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[Viral_Jim]

It's the second biggest purchase most people ever make, why would you hand it over to a bunch of randoms?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-40647886?SThisFB

It boggles the mind! I wasn't even really comfortable handing the Desmond over to the official Heathrow Meet & Greet, that said the look on the guy's face was priceless (it had just been used for a dozen or so tip runs and was minging inside).

[Doctor Gollum]

I told you so...

[aaronjb]

These days (now I'm not a £30 taxi fare away) I tend to park in the Heathrow Business for T2/3 - it's only a five minute shuttle bus ride to the terminal and the price is fairly reasonable*

*not that I'm paying, normally

[Varche]

I think airport parking is a modern day scam. I remember years ago "saving" money with off site parking at Manchester. Took a speedo reading on the Carlton and it had done 115 miles when we went to collect it. I remember arriving in the dark down a lane. Our car was in a pack of others so tightly parked you couldnt walk between them.  Mix up over dates.
After that we used on site or friends drop off.
Over here we use offsite parking at Malaga . About 40 pounds for a fortnight and they wash your car included.

[Doctor Gollum]

Even the more 'reputable' firms here will potentially use your car as a shuttle for ferrying drivers back and forth. Very few of their drivers actually have any driving ability either,wheel spinning away from the forecourts before you've even crossed the road...

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

[tunnie]

Last time I parked at Heathrow the b@stards wanted £11.30, for 2 hours of parking. 

That said the T2 short stay car park was gadget rich, pop your number plate into the machine and it will remind you were you parked.

[Viral_Jim]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

[Doctor Gollum]

Last time I parked at Heathrow the b@stards wanted £11.30, for 2 hours of parking. 

That said the T2 short stay car park was gadget rich, pop your number plate into the machine and it will remind you were you parked.

Prebook and you can park there for the week for about £80 iirc.

Also, at Gatwick, you can park in the long stay for two hours for free, and both only five minutes from the Terminals, so if you're meeting a flight it's cheaper than the short stay and less stressful than arguing with the marshals... if you get in and find the flight is substantially delayed, use most of the two hours, then drive the car to the opposite carpark and get another two free hours

[Gaffers]

^^Now that's a good tip

I wish Heathrow did the same, especially when I am picking the missus up from one of her trips and she is slightly delayed.

[tunnie]

^^Now that's a good tip

I wish Heathrow did the same, especially when I am picking the missus up from one of her trips and she is slightly delayed.

Previously I parked outside Heathrow say near the Esso garage, waited for person I was picking up to land. They would  message me when at drop off. I'd then drive in and go to drop off and pick them up. 

Works fine for one of the wife's cousins, but harder when it's a family of 5 you need to pick up.

[Doctor Gollum]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

[Nick W]

Last time I parked at Heathrow the b@stards wanted £11.30, for 2 hours of parking. 

That said the T2 short stay car park was gadget rich, pop your number plate into the machine and it will remind you were you parked.

Prebook and you can park there for the week for about £80 iirc.

Also, at Gatwick, you can park in the long stay for two hours for free, and both only five minutes from the Terminals, so if you're meeting a flight it's cheaper than the short stay and less stressful than arguing with the marshals... if you get in and find the flight is substantially delayed, use most of the two hours, then drive the car to the opposite carpark and get another two free hours

Interesting, as I'm collecting family from the North Terminal tomorrow evening.

[Gaffers]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

[tunnie]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

Also factor in varying time on M3 due to road works, I find that if I aim to arrive just after they land, it's not too long to be parked up around the corner and just nip into the drop off when they are ready

[Doctor Gollum]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

A big difference between working on a plane and sitting in one... Sure she appreciates being met with her favourite Starbucks and a hug followed by a stroll to the car in the car park rather than trying to find you on the forecourt

[aaronjb]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

Surely you just tell her to "suck it up, buttercup, you chose the job"?*


(*And then retrieve your gonads from the bin she throws them in, later)

[Gaffers]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

A big difference between working on a plane and sitting in one... Sure she appreciates being met with her favourite Starbucks and a hug followed by a stroll to the car in the car park rather than trying to find you on the forecourt

Nope.  Kid gloves until she has had a sleep.  We have a mutually agreed protocol for the days she comes until after she has slept:

- Clean house
- Clean car
- If a West coast trip she will be very hungry, so have a traditional Hawaiian meal ready (fried spam, eggs and rice earns a lot of kudos)
- No important conversations that require decisions, hold them until later
- Any conversations regarding dates/plans that do occur must be repeated after the sleep as she will forget them (this caused a lot of issues when we first got married before we knew)

If I am late anything wrong gets amplified on a logarithmic scale depending on the the amount time she is waiting and factoring the weather variable in to the equation.

After the sleep she is back to normal, but beforehand........

