O/T Mcr Airport.

[fatboy47]

Quick one...

Has anyone been caught out by the new drop-off arrangments at Mcr and been hounded for charges?... I felt there was a lack of clarity but maybe I'm simply getting past it.

[Marney&Mee]

Last week. £60 fine if paid early. Didn’t ever think there would be a charge for my drop off (£5).

Have appealed quoting the case mentioned on Money supermarket ?

Tis ridiculous really

[Big Vinny K]

Quick one...

Has anyone been caught out by the new drop-off arrangments at Mcr and been hounded for charges?... I felt there was a lack of clarity but maybe I'm simply getting past it.

Loads of people are getting caught out by it
The airport is an absolute disgrace
And it’s 35% owned by Manchester City council
Thieves

[Andreshotboots]

Drop off charges been in place for a while now unless they've changed it again?. There is still a free drop off area near the jet parks, where the free busses are available to take passengers to the terminal.

I'm dropping my son off next weekend, but I suppose I'll just use my card and pay the £5 or whatever it is....

[bfcfan1882]

Drop off charges been in place for a while now unless they've changed it again?.

They have changed it to "no barrier" - pay online before midnight the day after use.

Allegedly, to catch people out therefore collecting £60 not £5

[bobinho]

Of course it’s basically theft.

The socialist mayor of Manchester will sort it out tho…. Oh. Hang on….

[Big Vinny K]

Drop off charges been in place for a while now unless they've changed it again?. There is still a free drop off area near the jet parks, where the free busses are available to take passengers to the terminal.

I'm dropping my son off next weekend, but I suppose I'll just use my card and pay the £5 or whatever it is....

You can’t do that now.

[Foshiznik]

Of course it’s basically theft.

The socialist mayor of Manchester will sort it out tho…. Oh. Hang on….

Here we go. Didn't take long.

Do people not realise that mayors of any persuasion in any city in the UK don't make every single decision made within their city?

[bobinho]

Maybe they don’t, but you can bet an inch of your wotsit he’s aware of it. And if he wasn’t happy with it, you’d be sick of listening to him harp on about it on Granada reports…

And wtf does “here we go, didn’t take long” mean exactly?

[bart_claret]

Something else I learnt last week. If dropping off at T3 follow the signs for T1.

And yes, the new drop off payment method is an absolute money making scam. Why else would they change it?

[Tall Paul]

Something else I learnt last week. If dropping off at T3 follow the signs for T1.

And yes, the new drop off payment method is an absolute money making scam. Why else would they change it?

Maybe to help the flow of traffic if cars no longer need to stop and wait for barriers to open?

[Row x]

The prices are a rip off, but they've been in place for years, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, all airports do it, Liverpool is a minimum of 6 quid.

[Tricky Trevor]

The prices are a rip off, but they've been in place for years, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, all airports do it, Liverpool is a minimum of 6 quid.

Re: Liverpool.
Daughter picks me up and drops me off at the Garden Centre, where you’d turn left from our end. I’d rather walk a mile than pay them grubby bastards.

[Row x]

Re: Liverpool.
Daughter picks me up and drops me off at the Garden Centre, where you’d turn left from our end. I’d rather walk a mile than pay them grubby bastards.

So would I...but at 3am in the pouring rain you have to.

[bart_claret]

Maybe to help the flow of traffic if cars no longer need to stop and wait for barriers to open?

Hmmmm, so the fact that some of the barriers didn't always open or some weren't even working at all was always the drivers fault?
The reality is exit barriers were conveniently "out of order" to deliberately slow exit down to over 10mins to force the then £25 overstay fine. Now they have got rid of the barriers they have had to come up with a new money making scam to replace the overstay fine.

[Andreshotboots]

They have changed it to "no barrier" - pay online before midnight the day after use.

Allegedly, to catch people out therefore collecting £60 not £5

A**holes. Looks like I'll be dropping my lad and his girlfriend in Stockport then

[giveusaB]

Re Liverpool
There’s a free 20 minute car park at Liverpool called drop off 2 only a few minutes from the terminal.Used it several times.

[bobinho]

Won’t be long before Stockport is covered in the double reds.

It’s theft, nowt less. And it’s sanctioned by the powers that be.

[Tall Paul]

The charge isn't new, just the method of payment.

