Deciding what to do with your car before jetting off for a few days in the sun can be a difficult decision.
Some people opt to leave their car at home and arrange private transport, while other holidaymakers choose to drive to the airport and use the car parks on offer.
But it seems people who have used Leeds Bradford Airport's (LBA) services this year are conflicted on which is the best option. Numerous reviews of LBA's service, left on TrustPilot, paint a picture of a "poor service" with some saying they left feeling "ripped off".
Read more: Beloved Leeds sandwich shop crowned best in the north for a second year running
Others have described the service as "absolutely first class", adding the airport's car parks offer "easy entry, exit and loads of spaces." One reviewer, who used a car park at the airport earlier this month, said: "Stayed at long stay car park. Easy access, lots of space and easy to use. Would use again!"
But some claim they have not had the same experience. Leaving a review on March 5 this year, one holidaymaker wrote: "From the service description I understood you arrive at the terminal, are met by Meet & Greet staff and forget about any parking or transfer hassle until you are back from your trip.
"Unfortunately, there was no meet and no greet! I had to park a car in one of the airport's car parks and walk half-a-mile with all my luggage to the terminal. Same process on the return home. I could have paid a bit more to have a shuttle to avoid carrying my suitcases such a long way.
"Very disappointed, learnt a lesson. I will never use it again and would not recommend it to anyone else."
Another unhappy customer urged people to avoid the mid stay car park. "They have closed what used to be, and what they advertise as, the mid stay parking," they said.
"This means the advertised two to three minutes walk is really ten to 15 minutes. Had I been informed of this before travel I would have used another option. Avoid mid stay. Also, ANPR did not work either so had a lengthy wait to exit - and that was after having to move cones around because the area we had parked in had been coned off."
And another traveller, who jetted abroad in January of this year, claimed they were "ripped off" by the airport's parking service. The reviewer said they had paid £100 for a two-week stay in a car park at the airport but struggled to gain access on arrival.
"While away we decided to stay on for three extra days," they wrote. "Informed the parking and they said we could pay the extra cost when we got back. I was disgusted when we were charged £81 for the three extra days.
"When we left we still could not get out of the gate. We called for help again and eventually got out with their assistance. Either getting a lift there or catching the train in future as we go away about six times a year and always use Leeds Bradford Airport. But, we will never use their on-site parking again."
But some people were left far more satisfied by the service.
"Absolutely first class. I upgraded to the nearer terminal and enjoyed a great service," wrote one reviewer in August last year. Another holidaymaker agreed, saying: "I was a bit sceptical about the shuttle bus as I usually park with Meet & Greet. I needn't have been as it was excellent service and I hardly had to wait at all.
"On arrival at the shuttle bus stop there is an intercom where you can tell them you are waiting for a bus. After using this we were only waiting for three to four minutes for the bus. Will definitely use again."
LBA said it values feedback from passengers and uses the information to shape its plans and decision making. It added the airport's parking tariffs remain low when compared to other major airports.
A spokesperson for the airport said: "LBA continues to provide competitive prices on parking and in some cases is substantially lower than other UK airports. Whilst we want to reduce emissions from vehicles around the airport, we also understand and facilitate for reliable, accessible solutions in our Pick Up and Drop Off area and other associated car parks.
"We look forward to welcoming more passengers back to the airport in 2022, with many taking their first holiday following the impacts of the pandemic."
Have you used the car parks at Leeds Bradford Airport recently? Let us know how you found the experience in the comments below
