our research highlights that failing to pre-book airport parking could end up hitting holidaymakers with an extra cost they may not have budgeted for, even before the plane leaves the ground."
CEO at parkatmyhouse.com, Anthony Eskinazi, said: "Airport car parking can eat into your holiday budget, but for many families the prospect of negotiating public transport with small children and heavy suitcases is not a sensible or viable option.
"Our research highlights that failing to pre-book airport parking could end up hitting holidaymakers with an extra cost they may not have budgeted for, even before the plane leaves the ground."
At Manchester Airport, savings of over £120 can be made by pre-booking a parking space. Buying a ticket on the day, for two weeks, can cost as much as £160, but pre-booking prices start from just £32.99 - that's a whopping 385 percent difference.
The research found that airport car parks charge an average of 129 percent more for turning up and paying on the day of travel when compared to the cheapest pre-book price.
Surprisingly, it was the low-cost carrier hubs Luton and Stansted, which came out as two of the most expensive for parking over the Christmas and New Year period. Those turning up at Luton without a pre-booked space can expect to pay more than £200 for two weeks parking, and at Stansted it would set you back £180.
Surprisingly, it was the low-cost carrier hubs Luton and Stansted, which came out as two of the most expensive for parking over the Christmas and New Year period. Those turning up at Luton without a pre-booked space can expect to pay more than £200 for two weeks parking, and at Stansted it would set you back £180.
Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport and third busiest in the world, unsurprisingly has the most expensive parking spaces at a UK car park, with long-stay charges setting holidaymakers back£229.60 for two weeks if they turn up and pay on the day. However, pre-booking can bring the cost down to £87.80.
Even if car owners pre-book and secure the cheapest possible rate, the airports differ quite significantly in how much they charge. Luton Airport was found to be the most expensive in the festive period, with the best possible two week pre-book deal setting customers back £115.99, compared to just £32.99 at Manchester Airport, a difference of £83.
| Yes - It is the best way to enjoy Christmas | |
|---|---|
| No - Staying at home and looking forward to relaxing |
