The initial proposal by airport operators BAA, a couple of months ago, was met with vehement opposition especially amongst Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers. MSP Gavin Brown lodged a parliamentay motion against the changes, but following the debate it was ruled the Scottish Government would not intervene, citing the influence of Edinburgh Airport to the local economy.

Members of the public, of whom 9000 signed Gavin Brown’s petiton, felt angered at the failure of the government to act in their interests. Last week, Lord Provest Lesley Hinds, encouraged the City Council to investigate the possibility of buying back the airport roads from BAA. If they were able to do so, they would not only be able to remove surcharges but also control the roads and the new tram service. However, at a cost of £150,000 a year it is fairly unlikely the council will be able to free up enough resources. The investigation continues.

Edinburgh are the latest of a number of UK airports to introduce a drop off charge. The previous airport to do so, Belfast International Airport, has incurred a number of unprecendented problems with the system. Many passengers, opposed to the drop off charges, have chosen to boycott the system by parking illegally on approach roads. The airport is now being forced to spend much of the £2 million it was set to make on the system, clearing up the problems it has created.

Have you been affected by new drop off measures at your local airport? Please share your experiences and opinions below.

Dean Dolling, of Buckinghamshire, used Airparks valet service during a two week holiday in Cyprus. When he returned to his vehicle, he discovered rental documentation lying on the back seat.

At the time he complained to Airparks but they assured him his car had remained parked in their secure compound.

Later, he was contacted by an Australian tourist who told him he had rented his car and had began to suspect something was amiss as it was not an official car.

Should Have Taken The Bus...

Following this revelation, Mr Dolling again complained to the car parking operator who then offered him £500 in compensation, blaming system errors. It was not long before the BBC’s Watchdog got involved and Airparks upped their offer to £2,500.

It has been an unfortunate month for Airparks who were in the news earlier this month after another customer returned from his holiday to find his prized BMW written off. A private repair company assessed the damages at around £5000 and it was not until The Guardian got involved in proceedings that Airparks upped their offer from £850 to £1400 (the value of the car itself).

Other Meet and Greet services have also borne the brunt of similiar horror stories at Luton Airport.

In July this year, Andy and Nicola Halls left their car with another parking operator, only to be called hours later with the news their car had been crashed on the M23 by an uninsured, 18-year old employee.

BBC Watchdog will air their programme on rogue airport operators tonight, 21st October 2010, on BBC One at 8pm.

If you have had any other airport parking horror stories, please share your experiences in the comment box below…

Express by Holiday Inn London Stansted Airport

This hotel has 13 blue badge parking spaces outside and has made the bar, restaurant and meeting rooms fully accessible.  There are accessible guest rooms with wide turning circles and low level fixtures and fittings.  Induction loops have been fitted where appropriate for the hard of hearing, vibrating pagers raise the alarm in the event of an emergency and an evacuation chair is provided.  Assistance dogs are welcome here and literature can be provided in large print.  Free Wifi can be accessed in the lobby and the hotel has a holiday parking package.  They operate a shuttle bus to the airport terminal, which is 5 minutes away.

DeSalis Hotel London Stansted

There are 2 wheelchair accessible rooms in this hotel and the bar and restaurant are fully accessible.  Free WiFi is on offer throughout the building.   There are airport parking packages available and there’s a transfer service to the airport, which is 5 minutes’ drive.

Hilton London Stansted Airport

This hotel is fully wheelchair accessible and there are accessible bedrooms available.  Vibrating alarms can be provided where necessary.  The Hilton is on-sit at Stansted Airport, a 6 minute drive to the terminal.  Holiday parking packages are offered and there is a shuttle bus service.

Days Inn Hotel London Stansted

The Days Inn is a budget hotel that has accessible rooms.  There are fitted with roll in showers and wider door frames.  The hotel is about 10 minutes’ drive from Stansted Airport.  There is airport parking available in the Welcome Break Service Area adjacent to the hotel, but that has to be booked separately with Welcome Break.

Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport

This hotel is the closest to the airport.  It’s connected via a pedestrian path, which has ramps for wheelchair users.  The hotel is fully accessible in the public areas.  The accessible guest rooms have walk-in showers and lower fixtures and fittings.  All the meeting rooms have hearing loop facilities.  The guest rooms have complimentary wireless internet and airport parking packages are available for guests arriving by car.

