Gatwick Parking

Booking Agents or Book Direct.

 

We have all seen the advertisements for Comparison Sites which cover a wide range of products from insurance to airport parking. With the power of internet marketing becoming ever more powerful it is no surprise that the numbers of comparison sites are increasing year on year. Some web sites call themselves comparison sites and others as agents for the various company products they are selling but they are both ultimately the same.

Comparison sites are what it says on the tin, they offer the opportunity for you to compare prices on your chosen product and in some cases but not all, explain the advantages over one product to another. This is great for products like insurance or banking but does it apply to other businesses like airport parking?

What are the real advantages of buying through comparison sites compared to buying local or going direct to the product company? As with the example above we shall look at airport parking and explain the differences between booking through an agent and booking direct.

Depending on the agent or comparison site the Customer will have a choice of a number of parking operators to choose from. If we take Gatwick Airport Parking as an example these prices range from £35 upwards to over £100 for a weeks depending on the quality of the service. We will assume that the lower price range would offer a park and ride service ( transfer by bus )  and the higher price would be a valet parking service or meet and greet at the airport terminal. However this does not always apply as some agents offer a meet and greet parking service as low as £40 - £50. Prices as low as this for a valet service can only be offered by un-approved operators where they are compromising on safety and security. It is most unlikely the agent will sell the product for less than the operator itself.

Most parking operators are tied to their agents inasmuch as their prices cannot be more or less than the agent selling the product. This means that the parking operator will have to take a hefty chunk of its fee to pay the agent and this can be as much as 35%. Add this to the 20% VAT element of the booking it means that the operator is only getting approximately 50% of the total cost of the booking. This substantial cut in the operator’s profit margins can only reflect itself in the ultimate quality of the service the Customer receives. At a price range of £35 to £50 this means that the profit is small or non-existent or where the parking is not subject to adequate insurance, has no planning permission or even VAT.

The recently introduced Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick will inevitably create a bigger divide in price between park and ride and valet parking. Airport Access Charges have been introduced for every vehicle that enters the forecourts. This again will create a greater burden on the Operator as it is them that will have to absorb the costs and not the commission agent.

Most of the Gatwick Parking operators have their own web sites in spite of the fact that most of their traffic is derived from the Agents. The Agents are superior marketers and this is readily demonstrated by typing in a keyword such as ‘Gatwick Park’ in a search engine such as ‘Google’. The first page is entirely made up of agents or comparison sites and sole operator sites are found further on.

If you look at price comparison web sites for airport parking and then compare them to sole operator web sites you will find an enormous difference particularly if the sole operator is an approved operator.

The sole operator’s web site goes a long way to explaining its service and the industry surrounding it. The agent’s web site is a long way short of descriptions and will simply show icons to indicate what is offered with no actual detail.

If you are a new Customer and you are booking direct with an approved parking operator at Gatwick then you will find the operator working hard to please you and to tempt you back again and again. Very often the operator will offer discounts for your next trip.

Gatwick Parking

Commission Agents Vs Sole Operators

Most parking operators have their own web sites and it has to be accepted that they would rather not pay agents fees if they could achieve the same sort of traffic without them. However, the agents are marketing experts and you will see this just by typing in the term ‘Gatwick Parking’ in your chosen search engine. The first page of results is entirely made up of Agents or comparison sites. Move on to subsequent pages and you will see more actual ‘Operators Web Sites’.

Sole operator web sites offer many advantages to the Gatwick Parking Customer. They explain in much greater detail every aspect of their operation including security, location, terms and conditions, operational procedures and complaints procedures. They supply landline telephone numbers, VAT numbers and 24 hour phone numbers in an effort to provide total peace of mind to the Customer. They will tell you exactly where your car is parked for the duration of your holiday or business trip. By contrast, comparison sites use ‘call to action’ methods on their landing pages.  They use a series of icons to inform you of the security, service offered and others. They will indicate an icon of a barrier where the said car park has an entry barrier or a CCTV icon where CCTV is being used. This in no way indicates the true nature of the barrier i.e., always closed or CCTV ( total or partial coverage) and in some cases there is no barrier or CCTV at all.