[Claretnick]

Loads of info about the new system on the airport website including info about the free drop off option.
https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/par ... -off-info/

[wilks_bfc]

2 of us had to do the drop off there last month when Mrs_w and friends went off to Tenerife

I got home paid £5 straight away and text mate to remind him.
He returned text “cheers mate will do it now” - then forgot

£100 fine through the post reduced to £60 if paid with 14days

When he went to pay it he ended up only paying the £5

[Andreshotboots]

Need to get a "Midwife on call" sign like Del Boy

[JR1882]

I thought it was easy, got home and paid the £5. There are lots of warning signs in the drop off areas in fairness.

[chipbutty]

I travel to Spain a d sometimes collect or drop people off at Alicante, Murcia or Málaga airport. All 3 of these give 10 minutes free parking that you can use as often as you want.
If you need longer and have to pay, then the fees are pence, or actually cents
#RIPOFFBRITAIN

[JR1882]

Of course it’s basically theft.

The socialist mayor of Manchester will sort it out tho…. Oh. Hang on….

The city council and all the local authorities together own a 65% stake in the airport so you’d imagine they were in on this.

[Clarets4me]

Flew with Jet2 to Lesvos last month, early season so plenty of elderly folk, the gate was a 10 minute walk for a healthy able bodied person ... it seemed miles ... included 2 flights of stairs, and no chairs on which to sit down and take a breather. On the return, it was again miles to passport control and both " moving walkways " weren't working ... add in the drop off fees, and you'll struggle to find any business that has such a complete disregard for their customers and their needs ...

Not directly their fault, but the " Duty Free " perfumes were more expensive than Boots on the High Street, £57 for 200 Marlboro Gold is actually 20% more expensive than you can buy the same cigarettes, tax paid, in Greece, and the Spirits were no cheaper than a Tesco Clubcard deal ! To be fair to Jet2, three litre bottles of " Export " strength ( 47.3% ) Gordons Gin for £40 provided the best deal I saw ..

[dsr]

Flew with Jet2 to Lesvos last month, early season so plenty of elderly folk, the gate was a 10 minute walk for a healthy able bodied person ... it seemed miles ... included 2 flights of stairs, and no chairs on which to sit down and take a breather. On the return, it was again miles to passport control and both " moving walkways " weren't working ... add in the drop off fees, and you'll struggle to find any business that has such a complete disregard for their customers and their needs ...

That's the reason of course why so many people need wheelchair assistance nowadays. Not because they're in any way disabled, but because they are unable to do the course of an hour+ queuing with a mile or so walking in between times. If they could find a more efficient queuing system for check-in, plus useful numbers of electric 8-seater trolleys zipping around, they could cut the numbers of wheelchair assistants without cutting the service.

[CaptJohn]

That's the reason of course why so many people need wheelchair assistance nowadays. Not because they're in any way disabled, but because they are unable to do the course of an hour+ queuing with a mile or so walking in between times. If they could find a more efficient queuing system for check-in, plus useful numbers of electric 8-seater trolleys zipping around, they could cut the numbers of wheelchair assistants without cutting the service.

If you think MAN is bad try Frankfurt for connecting flights. It's a positive marathon, truly "survival of the fittest" and deliberately made worse because we do not belong to the Schengen group.

[dsr]

When did this allegedly convenient system start? Is it the last few days, or longer ago?

[ChrisG]

If you think MAN is bad try Frankfurt for connecting flights. It's a positive marathon, truly "survival of the fittest" and deliberately made worse because we do not belong to the Schengen group.

I travel through FRA pretty frequently, albeit not usually on a connecting flight.

Terminal one is massive and pretty dated, but terminal 2 is pretty good.

The UK was never part of Schengen, but at least the EU lane could be used. Nowadays, you need to go to the border control guard, which is fine as long as you don't get stuck behind an incoming A380 as I did a few months ago.

[dandeclaret]

Manchester unfriendliest airport I travel through.

Frankfurt transfer times can be horrendous without any support.

Schipol worst for losing luggage on a transfer.

London City the easiest to travel through, but no lounges.

[IanMcL]

Tail end of last year, I drove to Bristol Airport to pick up my partner. Foggy most of the way there but only misty at airport parking. Parked and waited. Call from distressed partner. "Where are you, I am on airport road by lamppost?" Left car park and drive the road. No sign. Back to car park and begin searching. Find and go.
Total time about 15 minutes.

£100 fine for 'returning'. Sign said hour parking, with no retun in an hour or 30 mins, depending which sign.

