On 1 April I went to Stansted airport to pick up my fiance’s family – one of them elderly, the other a toddler – who had just flown in. The night before I looked up the “Express setdown” charges on the web and was told it was £2.50 for 10 minutes, then £2.50 for each extra minute. I was happy to pay this. With the extra time of sorting out the child seat I left after 13 minutes – only to be hit by a £50 charge which I later learned had come into effect at midnight.
There was no notice of the new £50 charge as we entered the Express setdown area. Instead, I found a tiny sticker on the machine informing people about the £50 charge. I feel very unfairly treated and have asked Stansted for a refund. I write to you to warn other readers who could be caught out by this new charge. VC, Reading
Stansted says the setdown area you used is not for picking up passengers, and claims it changed its website two days before the price increase. As a result it will not be refunding you.
The charge has gone up from £2.50 for 10 minutes, and £2.50 for each subsequent minute, to £3 for the first 10 minutes and then the £50 charge if you go over the 10 minutes – which seems a very steep penalty. The airport says that there are 20 signs that make this clear. Other readers, you have been warned.
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