Birmingham Airport - rapid drop off

[wiltsman]

Recently I dropped someone off at Birmingham Airport. The drop off took all of one minute - however I was unable to drive away until I paid a pound for a ticket to get out again. Now I know due to the threat of terrorism they had to stop motorists stopping at the terminal entrance, but to stream all motorists through what is effectively a short stay car park seems to be a sly way of making money. Now a pound may not be much money in this day and age, but it's the principle that gets me. Sorry - end of rant!

[jno]

I presume you're paying for the convenience of dropping him somewhere handy. You could have dropped him further away and saved money but he'd have had a longer walk with his luggage.

Did they warn you in advance that a fee was payable?

[wiltsman]

Hi jno - I saw no advance notices, except as you get closer you start to see 'no reversing' signs, so you can't change your mind and divert to the long stay car park.

To be honest, it would bepetty to drop a friend off a long way from the terminal and let him wait for the shuttle bus to save a pound.

[999]

a pound is less and less. inflation will soon happen trust me

[jno]

well, exactly. All the same, if there aren't any signs, that sounds like sharp practice and would be worth complaining about.

[VHG]

The BHX web site says

"A new �Drop and Go� area is situated close to Terminals One and Two and will cost �1 for 20 minutes"

"For passenger convenience there is 60 minutes free parking in the surface car park of Long Stay One. There are regular free buses between the Long Stay One and the Terminals"

http://www.bhx.co.uk/page.aspx?type=T0NaZj9WNo U=&id=dIN2BoIQFHE=

[mushroom25]

you could always "drop off" at the railway station - it's only a few minutes from there to the airport on the people mover.

[wiltsman]

Thanks everybody - your reply is worth looking into 'mushroom,

[VHG]

Dropping off at Long Stay One is also worth considering.

If you drop the person by a bus strop in the Long Stay 1 car park a bus will take them right outside the door of the terminal.

You only have to wait a few minutes at a bus stop and a "free" bus will come along.

In fact as you have a whole hour you could even get on the bus with them to the terminal ,and then either walk back (it is not far) or get the bus back.

I dropped someone off a few months ago and parked at Long stay 1 for my free 60 minutes and was able to see the off in the terminal.

[tamborine]

Free at Heathrow & Gatwick; change your airport if you dont wanna pay

[wiltsman]

Tickets already booked for Birmingham 'tamborine'!

'VHG' - what you say makes sense - with the free hour at the long stay car park it means I could accompany my friend into the airport. Thanks for that. Good idea!