Travelling to the airport the most stressful part of your holiday?

Getting to the airport on time to get your flight can be quite a stressful part of your holiday. How long should you leave for your journey, what if there’s a traffic jam or an accident, how early should you arrive and how should you travel to the airport? By planning ahead and getting arrangements in place early you will help alleviate the stress.

What time you arrive at the airport will be dependent on whether you are on a domestic or international flight, however, the minimum check-in time varies between airlines and individual routes, so check in advance with your airline.

At busier times of the year it may take longer to pass through airport security and you need to take this in to consideration. If you are travelling at weekends or in the school holidays it is advisable to allow extra time, although don’t allow too much extra time as hanging around the airport waiting for your flight can be stressful in itself.

Transport options

Your method of transport to the airport may be dependent on where you live in relation to the airport. If you live quite some distance away, you may find that public transport options involve too many changes to be convenient.

• Coach
  If you are thinking about travelling by coach, there are many airport-dedicated services that you may wish to consider. Each airport site has a breakdown of coach services to assist you in finding out which service is most suitable for you. When booking coach travel check the coach company’s luggage allowances: hand baggage allowance and weight and number of checked-in bags permitted.
  
  
• Train
  Many airports now have excellent train services and generally a station located on-site or very nearby. Gatwick airport for example, was the first UK airport to fully integrate air and train services with its own Gatwick airport station. Check out the various train operators and book your train tickets online.
  
  
• Special rail services
  As well as the traditional train services, there are now many dedicated airport train services, such as the Heathrow Express, Stansted Express and Gatwick Express which offer fast direct services to the airport from central London. These operate at very frequent intervals, and are faster, but slightly more expensive than the normal train services.
  
  
• Bus
  This is probably my least favourite option, unless you live very close to the airport, and even then, the thought of dragging heavy luggage on to the bus and worrying about where to stash it during the journey fills me with dread. Your airport site will list the airport bus services available.
  
  
• Car
  If you are planning to drive to the airport always book your parking in advance, as turning up on the day hoping for a parking bay is stressful and significantly more expensive.
  
  Consider your parking options carefully before booking as there are many different types of parking available, such as on-site: short- or long-stay; off-site airport parking; park and stay options with local hotels; or valet meet and greet parking.
  
  Plan your route in advance with an online route planner, such as the AA or Multimap, and carry a map or use satellite navigation just in case your planned route is disrupted by an accident. Always check the Highways Agency website for advance notice of planned road works that may affect your journey.
  
  
• Taxi
  Book your taxi in advance. It is usually cheaper to use a local taxi company to drop you off at the airport and more convenient to use the official airport taxi company on your return. Although the official taxi company will be slightly more expensive, a taxi should be waiting for you. An off-airport taxi will not be able to wait outside the airport in the same way as an official taxi due to security restrictions.
  
  
• Friends and family drop off
  This may seem convenient but think of the poor driver, their time, and their fuel. Relying on a friend or family member can be stressful, what if they’re late, or an unexpected problem occurs? You don’t have a contract with them and you may not be able to make last-minute adjustments to your plans.

Whatever your chosen method of transport to the airport, make sure you have organised it in advance to save undue stress on the day.

Paula Garrett is a frequently traveller and recommends using Gatwick meet and greet parking , advising passengers to book their Gatwick valet parking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Book airport parking: 5 options

When booking this year’s holiday don’t forget your airport parking. Make sure you compare airport car parking options before booking. Check all the available options at your airport, think about convenience and your budget too.

The following tips will guide you through the types of parking and will help save you money:

1. Off-airport parking
   Off-airport parking is probably the cheapest option – you park off-airport and use the shuttle bus provided to take you to the airport.
   
   While this is probably the cheapest option for long-stay parking, it isn’t the most convenient. After all, if you have children, are travelling with elderly relatives or have heavy luggage or sports equipment, you may struggle to get on and off the shuttle bus.
   
   
2. On-airport parking
   On-airport parking has the benefits of being closer to the terminal, but this is still likely to require a shuttle bus journey to take you to the airport. The journey will be shorter than off-site parking but you could still have the inconvenience of hauling your luggage, and children, on and off the bus.
   
   
3. Short-stay parking
   The short-stay car parks are located much closer to the terminal, usually a couple of minutes walk away, however, these car parks are really designed for short stays and the pricing is geared accordingly – it works out very expensive to park for more than a few hours. These car parks are best for cars picking up and dropping off passengers.
   
   Savings can be made if you fly at quieter times of the year, outside of school holidays, so check online for discounted prices – bookings must be made in advance.
   