Gatwick Airport has recently introduced an Approved Operator Scheme. After achieving certain awards from Trading Standards and the Safer Parking Scheme operators are invited to join the scheme. Only 8 operators have achieved Approved Status. These approved operators have their car park sites inspected every year in order to remain within the scheme. It is the actual operator that receives the award not the agent or comparison site.

An approved operator will deal with you the Customer for the entire length of your booking from the time you make it to the time you return from your holiday and your car is delivered to you. They will keep you informed of any changes as a result of airport security alerts, traffic issues and any other issues. They have one very special item on their agenda and that is to provide you with a service that will keep you coming back time after time and for you to recommend them to your friends.

The Gatwick parking operator may not be so good at marketing but he does have your very best interest at heart.

Most sole operators will offer discounts on return bookings or ‘loyalty’ discounts the more times you use them even if this is over several years.

Good operators will have landline telephone numbers so any queries or requests can be dealt with just by lifting the phone. Good operators have 24 hour mobile contact or emergency contact. After all, you’re going to leave your prized possession in the hands of someone else so wouldn’t it be nice to have total peace of mind so that you can really enjoy your holiday!

So for your parking at Gatwick always choose an approved operator and preferably one that’s been around for a long time.

 

Gatwick Valet Parking

New Valet Parking at a Parking & Ride Price.

Even in this day and age of our carbon footprint being followed by political and corporate institutions we still need the automobile. If you have a family or possessions then it is the only comfortable way to get from A to B.

Getting to the airport for example, with a family and luggage is not an option by public transport. For all those that have flown from an airport, you have probably tried a number of options for parking your car. If we are talking of comfort then why use a park and ride operator that takes up to an hour to get you from the car park to the airport terminal and then back again on your return from holiday. Valet parking is a huge step up in comfort but of course it carries the price tag. Unlike a bus carrying huge numbers of people it takes money and manpower to personally collect, store safely and deliver your vehicle on the terminal forecourt.

New Airport Meet and Greet Parking Company at Gatwick (AMAG Parking) offer a premium service at a budget price.

With the increasing popularity of Airport Valet Parking the long established firm of parking operators Tudor Rose came up with the idea of enticing new Customers to an elite service without hitting their pocket.

In spite of the phenomenal growth in airport valet parking over the last 4/5 years it has not stopped the industry from being tainted by bad practices and rogue operators. All of these have been well documented in the various media. This has created a lot of confusion and suspicion where Customers want to take advantage of what valet parking has to offer but have difficulty in selecting a good operator.

Tudor Rose believe that by tempting the disillusioned back into the fold a lot of the credibility will be restored.

Tudor Rose has been in the business of valet parking at Gatwick for over 20 years. One of the founders of this great service Tudor Rose has helped over the years to make this elitist and normally expensive service an option that everyone can afford.

With the introduction of the Approved Operator Scheme by Gatwick Airport Ltd, Trading Standards, The Chief of Police, The Home Office and the Safer Parking Scheme (Park Mark), this will undoubtedly rid the industry of the undesirable element but at the same time have the effect of pushing prices back up to unaffordable levels.

Tudor Rose has introduced its budget service for Gatwick meet and greet parking to offset these market influences and hope to maintain the current growth trends in the industry. Customers get all of the products associated with their premium service.

There is no doubt that when comparing your parking options at Gatwick, Airport Meet and Greet Parking is a service well ahead of its alternative options. However, there are still a number of bad operators out there and we can only hope they will put their house in order. In the meantime, be wise and only use an Approved Operator and one that’s been around for a long time. Remember, Approved Operators only are allowed to use the terminal forecourts at Gatwick.

Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking

Approved Valet Parking Contractors at Gatwick Airport

 

Following on from previous articles regarding the Approved Operator Scheme for Valet Parking at Gatwick, this is an update on progress and what the scheme has done to achieve its objectives.

This scheme was initiated a couple of years ago by discussions between Gatwick Airport and the Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association. Since 2007/08 a considerable number of would be entrepreneurs decided that Airport Valet Parking was a great idea to make money and required little investment as there were no controls or legislation governing the industry. Web sites sprung up out of nowhere offering valet parking with empty promises of safety and security. An aerial view of Gatwick and its surrounding area would have been littered with vast numbers of cars parked in fields and side streets. With no business rates to pay or VAT for that matter and the opportunity of pay per click campaigns on the search engines, these people thought of nothing but a fast buck to riches. Needless to say it just got out of hand and was undermining the industry that had been built up by a few good people who had invested a considerable amount of money in great operations.

