Airports double car parking fees during school holidays

A clear example here of seasonal price discrimination by many of Britain's biggest airports.

The Independent compared prices for a week’s parking at Britain’s top 10 airports on a range of dates over the coming year and found that Manchester and Gatwick raise their charges by as much as half. Birmingham airport charges 57 per cent more during April, which includes the Easter holidays, than in March.

Naturally the airports justify their price hikes by saying that prices are rising to balance seasonal demand with a fixed capacity of car parking spaces. They claim to offer off-peak discounts at other times but this will do little to assuage the anger of families who are already paying more for their half term and termly holiday breaks as holiday companies increase prices at popular times of the year.

According to the Independent, car parking rates at Stansted, Glasgow and Newcastle remain constant. Heathrow has a weekly rate of £73 for the Terminal 5 long-stay car park almost year-round.

Read: Airports cash in on family holidays by doubling car park ratesAirports cash in on family holidays by doubling car park rates