As airlines and airports seemingly are running out of new fees to charge, Luton Airport near London has hit on a new idea: charge people who aren’t even flying.
The new charge, starting April 29, is not a huge one for now, just one pound, (about $1.50 for drivers who drop passengers off at the curb. For that fee, they will also be able to remain in the area for up to ten minutes — time to unload a lot of luggage, and say a lot of good-byes. The fee will be collected when drivers exit the drop-off area.
For drivers who don’t want to pay, they can park for free in a nearby lot, where there is a free shuttle to the airport. Presumably they can either accompany their passengers to the airport, or say goodbye at the shuttle stop.
In typical airline and airport-speak, Nic Horton, an Luton spokesman said
Dropping passengers off can be a stressful experience, we have therefore given careful consideration to providing the right facilities and enough time for people to unload in a secure environment.
Making a small charge reminds drivers of the 10-minute time allocation and keeps the traffic flowing.
By offering a choice of options we can provide an airport experience to suit the needs of all our passengers.
Notice this is never about their making more money, it is always about our choices. And it will certainly suit the needs better of passengers who can easily afford the fee, which if successful, is likely to be increased.
The company that runs Luton also runs Cardiff airport in Wales, and Belfast in Northern Ireland, neither of which has adopted the drop-off fee at this time.
Luton Airport, by the way, also charges passengers one pound if they forget their plastic bag for security — yes, that’s a one pound charge for a bag. Wonder what they will think of next to “suit the needs of all our passengers?”
