Dealing with airport parking options

Airport parking costs can add substantially to the overall price of a holiday, but there are ways to help keep the costs down.

Onsite parking, whether it is operated by the airport or a private company, is typically the most costly option. About the only way to save on the onsite option is by booking a space well in advance. Offsite parking, on the other hand, is another matter.

Prices can vary significantly, and by the day. At Heathrow Airport, for example, the cost of a day’s parking at the long-stay car park is £95.40, through airport operator BAA. The cheapest available rate, however, is £49.95, offered by Happy Days Parking, which is an offsite car park located in West Drayton.

The range of prices at offsite car parks is wide. AT APH, for example, parking for a week costs just £71.95, while the same period booked through Superbreak is £90. If the parking is booked in advance with Purple Parking the price is reduced to £62.96.

Ensuring that your car is properly looked after is also a consideration. Bruce Treloar, a trading standards officer, commented that even if it says at a car park that it is ‘secure,’ it may well be anything but. He advises consumers to patronize either a BAA-approved facility or one with Park Mark accreditation.

www.parkmark.co.uk