A travel expert has warned people to plan ahead and book alternative car parking when flying during a spike in airport prices.
If you're flying this winter and aren't able to jump on a train or bus to the airport, then you may have to face parking charges which have spiked during the festive season.
According to one piece of analysis, the difference between a week's parking over Christmas and in January 2023 can be more than double.
London Luton Airport has the biggest Christmas hike with prices having been increased to £129.99 for 23 to 30 December, compared to £56.99 in January.
London Heathrow Airport was also found to be raising its prices significantly on key Christmas travel dates.
Charges to leave a car for a short stay from 13 to 20 January at the airport is £140.80, while a short-stay fee from 23 December to 30 December is £217.30 - meaning a hike of 47%.
Harrison Woods, CEO at YourParkingSpace, has advised those looking to avoid an unwanted Christmas present in the from of a hefty parking charge to look further afield for a space.
He said: “Anyone travelling over the Christmas season will be stunned by some of these sky-high increases in car parking fees where some airports are increasing costs to cash in on the busy winter travel period.
"If you are travelling over Christmas, head to YourParkingSpace website to find off-site convenient, and affordable parking for your journey.”
YourParkingSpace is an online marketplace and parking reservation service for drivers looking to find and pre-book parking in the United Kingdom, and features more than 350,000 privately owned and commercially operated parking spaces.
It currently has parking spaces a 15 minute walk from London Luton that are available for £31 for the December 23 to 30 week - £100 less than the official airport parking costs.
During the same period a space is available an 18 minute walk from Heathrow for £50.
An alternative to driving to the airport which is generally cheaper and better for the environment is taking a train or bus.
Below are the prices for a week's parking over Christmas 2022 and in January 2023 at airport's official car parks.
Prices may be subject to change along with demand.
- London Luton Airport : Price in December £129.99, price in January £56.99, increase £73.00/128%
- London Heathrow Airport : Price in December £217.30, price in January £148.80, increase £68.50/47%
- Bristol Airport : Price in December £150.99, price in January £116.99, increase £34.00/29%
- London Gatwick Airport : Price in December £202.00, price in January £170.00, increase £32.00/19%
- Manchester Airport : Price in December £103.00, price in January £75.00, increase £28.00/37%
- London Stanstead Airport : Price in December £109.99, price in January £83.99, increase £26.00/30%
- Leeds Bradford Airport : Price in December £139, price in January £125, increase £14.00/11%
- Newcastle Airport : Price in December £78.99, price in January £66.99, increase £12.00/17%
- Glasgow International Airport : Price in December £79.99, price in January £72.19, increase £7.80/11%
- Exeter Airport : Price in December £81.35, price in January £73.95, increase £7.40/10%
You can find out more on yourparkingspace.co.uk