Customers began complaining and the internet forums, review centres and chat rooms were inundated with the problems people had experienced. It is fair to say that this even prompted people to complain where there was nothing really to complain about but this takes us away from the real issue.

Anyway, a lot has happened in the last couple of years culminating in the introduction of the Approved Operator Scheme for Meet and Greet Operators (MGO’s). Briefly, this has been created with the co-operation of;

Gatwick Airport Ltd

West Sussex Trading Standards

British Parking Association (ParkMark)

County Councils

Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association

Gatwick Police

So what has all this done for the consumer? Has it helped to protect the consumer from bad practices and provided a better, more efficient service.

Well, 8 valet parking operators at Gatwick managed to achieve approved status by reaching the requirements of the bodies listed above. These requirements included;

Web sites that were truthful and did not mislead the public.

Publication of Company Registration Number, VAT and Registered Address.

Planning permission on all sites.

Secure storage, safe and effective operational procedures that reflect an excellent deterrent of crime.

Able to deliver an efficient service to meet the demands and not to bring the industry into disrepute.

Proper dispute or complaint procedures.

Audited financial accounts.

And many others…….

As an approved operator you were allowed to stay using the terminal forecourts.

So what of the others?.. I mean what has happened to all the other operators that were unable to attain the Approved Status?

Well, they are still there. They are unable to settle on the terminal forecourts and must do their transactions in the multi-storey car parks. In order to use the multi-storey car parks they must purchase what are called proximity cards and these are preloaded with cash. This has hardly enhanced the exchange with the Customer and left a lot of them bewildered and confused. Having said that, one or two of them have risen to the challenge, got their house in order and provide an effective, affordable if not top quality service.

Un-approved operators do not have any institutions looking at them to ensure their operations meet a high standard. They are self regulated and we are all aware of things that go wrong with self regulation. Take the City of London as an example.

By contrast, the approved operators are all inspected every year by the various bodies listed above. The maintenance and upkeep of these operations to a high standard year on year is expensive and time consuming and only go to create a difficult platform from which to compete with the affordability of valet parking at Gatwick.

So the next time you choose a valet parking company at Gatwick and you want the peace and knowledge of knowing your investment is safe and secure, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to persuade you which one.

Valet Parking is a wonderful way to park your car at Gatwick Airport. Its convenient, hassle free and most of all it saves your precious time. If you haven’t tried it before it’s a must. Put your property in the trust of companies that have been prepared to put a lot of their money into looking after it – properly.

 

 

Gatwick Airport Parking

30th September 2013

Hello all

It's been some time since I have updated everyone on Gatwick Parking events. What with the holidays and a busy summer I have had little time to catch up on all events.

A lot has happened this summer not least the new Surface Access Charges that Gatwick Airport have imposed. All Approved Valet Parking Companies at (Meet and Greet) will have to pay a £6 fee for every Customer they meet or greet on the Terminal Forecourt. All unapproved operators have been pushed into the multi-storey car parks for their meet and greet which are subject to the current parking rates in force.

The general public will still be able to drop off their passengers on the forecourts but pick up is also being pushed into the multi-storey car parks. This applies to all taxis and passenger service vehicles.

Implementation of this scheme was on the 10th July for all Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking Operators. Forecourt transactions seem to have settled in reasonably well although it seems that a number of Valet Parking Operators and Taxis have failed to get the message and continue to abuse the new regulations. Traffic Wardens and Marshalls are doing their very best but it would appear that some of them are unaware of who can use the forecourt and those that can't.

There are mixed reports of the use of the multi-storey car parks with the majority stating that there has been an element of confusion for the Customers in finding the meeting points. Access to the MS car parks have shown an increased volume and this has slowed the pick up and delivery times for those operators using them. The traditional drop off and pick up on the forecourt remains the favourite option for most Customers.

Meet and greet parking at Gatwick is growing fast in popularity as indeed at all other UK Airports. This coincides with a reduction in Customers using Park & Ride operations. It is not co-incidental that some of the well established park and ride operations are investing in or expanding their valet parking sector.