[TD]

Last time I parked at Heathrow the b@stards wanted £11.30, for 2 hours of parking. 

That said the T2 short stay car park was gadget rich, pop your number plate into the machine and it will remind you were you parked.

At Heathrow, I tend to use the Heathrow app and run in when it tells me baggage arriving.... 

[Kevin Wood]

- Hide boat(s)
- Clean house
- Clean car
- If a West coast trip she will be very hungry, so have a traditional Hawaiian meal ready (fried spam, eggs and rice earns a lot of kudos)
- No important conversations that require decisions, hold them until later
- Any conversations regarding dates/plans that do occur must be repeated after the sleep as she will forget them (this caused a lot of issues when we first got married before we knew)

FTFY.

[Gaffers]

 

I only have one boat, a small rib which she bought for me as a Xmas prezzie a couple of years ago.  I dont have time for anything bigger right now, but if I ever retire early....

[aaronjb]

but if I ever retire early....

.. see other thread about the state retirement age!

[Shackeng]

Even the more 'reputable' firms here will potentially use your car as a shuttle for ferrying drivers back and forth. Very few of their drivers actually have any driving ability either,wheel spinning away from the forecourts before you've even crossed the road...

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Sounds like a job TB could do.
6130

[Gaffers]

but if I ever retire early....

.. see other thread about the state retirement age!

I have plans 

[Shackeng]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

She doesn't work for BA then.

[Gaffers]

Then either plan your journey better or suffer the cost

You live near enough to be able to leave once you have a confirmed landing time... aim to arrive as the plane touches down and you'll never pay more than an hour

True but the amount of time it takes to hand over the plane to ground staff, as well as the transfer from airside to the front of the terminal varies a lot.  I try to time it perfectly because you do not want to p-off a jet-lagged, pre-menopausal woman who has been awake for 18 hours and standing on her feet for most of it.  Sometimes she is delayed and I have to literally circle the block, which if you know heathrow can be a pig.

She doesn't work for BA then.

Nope.

[STEMO]

but if I ever retire early....

.. see other thread about the state retirement age!

I have plans 

Are they cunning? 

[Doctor Gollum]

So cunning, in fact, that you could pin a tail to them and call them foxes

[Rods2]

Reading today about an off-site airport parking firm that has gone bust and all the customers know is that their cars are parked somewhere in the southeast of England.

[STEMO]

Reading today about an off-site airport parking firm that has gone bust and all the customers know is that their cars are parked somewhere in the southeast of England.

Hmmm....I've seen that somewhere......oh yes.....in the very first post. In fact, I'm guessing that's what this thread is about.

[Rods2]

Reading today about an off-site airport parking firm that has gone bust and all the customers know is that their cars are parked somewhere in the southeast of England.

Hmmm....I've seen that somewhere......oh yes.....in the very first post. In fact, I'm guessing that's what this thread is about.

You don't expect me to start at the begging to read 'old' news do you?

[STEMO]

Reading today about an off-site airport parking firm that has gone bust and all the customers know is that their cars are parked somewhere in the southeast of England.

Hmmm....I've seen that somewhere......oh yes.....in the very first post. In fact, I'm guessing that's what this thread is about.

You don't expect me to start at the begging to read 'old' news do you?

Why should you? Not many do. 

[Viral_Jim]

Reading today about an off-site airport parking firm that has gone bust and all the customers know is that their cars are parked somewhere in the southeast of England.

Hmmm....I've seen that somewhere......oh yes.....in the very first post. In fact, I'm guessing that's what this thread is about.

You don't expect me to start at the begging to read 'old' news do you?

Why should you? Not many do. 

 

[TheBoy]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

Only the last 2 times I've flown from there (both one of the first flights of the day), its taken 2.5hrs to drop bags and get through security.  I swore never again.  Suspect slightly later flights are a bit quicker.

[Auto Addict]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

Only the last 2 times I've flown from there (both one of the first flights of the day), its taken 2.5hrs to drop bags and get through security.  I swore never again.  Suspect slightly later flights are a bit quicker.

No

[Doctor Gollum]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

Only the last 2 times I've flown from there (both one of the first flights of the day), its taken 2.5hrs to drop bags and get through security.  I swore never again.  Suspect slightly later flights are a bit quicker.

You did choose to fly with an airline that uses quite possibly the worst handling agent ever

[Viral_Jim]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

Only the last 2 times I've flown from there (both one of the first flights of the day), its taken 2.5hrs to drop bags and get through security.  I swore never again.  Suspect slightly later flights are a bit quicker.

No

Bizarre.

In the last two years I've never arrived more than 90mins brlefore a flight (and no, I never missed one). That said, I once left it until 50mins before and had to get a move on. Then again, I never take hold baggage and parking in carpark 1 gives you free priority security.