Gibraltar Airport

This airport serves the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and gets a gold star for being just 500 metres from the city.  You can walk into the centre, or if you prefer, you can walk to the border with Spain and cross into another country on foot.  There are also taxis and buses into Gibraltar for those with heavy luggage, but taxis are not allowed to cross the border into Spain.

San Diego Airport

San Diego’s airport is just 2 miles (3 km) from the city centre.  There is a Metro Bus which will take you downtown in 10 minutes.  However, we all know that in the USA, the car rules, so you might want to rent one.  If so, there are courtesy telephones near the baggage claim in each terminal, and a shuttle bus will take you to the rental office of your choice.

Dubai International Airport

This luxurious airport is just 2.5 miles (4 km) from Dubai city centre.  There are local buses to the city, or you can take a special air-conditioned airport bus, which provides transportation to over 80 hotels.

Taipei Songshan Airport

You will find the airport serving Taipei, in Taiwan, about 3 miles (5km) from the city centre.  Taxis are readily available outside the airport and will take 5-15 minutes to get into the city.  Taipei has a metro system called the MRT, but this does not at present run to the airport.  The nearest station is a 5 or 10 minute walk away.

Lisbon Airport

Last on our list is Lisbon Airport, which is a very reasonable 4 miles (7km) from the city centre.  The best way to get there is by taxi, which takes about 15 minutes, or bus, which takes about 20.  The nearest Metro station is 15 minutes away from the airport by bus.

We’d like to hear from you!

Which airports do you find most convenient for their city?  What are your tips for the best way to get into the city centre?

Bewley’s Hotel Manchester Airport

This hotel has blue badge parking spaces outside and the building has wheelchair access.  There are accessible bedrooms, some of which have wet rooms.  All the public areas of the hotel including the restaurant and bar are fully accessible.  Bewley’s has been awarded mobility 2 status by Visit Britain.  It is on-site at Manchester Airport, offers long term parking and a free shuttle bus to the terminals.

Stanneylands

This is an off-site hotel, about 10 minutes’ drive from the airport.  There are disabled parking spaces the front of the hotel.  There are ramps and lifts to all floors inside the building, except the very oldest bedrooms.  Specially designated accessible guest rooms are available.  They have long stay parking packages which include a complimentary taxi to the airport.

Premier Inn Manchester Airport (Wilmslow)

Guide dogs are welcome at this hotel, which has blue badge parking spaces outside. The building has wheelchair access, with ramps and lifts.  Adapted guest rooms can be booked.  A hearing loop has been installed and reception can provide a vibrating pillow fire alarm.  There’s free long term parking here at your own risk, but no shuttle bus to the airport, which is about 3 miles away.

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

The Holiday Inn is 5 minutes’ drive from the airport.  There are disabled parking bays and 2 accessible bedrooms.  These are double rooms and can be booked with an interconnecting twin room if necessary.  All the hotel’s facilities have disabled access and there is a walk in shower in its leisure club.  There are holiday parking packages and a shuttle bus to the airport.

Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport

The Crowne Plaza is on-site at the airport.  There are blue badge parking spaces outside the building.  It has 2 accessible guest rooms and guide dogs are welcome.  You can book long stay parking packages and there’s a free shuttle to all the terminals.

Premier Inn Manchester Airport (Heald Green)

There are 3 accessible rooms at this Premier Inn, which have lower beds and bathroom fittings.  The restaurant and bar are accessible and there are vibrating alarms available.  It’s less than 5 minutes’ drive from here to the airport.

Premier Inn Manchester Airport

Another Premier Inn near Manchester Airport; this one is 10 to 15 minutes away.  The accessible bedrooms have walk-in showers and lower beds.  All levels and areas of the hotel are accessible with lifts and there’s blue badge parking outside.  There are vibrating pillow alarms for the hard of hearing.  The hotel runs a shuttle bus and offers airport parking packages.

Travelodge Manchester Airport

Every floor on the Travelodge has 4 accessible bedrooms.  All of the hotel’s facilities are accessible for wheelchair users.  It’s 10 minutes’ drive from here to the airport passenger terminal.  There’s paid parking for up to 4 days and a shuttle bus available.

