Gatwick airport has published new advice for passengers using ‘meet and greet’ or valet parking companies over the upcoming Christmas holidays.

The airport said there had been a 164 per cent increase in complaints about third party firms between May and October this year, compared to the same period in 2019.

Issues ranged from vehicles being returned late, dirty or with significant increases in mileage, to keys being lost or vehicles being damaged.

Gatwick said that in one case a passenger parked at Gatwick found a map of Bristol on their back seat when the vehicle was returned.

It warned that while companies or their websites often have “Gatwick” in the name, they have no relationship with the airport, adding that “Gatwick cannot prevent competitor parking companies from operating on site, provided they abide by airport byelaws and terms and conditions of use”.

In an attempt to avoid passengers “being stung” by the rogue firms, the airport has published a five-point checklist, urging customers to look for:

  • Positive reviews on Trustpilot, or other reputable review sites
  • Full, clear contact details – not just a mobile phone number – on the company’s website
  • Companies House Number, VAT Number and registered company address on their website
  • British Parking Association’s Park Mark accreditation for all the operator’s storage sites
  • Trading Standards’ Buy With Confidence accreditation

Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, said that anyone with concerns about an operator can report them at westsussex.gov.uk/TSReport, adding that “We robustly tackle traders who con and mislead consumers and take action when needed to ensure rogue traders are dealt with”.

Meanwhile Gary Wallace, head of car parks, Gatwick Airport said:

“We know what a special time Christmas is for passengers – especially as this is the first in three years with unrestricted travel. The last thing we want is for our passengers’ holidays to be ruined by rogue parking companies.

“For complete peace of mind, we would always recommend passengers book with official Gatwick Airport parking, however, if considering using a third-party ‘meet and greet’ parking provider, we strongly advise using our checklist before booking.”

Gatwick said that its own valet parking included 360-degree high-definition cameras “to check vehicles for pre-existing damage”, with vehicles being tracked and stored in secure, BPA Park Mark accredited facilities.

The airport also offers a guarantee that your car will be waiting for customers when they return, otherwise their next booking will be free.

Last year Gatwick introduced a fee for vehicles dropping off passengers at its North and South Terminal forecourts, with drivers being charged £5 for ten minutes, plus £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes.

Gatwick to charge vehicles using North Terminal forecourt from next month

gatwickairport.com

Have you used a ‘meet and greet’ parking company at Gatwick? Let us know your experience in the comments below.