So probably a very different experience.

EDited due to being shafted by Photobucket

[Varche]

You are just realising that the airports arent run for the customer but for the airport.

Arrive last flight of the day at Malaga and you have a hundred miles to walk to the carousel past dozens of empty carousels. No one actually manning passport control - it is like the arrival of a plane is a shock. Ghastly places to be avoided much better to drive or train if it is a short flight.

[Viral_Jim]

Right. 2nd half of my moaning post

In contrast, this was the queue, to join the queue at security the last time I flew into Heathrow.  .


This sort of thing has an unparalleled ability to p!ss me off. They know how many flights are coming in, how many people are on them. They probably know what everyone's meal choice was. So why the f@ck don't they get enough people in to deal with it. That, along with the sh!t road layout means I avoid Heathrow wherever possible. I have no problem with Gatwick the few times I've used it. But it's just bloody inconveniently located.

[Viral_Jim]

Ghastly places to be avoided much better to drive or train if it is a short flight.

Indeed. Having the choice to avoid them is something I am very much looking forward to in my new job. That said I will miss some aspects of the long hauls. Being paid a day's wage to sit in a comfy seat, watching movies and getting plastered isn't the worst way to spend a Monday

[Doctor Gollum]

Heathrows biggest issue is that it isn't 24 hours. Nothing much happens before 5am or much after 10.30 pm. It isn't a surprise that people might arrive outside these times... it's simply that there's no one there to deal with them

Flying from Gatwick, check-in/bag drop queues depend entirely on the airline/handling agent... BA, Easyjet, Emirates and Virgin all have large areas with several desks and (usually) enough staff to see that the process runs smoothly and security is 24 hour most days (new this year to try to mitigate the initial surge).

However, fly with the likes of Monarch or Thomson, and you're faced with a handful of desks manned lightly and, in the South Terminal in particular, cramped check in areas resulting in a relatively poor, slow and congested process.

Alot of this is down to what the airlines are prepared to pay

[Viral_Jim]

Interesting, I didn't know that LHR wasn't 24h. Does explain a few things mind! My standard now is to go Birmingham to Frankfurt or Zurich. I find changing at either of those hubs far less hassle than the M25. 

However, fly with the likes of Monarch or Thomson, and you deserve everything you get.

Fixed that for you 

[Doctor Gollum]

That too

If Heathrow were to become 24 hour, it wouldn't need a third runway*... but they don't tell you that in the brochure

* using this ( http://www.heathrow.com/company/company-news-and-information/company-information/facts-and-figures ) data, there's 1,293 movements per 18 hour day... if it went full time rather than part time it could handle 1,600 movements a day... I doubt that a third runway would deliver much more than this due to ground congestion

[aaronjb]

Indeed. Having the choice to avoid them is something I am very much looking forward to in my new job. That said I will miss some aspects of the long hauls. Being paid a day's wage to sit in a comfy seat, watching movies and getting plastered isn't the worst way to spend a Monday

I usually end up flying over a weekend for cheaper fares - and I don't get that day back.. not this time, though - LHR->SEA on Monday, SEA->LHR on Friday, direct, with Virgin. Damned expensive but at least I'm not paying the bill!

I fly through Heathrow out of preference really - Birmingham doesn't go where I need (direct), Gatwick is as useful as tits on a bull unless you live in Kent or Sussex as you have to drive past Heathrow to get there anyway, Stanstead is a hole and Luton is .. well, in Luton!

I have had highly variable experience at LHR though - sometimes it's 20 minutes from carpark to gate and sometimes it's four hours and, you're right, that is highly frustrating.

[TheBoy]

After seven months working the forecourts, I would never entertain parking off site

Yup, totally agree. Again I love Birmingham for this. Just booked parking for our upcoming holiday. 11 days was £70 for a flexible booking (no cost to change car) and I can be out of the car, through security and ordering a pint in All Bar One in less than 20mins 

Only the last 2 times I've flown from there (both one of the first flights of the day), its taken 2.5hrs to drop bags and get through security.  I swore never again.  Suspect slightly later flights are a bit quicker.

You did choose to fly with an airline that uses quite possibly the worst handling agent ever

They were well over an hour...  ...but getting through security was well over an hour as well.  You are hearing your name called when still nowhere near getting to the scanners, and the dweebs won't let you queue jump, stating I should have got their earlier - well, I had got there 2.5hrs before the flight.


Hence, I drive to destinations if viable.

[TheBoy]

Well, jimmy944, if that's T5, that looks a damn sight more organised than the one and only time I've ever flown from there.  Once bunch of security pillocks forcing you through the entrance in the distance in your pic, and the dweebs there, rightfully trying to force you back.  Then they get all shocked when there was a mini stampede.