There is no doubt that the Approved Operator Scheme will go a long way to reducing the number of rogue activities within the valet parking industry at Gatwick. This has given a kick to some operators to get their house in order and will no doubt serve to improve the credibility of the industry which in recent years has been somewhat soured by those operators who have less than desirable practices.

If you are going to use a valet parking company at Gatwick then it is wise to use someone you know or you have used before. For new Customers to the world of Gatwick valet parking there are a few golden rules.

• Use a company that has been established for a long time.
• Use a company that has close proximity to Gatwick North and South Terminal.
• Company number and VAT number should be declared on their web site.
• Company should have a landline telephone number that should be in operation during office hours.
• You vehicle is collected by the valet company at the airport but do you know where your car is being taken? All valet parking companies should publish the location of their car park or storage area on their web site.
• Web site photos should portray true facts and images of a valet parking company's operation and not images downloaded from the internet displaying false information.
• Beware false claims on web sites. It is a fact that more than 75% of  web sites offering valet parking services at Gatwick are making false claims of CCTV, barrier Control, perimeter fencing and so on.

Finally, you should know that out of 40+ operators at Gatwick Airport offering meet and greet parking services only 8 received the Approved Operator Status. All others failed to meet the criteria as laid down by Gatwick Airport, Trading Standards, ParkMark and West Sussex County Council.

To find out who the Approved Operators are just go to the Gatwick Airport web site, click on 'Parking' then 'Useful Links' and then 'Approved Operator Scheme'.

Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL)commenced a consultation on its proposals for an Approved
Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport in February 2013. The proposals were set out in a document
entitled Consultation Paper for Approved Operator Scheme at Gatwick Airport (the Initial
Proposals).The consultation exercise invited comment from all stakeholders, including all meet
and greet operators (MGOs)currently operating at Gatwick Airport.

Objectives of Scheme
As set out in the Initial Proposals the Scheme has three objectives, namely:
• to reduce forecourt congestion by limiting MGO operations to specific and controlled areas,
enabling effective enforcement of the forecourt ‘drop -off ’ only policy
• to ensure that operators using the airport ’s infrastructure comply with the ‘user pays ’ principle
• to afford recognition to the operations of MGOs at the airport that meet minimum customer
service standards, and to ensure that passengers can identify these operators.

Final Proposals for Approved operator scheme and membership criteria
Gatwick is proposing to establish an ‘Approved Operator ’ scheme, which will be open to all MGOs
who:
• have the British Parking Association ParkMark award for all operational sites serving Gatwick
• attain Buy with Confidence accreditation from Trading Standards
• sign and operate within the terms of a licence agreement with the airport

The scheme has been developed by Gatwick Airport Limited in partnership with West Sussex
County Council and Surrey County Council Trading Standards and stakeholders from associations
of Meet and Greet operators at Gatwick.

Proposed charging structure
The charging structure has been put in place to offer flexibility for operators, and to balance the
expressed preference of MGOs to operate on the forecourt with the need to reduce forecourt
congestion. As such the charging structure explicitly aims to incentivise use of the MSCPs for both
drop-off and pick-up transactions.

Forecourt usage (drop-off only):
£4.00 per movement
Transactions on the forecourt are limited to a 5 minute period.

MSCP usage
£1.30 per movement (0-10 minutes)
£2.00 per movement (10-20 minutes)
Above 20 minutes the regular tariff applies
All charges are inclusive of VAT.
Operational process in the MSCPs

For drop-offs, the passenger takes a ticket on entry to MSCPs and hands it to the jockey driver.
After taking possession of the customer ’s car,t he jockey driver will insert the customer ’s ticket into
the pay on foot (POF) machine, and use the proximity card issued to them under the scheme as
form of payment. The jockey driver then has the standard 5 minutes to exit the car park.
For pick-ups, the jockey driver takes a ticket on entry back into the MSCP, returns the car to the
customer, the jockey driver then pays at the POF machine using the proximity card as form of
payment, then gives the passenger back the ticket for exit. The customer then has five minutes to
leave the MSCP.