I decided (after the event, as not seen sign beforehand) that I had an hour and then couldn't return.

Unsuccessful writing to company and then appeal via Poopla, who are very accurate and fair.

Pay up! Ouch.

[Bury-claret90]

Ye think I’ll probably get fine then cause drop my missus off on terminal 3 last Monday and says she’ll pay it when she gets though the gate , anyway she forgot but haven’t had anything though post yet,
Just wondering anyone who has got fine drop off zones from airport how long did it take when the fine come though post?
Cheers

[ChrisG]

Manchester unfriendliest airport I travel through.

Frankfurt transfer times can be horrendous without any support.

Schipol worst for losing luggage on a transfer.

London City the easiest to travel through, but no lounges.

London City is superb. I was there last week, from landing to checking into the hotel near the Tate Modern was around 45 minutes.

[TheFamilyCat]

That's the reason of course why so many people need wheelchair assistance nowadays. Not because they're in any way disabled, but because they are unable to do the course of an hour+ queuing with a mile or so walking in between times. If they could find a more efficient queuing system for check-in, plus useful numbers of electric 8-seater trolleys zipping around, they could cut the numbers of wheelchair assistants without cutting the service.

Having seen my wife get fast-tracked through passport control while on crutches, I wouldn't be surprised if a good percentage of those in wheelchairs were just after being given priority treatment.

[No Ney Never]

Serious question, why should people in wheelchairs be given priority?

[ŽižkovClaret]

Serious question, why should people in wheelchairs be given priority?

Several reasons. for one, its a fire hazard having them queue in the same corridor as ambulant passengers. Another is the routes ambulant passnegers are expected to take aren't always wheelchair accessible, and so they often need to be taken through different security zones, which can take longer. They may also need to be at places such as bag drop off, boarding, before ambulant passengers.

TLDR: Its just common sense really

[No Ney Never]

Several reasons. for one, its a fire hazard having them queue in the same corridor as ambulant passengers. Another is the routes ambulant passnegers are expected to take aren't always wheelchair accessible, and so they often need to be taken through different security zones, which can take longer. They may also need to be at places such as bag drop off, boarding, before ambulant passengers.

TLDR: Its just common sense really

1. Unless they are going to spontaneously combust, how are they a fire hazard? Are you suggesting that they will impede the escape of able bodies in case of emergency?
2. Different security zones isn't priority, it's different security zones.
3. Why do they need to be at bag drop off before 'ambulant' passengers?

It's not common sense, you have failed to answer the question.

[Row x]

Several reasons. for one, its a fire hazard having them queue in the same corridor as ambulant passengers. Another is the routes ambulant passnegers are expected to take aren't always wheelchair accessible, and so they often need to be taken through different security zones, which can take longer. They may also need to be at places such as bag drop off, boarding, before ambulant passengers.

TLDR: Its just common sense really

I flew out of the UK last week
We had to wait for the wheelchair passengers, six in total to be loaded on, not a problem
On landing, four of those passengers got off as per other's, walking further than they would have had to boarding.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I flew out of the UK last week
We had to wait for the wheelchair passengers, six in total to be loaded on, not a problem
On landing, four of those passengers got off as per other's, walking further than they would have had to boarding.

You may get **** takers, i'd rather this than people who might struggle weren't able to ask for assistance

[ŽižkovClaret]

1. Unless they are going to spontaneously combust, how are they a fire hazard? Are you suggesting that they will impede the escape of able bodies in case of emergency?
2. Different security zones isn't priority, it's different security zones.
3. Why do they need to be at bag drop off before 'ambulant' passengers?

It's not common sense, you have failed to answer the question.

When you work in an office, fire drills involve getting wheelchair users into "safe" areas for fire crews to retrieve them, so that they don't hold up people able to walk quicker. It is established emergency procedures.

[dougcollins]

My gran used to say bad things happen to those who feign disability.

[claret wizard]

I flew out of the UK last week
We had to wait for the wheelchair passengers, six in total to be loaded on, not a problem
On landing, four of those passengers got off as per other's, walking further than they would have had to boarding.

I wonder if that was because wheelchair users are last off at the destination. If you book a wheelchair and don’t use it you should be fined. Not because you’re obviously taking the p*** but because it depriving genuinely mobility challenged passengers a better service.

