Are UK airports deliberately making it awkward to drive too?

Question

Everything about driving to the airport to drop someone off or pick someone up seems to have become a lot more differcult. It's now not clear which part you need to be in.
Also because many airports now charge for dropping off/ picking up passengers, drivers are nervous and errattic about being fined over staying which can only result in an accident.
So if airports are trying to stop people using there cars, what are the alternatives they want us to use?

The only ones I can think of are a 4 hour Couch trip to cover about 60-70 miles

Or very in direct train trips taking 3 hours and costing a fortune.

Surely the airport has thought about this and put in a creditable alternative. But what is it?

Answer 1

A range of clearly signposted car parks catering for long and short stays with shuttle buses to between car parks and airport. Also pick-up and drop-off points.

Difficult not differcult, erratic not errattic, credible not creditable, and coach not couch - though a trip on a couch would no doubt be comfortable.

Answer 2

I think the transport system in the UK is one of the best. Airports are usually well-linked by surface transport. I see no need to use a car except when I have many pieces of luggage, which is not the case usually as airlines try their best to decrease luggage by stricter regulation. In UK's main airport, Heathrow, for example, you can find trains, underground, coaches and buses. What do you need more?! You should go to airports in less developed countries to realize the bless you have in the UK. The only problem I think is that people don't plan well for their surface transport ahead of visiting the airport to find the best in terms of travel time, cost, etc.

Further, the UK is full with commercial airports, so if you have to travel 3-4 hours to get to the airport, then I think you are not exploring other airport options around you.

Answer 3

Yes because of security, environmental concerns and congestion problems it is the policy of the airport owners to discourage car usage at airports. Almost all of Britain's airports now have railway stations inside the airport, and because of congested roads, the train journey from the airport is generally much faster than the road equivalent. E.G. central London to Gatwick Airport, 30 minutes by train, often 2 hours by road. Rail travel isn't nearly as expensive as many non rail travellers

claim; there are many ways of saving on rail fares like getting a railcard which saves you 34%

on your tickets and booking tickets in advance

www.nationalrail.co.uk

www.railcard.co.uk

Answer 4

Yes , some drop off points are now charging to get out of that area with a paypoint at a barrier and are levying hefty fines if you overstay the few minutes allowed. You are dropping off passengers who are spending money on flights and in the airport and you are being charged for doing so !!!



It's all to do with the airport making as big a profit as possible.



And yes, signposting can be poor especially if you are new to that airport. In fact there are so many signs its hard to spot the one you want and I agree about accidents too. Because of that drivers are unsure which lane etc to take and it can feel dangerous in those situations.

Answer 5

Your right and it has a lot to do with security as well with more recent breaches in security using cars as bombs, I don't think they have the balance right and the absence of clear signage well there is no excuse..... their business is flights, the cost of land for parking is expensive for them...so they tender it out and unless buses and trains get profit from putting a service in and they have the capacity to do so that won't be done either..........as public we have learned to expect a seamless service but with private companies the first priority is profit not social convience, "you want it you have to pay for it" is their motto...................................

Answer 6

Lets face it, they haven't thought of any alternatives. That's just the way they are XD

Answer 7

Welcome to RIP OFF BRITAIN.