Hilton Manchester Airport

The Hilton has blue badge parking spaces and 2 accessible bedrooms.  These have wider doors and adapted bathrooms.  The gym and restaurant are accessible and vibrating alarms are available.  There’s a free shuttle bus to the terminal which is 5 minutes away.

Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport

There are blue badge bays in the car park and the hotel is fully accessible via lifts and ramps.  The accessible bedrooms have walk-in showers.  All the bedrooms have complimentary WiFi connections and long term parking is available.  The hotel is on-site at the airport.  Terminals 1 and 2 are connected to the hotel with moving walkways and there is a shuttle bus to Terminal 3.

Frankfurt (Hahn)

At 77 miles (124 km) from central Frankfurt, this is the best example of misleading naming we can find.  In fact, Ryanair were told not to advertise it as “Frankfurt” anymore, until the airport officially rebranded itself as Frankfurt Hahn.  There is no train, so you have to either drive or catch the bus, which takes an hour and 45 minutes to reach the city in which the airport is supposedly located!

Munich West (Memmingen)

Every year, the streets of Memmingen are filled with bemused passengers who arrive for Oktoberfest, expecting to find themselves in Munich.  They ask cab drivers to take them to the Hofbräuhaus, and are puzzled as to the high prices quoted. This is because the airport is actually 71 miles (114 km) from the city of Munich, which takes an hour and a half to reach by train.  The airport blames low cost airlines for describing it in this way – it is also known as Allgäu Airport.  But the town of Memmingen is now thinking of capitalising on the situation by organising its own mini Oktoberfest.

Oslo (Torp)

This airport is really 68 miles (110 km) or an hour and a half from Oslo.  It’s been a popular destination for the low cost airlines, but if you’re going to Oslo you’d be better flying into Rygge which is about 37 miles (60 km) away from the city.  Ryanair is now expanding its services to Rygge, a relatively new airport which just opened in 2007.

Stockholm (Skavsta and Västerås)

Both of these airports are a long way from Stockholm – Skavsta about 62 miles (100 km) and Västerås about 75 miles (120 km).  A better choice would be Stockholm Arlanda, which is only 26 miles (42 km).

London (Oxford)

If you got on a bus that said it was going to London and you were dropped off in Oxford, you wouldn’t be too pleased, but that’s what happens when passengers catch a plane to this airport, which is 60 miles (97 km) from the centre of the capital.  You could argue that for someone coming in from America, an extra 60 miles at the end of the journey wouldn’t seem like too much.  But its main business at the moment seems to be charter flights from Jersey, so the time to drive to London after landing might be as long as the actual flight!

We’d like to hear from you!

Have you found an airport that is further than this from the city?  What kind of difficulties did it cause?

Premier Inn Birmingham NEC/Airport

This hotel has blue badge parking spaces outside and all its public areas are wheelchair accessible.  Accessible rooms with wet rooms are available.  Hearing loops have been fitted where appropriate and vibrating alarms can be provided.  It takes about 10 minutes to drive to the airport from the Premier Inn, and there are park and fly packages available if you would like to leave your car at the hotel for the duration of your trip.

Arden Hotel and Leisure Club

The Arden has 6 blue badge parking spaces.  The meeting rooms, bar and restaurant are all accessible to wheelchair users.  Accessible bedrooms have been built with appropriate turning circles and lower fixtures and fittings, such as light switches.  Evacuation ski pads are available in the event of a fire.  Assistance dogs are welcome in the hotel.  It’s less than a mile to the airport and long term parking is possible.

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC

This hotel has blue badge parking and 12 accessible guest rooms.  At reception there is an induction loop for hearing aid users and all the public areas of the hotel are fully accessible.  The hotel is 5 minutes’ drive from the airport.  They have long term parking packages and a shuttle bus to the train station, where you can catch the free monorail to the terminal.

Ibis Birmingham Airport

The Ibis has ramps to allow wheelchair access to the building.  Inside, there are 8 accessible bedrooms.  Induction loops have also been fitted for the hard of hearing and there are accessible toilets in the building.  The hotel is just 300 metres from the terminal.   It does not have its own car park, but you can use the official airport car parks; there’s one just across the road.

Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport

The public areas of the hotel are fully accessible and service animals are welcome here.  There are 2 accessible rooms, with wider doors, bigger bathrooms and lower fittings, such as light switches.   There are panel grab rails by the toilet and an emergency button there and beside the bed.  It takes 10 minutes to drive to the airport.  They have long term parking packages and a shuttle bus.

Ramada Encore NEC Birmingham

The accessible rooms in this hotel have level access showers with grab rails and a shower seat.  There is an emergency pull cord in the bathroom and a button beside the bed.  The room has a 1500 mm turning circle.  Features such as the spyhole and lightswitch are set at a low height and there is a strobe light in the ceiling which activates if the hotel’s fire alarm sounds.  There are blue badge parking spaces and the public areas of the hotel are fully accessible.  It’s a few minutes’ drive from the airport terminal.  Park and fly packages are available and there’s free Wifi access throughout the hotel.

Hilton Birmingham Metropole

This hotel has blue badge parking bays and long term parking packages.  Its accessible bedrooms have lower fixtures and fittings.  All the public areas including the bar and restaurants are fully wheelchair accessible.  There’s a shuttle bus to the train station, where you can board a monorail that goes to the terminal building.  It takes 10 minutes to drive from the hotel to the airport.

Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham NEC

This hotel has accessible parking spaces, but blue badge holders still have to pay for parking, which costs £7 per day.  Guide dogs are welcome.  There are 10 accessible bedrooms which have adapted bathrooms and lower fixtures and fittings.  They also have vibrating pillow alarms.  There is no restaurant in the hotel but the pub next door is also wheelchair accessible.  The airport is 10 minutes away by car, or a shuttle bus to the train station is also provided.  This is connected by skyrail to the airport building.

Novotel Birmingham Airport

The Novotel is on-site, opposite Terminal 1 at the airport.  It has 6 accessible rooms and can provide vibrating alarms.  All public areas of the hotel are fully accessible.  There is a wireless internet connection, but a charge applies to this.   Parking is in the airport car parks at Terminal 1.

So remember, a sense of humour isn’t welcome in an airport these days.  Here are my top tips to avoid creating your own ridiculous security scare.

1.    Don’t wear a T-shirt with a picture of a weapon on it.

You’ll be made to take it off.  That’s what happened to a friend of the stand up comic Russell Brand on a flight out of America.  The security staff took a strong line against the gun design on his T-shirt and refused to let him pass. As Russell says, it’s not quite clear where the danger lay.  “It’s a drawing of a gun; it’s not a real gun.  What did they think he was going to do?  Shoot Bugs Bunny? Execute Henry’s Cat?”

2.    Don’t hide a water pistol in your luggage.

It’ll be confiscated, even if it’s stuffed with sweeties rather than bullets.  A 6 year old girl had her bags seized at Cape Town when staff spotted a pink plastic water pistol on the security scan.  Kelly Vinnicombe and her mother had to register the super soaker as a firearm and have it checked by experts before she was allowed to return to Britain with her toy.

3.    Don’t travel with honey

Another dangerous item – which sent two baggage handlers to hospital.  They were investigating bottles of suspicious orange liquids at a California airport when they caught a whiff of the fumes and became nauseous.  Doctors confirmed they were “just nervous” and the substance turned out to be honey.

4.    Don’t stuff your shoes with batteries and shrapnel to make yourself look taller

It can’t be too comfortable, but that was the explanation given by a man at a Toronto airport when he was stopped with “suspicious materials” in his boots.  Police feared he had stuffed them with explosives, but he was released without charge after convincing them that it was just a sneaky way of adding a few inches to his height.

5.    Don’t let your lover jump the security barrier for one last kiss

Newark Airport was shut down after a man slipped through a security cordon whilst the officer on duty was taking a phone call.  A bystander raised the alarm and there was a full scale alert that led to thousands of passengers being stranded for hours.  The man was never found, but he was picked up by video cameras at the scene, embracing his girlfriend on the other side of the barrier and sauntering off with her, hand in hand. You can see the video below.