[ClaretDiver]

It sounds like Manchester Airport have adopted a similar payment procedure to the Tyne Tunnel. Always used to be that you paid the toll at gates before you travel through the tunnel. Then, in order to keep traffic flowing they moved to this method where they use ANPR and then you have until midnight the following day to pay the toll either via the t’interweb or phone. This also caught a lot of people out at the start but seems to be working perfectly now…if you remember to pay lol!

You can also ‘prepay’ for trips through the tunnel too, for example I recently knew I would be going through 4 times on a week due to taking my parents from my house to the ferry in North Shields…logged on to the website and prepaid for the 4 journeys…worked spot on!

[Stockbrokerbelt]

I travel to Spain a d sometimes collect or drop people off at Alicante, Murcia or Málaga airport. All 3 of these give 10 minutes free parking that you can use as often as you want.
If you need longer and have to pay, then the fees are pence, or actually cents
#RIPOFFBRITAIN

Malaga is 15 mins free with a maximum of 6€ at the express parking, for anyone wanting to use it come out of arrivals & use moving stairs or lift to express parking, easy exit as well straight on to feeder road for AP7/A7.

[dsr]

I'd like to see someone challenge these things in court. There's surely plenty of grounds.

For one thing, contract terms have to be spelled out in advance. Can the airport prove that the driver has accepted the full terms and conditions before driving in? Has the driver had full information about the penalty while driving in?

For another, in car parks a driver has a grace period of 10 minutes to change his mind and drive out again. For obvious reasons the airport aren't giving any grace period.

And another, penalty payments so far as I know have to be fair and proportionate and related to the admin costs incurred. Can they honestly say that it costs £95 to send a letter demanding payment?

I think, like the motorway services, they wouldn't want their terms to be tested in court. I believe that motorway services will back down over their charges for parking for over two hours if someone seems determined to challenge them, in their case because they have a statutory duty as part of their franchise to provide rest areas for motorists. They don't want to test whether they are allowed to arbitrarily restrict their statutory duty. This might (I only say might) be a similar case - if the airport are on thin ice legally, they won't want it testing.

[dsr]

I wonder if that was because wheelchair users are last off at the destination. If you book a wheelchair and don’t use it you should be fined. Not because you’re obviously taking the p*** but because it depriving genuinely mobility challenged passengers a better service.

You're assuming that everyone who books a wheelchair knows exactly how fit they will be feeling when they get off the plane. Obviously there will be shysters trying it on, as well as the genuine elderly/infirm who have varying limitations from day to day, but forcing people to use wheelchairs and wheelchair assistants when they don't need to, is just occupying the staff unnessarily.

One thing that they could do is provide more "self-service" wheelchairs. Many people who can't do the mile-and-a-half walk + hour-and-a-half queue, would be able to do it comfortably enough sitting down. But I know from experience that the airports are often over-anxious to provide human assistance in circumstances where it isn't really needed.

[Row x]

You're assuming that everyone who books a wheelchair knows exactly how fit they will be feeling when they get off the plane. Obviously there will be shysters trying it on, as well as the genuine elderly/infirm who have varying limitations from day to day, but forcing people to use wheelchairs and wheelchair assistants when they don't need to, is just occupying the staff unnessarily.

One thing that they could do is provide more "self-service" wheelchairs. Many people who can't do the mile-and-a-half walk + hour-and-a-half queue, would be able to do it comfortably enough sitting down. But I know from experience that the airports are often over-anxious to provide human assistance in circumstances where it isn't really needed.

A couple of years ago I saw a couple quite upset with staff at the boarding gate at Manchester
Next day I saw them in the bar of the hotel. I asked them if they were ok and if they'd managed to get their problem sorted
The gentleman explained they'd requested assistance in advance, but only to lift the suitcases onto the belt at check in, as he'd had and operation on his shoulders. However the staff at the airport insisted he had a wheelchair, which he was quite upset about. We got to know them quite well, and they haven't travelled abroad since.

[No Ney Never]

When you work in an office, fire drills involve getting wheelchair users into "safe" areas for fire crews to retrieve them, so that they don't hold up people able to walk quicker. It is established emergency procedures.

you're clearly on a wind up mission. Safe area in a burning building where you can leave a wheelchair user so the able bodies can get out quicker!

[ChrisG]

you're clearly on a wind up mission. Safe area in a burning building where you can leave a wheelchair user so the able bodies can get out quicker!

This is true. In most modern office buildings there are refuge areas on the landings in the stair cores, which are generally fire rated up to 90 minutes.

The idea is the fire and rescue service will help safely lift someone out.