   
4. Valet parking
   Valet parking, or meet and greet parking, offers all the benefits of short-stay parking without the need to park your own car. The great attraction of meet and greet parking is that you drive straight to the airport terminal, unload your luggage and hand your keys to a waiting driver who will park your car for you - no worries about herding your children onto a shuttle bus, or struggling with heavy baggage or sports gear. On your return, your car is brought back to the terminal, so you just walk out of arrivals, load your luggage and drive off.
   
   
5. Park and stay packages
   If the drive to the airport is some distance from your house, or your departure is very early in the morning, you may wish to consider booking an airport hotel.
   
   Many airport hotels, on-site and off-site, offer parking as part of their package – some will offer parking at their hotel and can arrange transport to the airport, either by taxi or their own shuttle service, others have recommended parking providers and will book a park and stay package for you. Meet and greet parking can also be booked as part of your park and stay package – with an on-airport hotel you can arrange to have your car picked up from the hotel when you arrive.
   
   Booking your airport parking as part of a park and stay package can offer you a great discount when compared with booking your hotel accommodation and parking separately.

Whatever airport parking option you choose, make sure you book your early, and book parking online - this represents the best value for money when compared with just turning up on the day and paying the gate price. If you have any questions about booking airport parking don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and speak to the company prior to booking.

Airport parking ‘rip off’ highlighted by MP

The Daily Express yesterday highlighted the rip off parking prices that are charged at some of the UK’s airports and how these charges can add up to 45% of the cost of a cheap flight holiday.

Topping the list of most expensive fees was London City Airport – expect to pay £186 for pre-booking a week’s parking, or don’t book in advance and pay a whopping £252 for a week or £504 for two weeks!

According to the article, the average parking fee across 10 of the Britain’s airport is £45 for a week, while at Heathrow the cost when pre-booking is £63.90 and Gatwick airport parking up to £62.

The parking charges were highlighted by Liberal Democrat Norman Baker who said: “What is the point of ¬trawling the -internet to get cheap air fares, only to get ripped off by excessive car park charges at our airports?” He said London City was “exceedingly bad value”, ¬adding: “The amount being charged is probably enough to pay for a return flight to New York.”

To secure the best possible price for airport parking it is advisable to compare airport parking prices using an online parking price checker and to book in advance. Never just turn up at the airport – it’s much more expensive.

Gatwick Airport Parking - Time & Money Saving Advice

Gatwick Airport parking can be a minefield. Where do I start looking for Gatwick parking? Do I want Gatwick short term or Gatwick long term parking? Should I go with Gatwick BAA Parking? Where can I find a simple Gatwick airport parking price checker and can I compare Gatwick parking prices? If these are questions you find echoing around your thoughts before you travel, then this is the article for you.

Gatwick Airport is the 2nd busiest international airport in the UK, and the 6th busiest airport in the World, with over 32 Million passengers travelling through the two terminals, so it’s hardly surprising that finding the right Gatwick parking to suit your needs can be such a nightmare.

There are various Gatwick parking options available to passengers travelling through the Airport depending on budget, length of stay and level of service required. Within this article, we will touch on standard Gatwick parking, Fast Track parking, Gatwick long term parking, Gatwick BAA parking and meet and greet Gatwick Airport parking. There will also be information on the Gatwick airport parking price checker website where visitors can compare parking prices.

And so we begin with standard Gatwick parking… For collecting or dropping off passengers, or for short duration trips, travellers are advised to use the short term parking at Gatwick Airport, and multi storey car parks are available close to both the North and South Terminals.

Visitors to Gatwick Airport are warned that any cars left unattended in the set down or pick up areas at the North and South Terminal forecourts, will be towed away by the police and a release fee will be incurred. Therefore, if you need to leave your car unattended, motorists must park in the short stay multi-storey car park.

If you’re in a hurry, a Fast Track Gatwick parking option is also available from both the North and South Terminals at Gatwick Airport. The Fast Track Gatwick Parking are in under cover areas and located within the short stay car parks and offer the quickest and most convenient link into the terminals.

For passengers travelling away for more than a few days, Gatwick long term parking is recommended. This is where the minefield begins. There are a huge number of different options available for Gatwick parking, and many companies competing for your Gatwick long term parking business.

The first option is to look at the various Gatwick BAA parking options. A number of Partners operate Gatwick BAA parking around the Airport. The long term Gatwick BAA parking options are situated in the areas surrounding Gatwick Airport and offer secure parking and a courtesy bus transfer that runs every 5 to 20 minutes, depending on which car park you choose. The transfer time to the terminal is approximately 2 - 10 minutes depending on which car park is used and which terminal you are travelling to.

Customers using a Gatwick BAA parking operator will benefit from a guaranteed space even when travelling at peak times, a free transfer to the terminal and first rate customer service.

