There’s no denying that the airport is a stressful experience, and we can all anticipate a bit of a sting to the wallet when it’s time to venture off on our holibobs. Whether it’s the increased prices for a couple of pints in the departure lounge, or the palpitation-inducing ticket for a return train journey to and from the airport, it seems like travellers always have to dodge breaking the bank just to fly out of the country.
To make things worse, according to an all-new study by KAYAK, UK airports are paying the heftiest price tag when it comes to airport parking in Europe, and of course, London has come out on top with Stansted Airport considered one of the most expensive when it comes to airport parking.
The study was conducted in a quirky nod to International Kissing Day, highlighting the priciest ‘peck and drop’ zones across Europe and the UK. As well as Stansted, Edinburgh also topped the list, with both charging a jaw-dropping 30p per minute for people to say their goodbyes. They ranked last place in the study, both coming in at number 111 out of all the airports included.
So, you can imagine; dropping off your partner or a loved one at these airports, only to realise that you have to pay £7 for a 15-minute goodbye. Go a bit over that with a bathroom break or a coffee, and suddenly you’re looking at a £25 charge!
It’s not all gloom and doom however, with London Luton considered one of the best value ‘goodbye kisses’ in the UK, charging just £0.06 per minute on average, coming in 44th in the European rankings – granted, it’s still six times pricier than the best value options, such as Ibiza (£0.01 per minute), but we won’t get into that.
When it comes to the other London airports, Gatwick came in at 101st place, offering parking for £0.17 per minute. Heathrow is at 108th place, charging 0.23 per minute for parking.
So, next time you’re heading to the airport, consider ALL of your options if you want to avoid spending a pretty penny. Or better yet, start practicing to perfect your ‘peck and drop’ techniques to minimise your spending.
If all that was too stressful for you to process, ditch the airport and check out our article rounding up the best staycations you can take that are easily accessible from London. Click here or the link below for the full round-up.