All Valet Parking (Meet and Greet) contractors at Gatwick Airport are due to receive Approved or Non-Approved status for trading at Gatwick Airport.
For Approved Contractors certain criteria will have to be achieved. This will include the Safer Parking Award (ParkMark) from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Brittish Parking Association (BPA) and the Buy with Confidence Award from the Trading Standards Office.

Tudor Rose is proud to announce that they have acchieved both of these Awards and look forward to co-operating with Gatwick Airport within the Approved Operator Scheme.

Gatwick Airport is in the final stage of creating it's Approved Operator Scheme for Valet Parking Contractors. Implementation of the scheme is not known at this time. However, it is a apparent that from the date of implementation Airport Surface Access Charges will apply.

Horse Riding Holidays

When the summer starts we try to find new adventures and one of the most exciting adventures is horse riding in the sun.

Enjoy Fabulous Riding Holidays in Andalucia, Spain.  Ride the ancient mule tracks among the olive groves in the Sierras, explore the natural parks or take the trails overlooking the sparkling blue seas while riding well trained Spanish horses.

Horse riding holidays in France vary enormously, but all will show you the real essence of France. The country is the largest in Western Europe and has a huge diversity of landscapes, cultures and climates waiting to be discovered.

All agents will work closely with you to check both your ability and aspirations in order to match your groups riding abilities as well as selecting your perfect mount for your riding holiday.  Personal attention all week, with dedicated airport transfers, welcome meeting and evening meal with drinks and much more.

All our accommodation choices are within a very short walk of the beaches & old town. No driving needed!

Below is an example of a recent hotel stay in Spain. There are other options on offer including Villas to rent and Farmhouse Rooms. All prices are excluding flights.

Hotel Arrayanes Playa.

A well situated three star hotel just along the paseo heading towards Cotobro - right on the front with superb views overlooking the sea and just a 15 min stroll into the heart of the old town either along the promenade or beach.
Lovely swimming pool & sun terraces, with fantastic views across the bay to the Peñon and the Castillo de San Miguel.  In the evenings the pool side ambiance gets more intimate, ideal for drinks with friends or just chilling out in the warm evenings, watching the fishing boats working under the stars.
Friendly 24 hour reception with 33 spacious comfortable double rooms plus triple and family (4px) rooms.  Air conditioning is standard, as well as satellite TV, phones and fully fitted on suite bathrooms with hairdryers.
Restaurant with a great selection of Mediterranean dishes with international touches and also paellas and other local rice dishes as well as fresh fish.  In addition the restaurant offers a bar, an outdoor barbecue and a terrace with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean where you can enjoy cocktails or a wonderful meal.
Optional full laundry & ironing service, nice cafeteria and TV lounge.  Some rooms adapted for physically impaired guests.
Prices starts from £700 -£1125
Available at: riding-holidays-in-spain.com
Casa Delfin –fantastic casa for 2-6px with super view.
Prices from £700-£1145
Available at : riding-holiday-in-spain.com
Los Laureles Rooms -2-3px, breakfast included.
Prices starts from £700-£1185
Available at : riding-holidays-in-spain.com

French Riding Holidays

If you are travelling from elsewhere in Europe then France will be almost on your doorstep and you will be spoilt for choice with many airlines, including the low cost budget carriers, competing for your custom.

Ride along the trails of past Kings. Starting at Blois we visit its superb castle before discovering the castles of Chaumont sur Loire, the residence of Catherine of Medici, of Chenonceau, called the castle of the Ladies, of Cheverny at the start of the Sologne region, and of Chambord, the most immense of them all. You will overnight one night in the castle of Chemery. This castle, dating from the 12th century, has a medieval atmosphere, and there you will enjoy a candlelit dinner washed down with wines from the Loire Valley. Along with faster than average riding on fit Anglos Arab horses, this is a journey of discovery not to be missed.

Prices starts from £1295 pp -8days/6days riding excluding flights.
Available at:unicorntrails.com

If you are travelling with lots of kit and you are flying from Gatwick Airport, why not try Valet Parking. Have your car picked up right outside the airport terminal and delivered to you on your return.

If you want to guarantee catching your flight then an overnight stay before you fly is a great idea. Park, sleep and fly packages are available at all Gatwick Hotels and all at reasonable prices.