In addition, all Gatwick BAA parking operators are committed to the Safer Parking Scheme, which is government backed and assessed by the police. BAA Gatwick parking do everything they can to deter criminal activity and ensure you can feel safe in the airport car parks. BAA Gatwick parking areas are manned 24 hours a day, frequently patrolled, lit at night and many have CCTV coverage.

Finally, if you find bus transfers and off-site Gatwick parking a hassle, Gatwick meet and greet Airport Parking offers customers a convenient valet service. Amongst many benefits, travellers can check-in within minutes of arriving at the airport and drive away minutes after clearing customs.

To secure the best Gatwick parking rates possible, it is always advisable to book your airport parking in advance and online bookings will normally reward you with a further discount. The best way to make sure you are paying the right price, is to visit an airport parking price checker. The best Gatwick airport parking price checker that we have found is www.helpmetravel.co.uk, where you can compare Gatwick airport car parking prices online.

The HelpMeTravel Gatwick airport parking price checker is truly independent so they get the best deals on parking prices and pass them on to their customer. The Company goes direct to the Gatwick BAA parking and other parking operators so they can negotiate better rates, and they also monitor airport car parking competitors to ensure they offer the best prices.

The airport parking price checker website asks you to select the airport you are flying from and the dates and times that you travel. The site will then provide you with a list of airport parking companies that can help you, whether they are situated on the airport or off-site or if they are valet meet and greet, the price per day and total price. All of this information is provided in one screen shot, so you can instantly see the best option for you.

The site then allows you to book online so it’s nice and simple. Traipsing around for the best Gatwick parking is a thing of the past! All you need to do is decide whether you need Gatwick short term or Gatwick long term parking, assess the different Gatwick BAA Parking options and carry out a simple Gatwick airport parking price checker, compare Gatwick parking prices, and book! Simple!
About the Author

The Gatwick Information website guide provides a comprehensive information resource covering everything there is to know about visiting or travelling through Gatwick Airport.

Free parking at Bristol Airport with Continental Airlines

If you’re quick you could park for free at Bristol Airport.

Continental Airlines is offering 14 days’ Bristol Airport parking for free when you book your flight to the states.

Flights must be booked before 28 February 2009 for travel before 30 April.

Flights must be booked with JTA Travel Group at flights.airline-warehouse.co.uk. Conditions apply so check at the time of booking.

Save money, book your airport parking in advance

I want to say thanks to Mary for highlighting the problems faced by disabled drivers who don’t book their airport parking in advance in her blog post http://cheapairtravel.ieee-icc007.org/2009/01/28/disabled-traveler-encounters-problem-with-airport-parking/

She also shows how expensive airport parking is if you don’t book in advance and pay the gate price. In fact you could end up paying as much as 30% more for not bothering.

Would you want to pay more? Plus, would you also want to face the uncertainty of not knowing whether you’ll find a space when you arrive?

For peace of mind and to save money, always book your airport parking in advance. There are many online booking engines when you can compare prices and book airport parking online.

For disabled drivers, those travelling with children or large sports equipment, I’d recommend meet and greet parking as a very convenient service – one that you don’t have to worry about negotiating your way on and off a shuttle bus with a wheelchair, kids or your sports equipment.

Temporary changes to East Midlands Airport parking

Improvement works at East Midlands is having a temporary affect on East Midlands Airport parking.

From today, 22 January, the car park bus stops will be moved to the Coach park next to the Arrivals Hall.

Car Park 7 is temporarily unavailable and customers with existing bookings will be directed to Car Park 6.

Two weeks parking at Manchester Airport - £900

Imagine paying nearly £900 to park your car for two weeks. One poor holidaymaker did just that when he jetted off for a fortnight in the sun.

The Blackpool Gazette reports that Daniel Carr paid £51 upfront to park at Manchester Airport, however, when he returned he discovered that the airport had claimed an extra £842 from his bank account.

Manchester airport told the paper that: "Due to a one-off system error, Mr Carr's car parking charge was calculated incorrectly and consequently we will refund the overcharge.

"We would like to offer him our sincere apologies and as gesture of goodwill we will also waive the original car park charge."

For an online Manchester airport parking price checker and to book your airport parking click on the link.

London City Airport parking prices increased

Watch out, parking charges for London City Airport parking have increased.

The new charges came in to effect on 1 January 2009. For more details click here.

Air Southwest offers free parking at Newquay Airport

Air Southwest has teamed up with Newquay Cornwall Airport to offer free airport parking for passengers until the end of January.

The New Year offer is open to any Air Southwest customer already booked or planning to book a flight from Newquay during January, and applies from January 6 to 31.

For a five-day trip this adds up to a saving of £30.

Air Southwest offers eight year-round destinations from Newquay including four flights a day, seven days a week to London Gatwick. To check prices and book Gatwick meet and greet parking click on the link.