Best and worst airports for parking fees revealed – you’ll pay up to FOUR times more at one site

HOLIDAYMAKERS flying from certain airports are paying up to four times more for parking than their counterparts, The Sun can reveal.

With the help of MyVoucherCodes, we examined on-site parking prices at 29 airports across the UK for a two-week summer break.

Prices were calculated by taking the average cost of two weeks' parking over a 13-month period.

Travellers flying out of Newquay Airport pay just £54.48 for two weeks' worth of parking, making it the cheapest airport on our list.

However, those making the same two-week trip from London City Airport would pay a whopping £213.14 for parking.

This means holidaymakers flying from London City pay four times or 291% more than those who park and fly from Newquay.

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Martyn James, consumer rights expert, said: "For many people, airport parking fees are unavoidable, given the distance you have to travel to an airport and outrageous taxi fees if your flight is late.

"So this research is invaluable when it comes to choosing which airport to fly from.

"Think of parking charges as an 'add on' to your flight costs – and you might find it makes sense to drive a bit further to save a fortune."

SWITCH AIRPORT AND SAVE

While the costs of airport parking are often unavoidable, our research shows that you could save a fortune if you're open to switching from the airport you usually travel from.

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For example, if you live in London, the cheapest airport to park at is London Heathrow.

On average, motorists pay £127.99 to park their car on-site for two weeks.

That's 66% less or £85.15 less than those who park and fly from London City.

A London City Airport spokesperson said: "While this survey data is based on two-week stays, most passengers use our car park for an average time of four days or less."

"London City Airport's parking prices for short stays are in line with other London airports and passengers can save up to 30% by booking at least one month in advance."

Choosing to park and fly from Heathrow is also 50% or £65.15 cheaper than parking at London Gatwick too.

London Gatwick declined to comment.

If you live in South West England, you could save a fortune by flying from Exeter instead of Bournemouth or Bristol.

Those switching to park and fly from Exeter instead of Bournemouth could save up to 72% or £71.91.

Again, if you live in Scotland, you could make substantial savings by parking and flying from Prestwick instead of Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.

Those swapping from Edinburgh to Prestwick would save 31% or £25.10 on on-site parking costs.

And those switching from Glasgow Airport to Prestwick can save £10% or £7.75.

CUT YOUR PARKING COSTS FURTHER

Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, said: "The difference in price for parking between different airports is quite astonishing.

"However, it's also important to be aware that costs can also vary considerably at the same airport from one week to the next."

That's why it's vital to book well ahead of time and be aware of other ways to cut costs.

The best advice to drivers is to book early and take advantage of any discounts offered by the airports

Paying for airport parking online and in advance will almost always guarantee you get the best deal.

You'll save hundreds of pounds compared to paying on the day.

Most airports offer on-site parking, which you can book directly via their website before you travel.

Private firms also offer parking outside the airport grounds.

Typically, you'll be met at the terminal, and your car will be parked for you.

Your vehicle will then be returned when you arrive home.

Use a comparison site such as Holiday Extras, Airpark or SkyParkSecure, but check on MoneySavingExpert.com's airport parking guide first, as it has discounts of up to 45% via its links.

When using these sites, you can also compare prices between airports - that way, you can weigh up all of the costs associated with a trip from a specific airport.

It's also worth opting for a flexible booking in case of any flight delays or cancellations.

THE ALTERNATIVES

If you find that airport parking costs too much, you could always consider catching the train.

Remember, though, that tickets might be expensive, particularly for a large family, so make sure you weigh your options.

And if you're being driven to the airport by a friend or relative, remember that they'll be charged a fee for dropping you outside the terminal.

The Sun recently revealed how airport drop-off charges have surged by up 20% more than last year.

Prices vary between each airport, but you'll be expected to fork out between £3 and £7 at the country's biggest airfields.

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However, you don't need to waste your cash on these costly fees.

Most airports have free areas for drop-offs.