Premier Inn Birmingham NEC/Airport

The Premier Inn is 5 minutes’ drive from Birmingham Airport. It has free parking for guests whilst they’re staying at the hotel and long term parking packages are available. They include a night’s accommodation for up to 2 adults and 2 children, a Grab & Go breakfast and long term parking, starting from £85 (price correct April 2010). It’s a 3 star hotel.

Arden Hotel and Leisure Club

This 3 star hotel has a large car park with 350 spaces. It’s free to use whilst you’re resident at the hotel and they offer 14 day airport parking packages. Longer stays can also be arranged. The hotel’s less than a mile from the airport. There’s no shuttle bus; a taxi costs about £6. There’s WiFi access available at the Arden Hotel, for a charge.

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC

The car park at the Crowne Plaza has controlled access gates and floodlights for security. It’s free to use overnight and long term parking packages are available. The hotel is 5 minutes’ drive from Birmingham Airport. There’s a shuttle bus which will take you to Birmingham International Train Station for free. Then you can take the free monorail to the airport. If you’d like to be dropped right outside the airport terminal the bus can do that for £1. There’s wireless internet at this 4 star hotel but there is a charge to connect.

Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport

This 3 star hotel is about a mile and a half from the airport. You can book a package that includes a night’s accommodation, parking for up to 15 days and airport transfers. There is a charge to use the wireless internet at the hotel.

Gables Hotel & Restaurant

Overnight parking is free and long term parking packages are on offer. This 3 star hotel is a mile and a half from the airport. They don’t have a shuttle bus and a taxi will cost about £10. There’s free WiFi in the public areas of the building.

Hilton Birmingham Metropole

This is a 4 star hotel which is 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. It has 700 spaces in its car park, which has been given the “Safe Park” award for secure parking. Long term parking packages are available. Deluxe rooms have internet access.

Ramada Encore NEC Birmingham

The 3 star Ramada is within walking distance of the airport terminal; it takes 5 minutes. Its car park is covered by CCTV. You can park there for free overnight and long term parking packages are available. There’s free wireless internet access throughout the building.

So far 600,000 UK travellers have been affected.  Floods of stranded passengers are looking for somewhere to stay, meaning that many on-site airport hotels are already full to bursting.  Airport Hotels.com can help with this because it searches both on-site and off-site hotels to find vacant accommodation within a few minutes’ drive of the airport.  It has a database of 1800 hotels near UK airports – that’s more than any other UK airport hotel website.  Price comparison technology looks for the best deals on accommodation, pooling the results from 10 different booking websites, including Expedia, LateRooms, ebookers and Hotels.com.  This means a bigger selection of rooms, more availability and cheaper prices on Airport Hotels.com.

You can see where the hotels are on a map, look at photographs and read Tripadvisor reviews before making your decision and booking online.  If you’re affected by the flight cancellations and need to find an airport hotel with vacancies, Airport Hotels.com can help.

A search for Stansted Airport hotels will bring up 30 options within 5 miles of the terminal.  There are plenty of guest houses and B&Bs that won’t blow your holiday budget.  Manchester Airport hotels are mainly 3 and 4 star properties but they also feature the budget hotel chains of Premier Inn and Travelodge.  There are several large Birmingham Airport hotels within a few minutes’ drive of the terminal and many of them are still showing availability for tonight.  Those stranded at the UK’s main airport and looking for Heathrow Airport hotels can find 25 different accommodation options on Airport Hotels.com for an unexpected overnight stay, including serviced apartments and hotels of all standards from 1 to 5 stars.

The volcanic eruptions have caused disruption to passengers at airports across Europe. It’s the worst meteorological situation Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control organisation, has ever dealt with.  A volcano erupted in Iceland on Wednesday, sending up a cloud of ash that then drifted across Europe.  It contains particles of rock, glass and sand which can jam aircraft engines.  This has caused planes to crash in the past so flight bans have been put in place for safety reasons. UK airspace was closed on Thursday afternoon as the cloud enveloped the country.  Only a tiny number of services have been allowed to fly since then, as gaps appeared in the cloud, and this situation will continue until Saturday afternoon at least.  News teams have been vox popping stranded passengers across the UK, and some of them are clearly more upset about it than others, judging by this live clip from Sky News.