Monday Musing: As flights take off, it’s the parking that's causing concern

Ah, holidays.  Who doesn’t look forward to getting away from it all for a week or two?  And now that we can, airports have become a lot busier as we check-in for our days in the sun.  But with the increase in numbers comes the issue of airport parking.

The type of parking that has consistently, for all the wrong reasons, grabbed headlines over the years is Meet & Greet, where one hands over the car keys to a complete stranger.  Of course, not all Meet & Greet companies are ‘rogue operators’, there are some very good ones out there who have been established for many years and won numerous customer services awards, but it is the sort of parking operation that can go badly wrong.  Why is that?

Well, airports are subject to business fluctuations like any other and demand for parking peaks during the summer months.  A car park on-site will just be empty or full depending on the time of year, but a Meet & Greet operator will be more susceptible to varying airport numbers if there isn’t another revenue stream to cover the winter months.  Drivers are often hired on a self-employed basis or temporarily.  On the positive side, Meet & Greet parking facilities don’t need the same level of maintenance costs for things like bay markings and signage which aren’t required.  Parking is in rows, bumper to bumper and keys are stored securely.  If the company is sincere about security, there will be CCTV and the perimeter will be secure and locked.

There have been some horrendous stories of vehicles parked in muddy fields, in residential streets, even in the airport’s own car park.  Some cars have been returned with high mileage, missing parts or not returned at all.  You name it, it’s happened.  It also doesn’t help that Meet & Greet companies often have similar sounding names or the same name but operating at different airports which turn out to be entirely independent of each other, so it’s very difficult to know exactly what you’re buying.  In addition, comparison websites don’t check the credentials of a business before they start to advertise it.  Airports cannot restrict businesses to their premises under competition laws and the new Parking (Code of Practice) Act doesn’t cover this type of parking on private land.

So what can you do?  Well, there is one thing.  Many people will be familiar with the Safer Parking Scheme and Park Mark award, which extends to Meet & Greet airport parking sites.  The parking areas are assessed by one of the BPA’s area managers and a police assessor, who will look at all the security features and management practices to make sure that the business will operate a good service.  If it passes assessment it is given the Park Mark award, which lasts for one year before re-assessment.

We urge motorist to check the Park Mark website to ensure that the company they are thinking of choosing has the award for peace of mind.  You can find awarded car parks at https://www.parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder  Tick the box ‘Near meet and greet’ to narrow your location search to these companies only.

We also provide advice to anyone thinking of choosing a Meet & Greet service, but essentially:

• Ask where your car will be parked and ask for a location or photograph
• Ask if it has the Park Mark award
• Get a proper receipt
• Is there a dedicated location to drop off and pick up your vehicle?
• Is the member of staff greeting you wearing a uniform or carrying an ID badge?

Don’t be tempted by cheap deals, do your research, choose a Park Mark awarded service if possible and enjoy your holiday knowing that your car will be there when you get home.