Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), the long stay airport parking and travel extras specialist, has turned the spotlight on its own industry by highlighting the extra charges imposed by airport parking booking companies. The research compares the extra charges imposed by the top, airport parking booking agencies offering services at all major UK airports, including credit card charges, debit card charges, cancellation fees and refunds. The table is available in the ‘Know Before You Go’ section of the website at www.aph.com/charges.

Cancellation and amendment fees were found to be the highest charge added to the booking with all the companies charging cancellation fees if a booking is cancelled close to the travel date, however some charge hefty fees even if customers cancel well in advance. Airparks, BCP and Holiday Extras (all part of the same company group) charge £9.50 for each cancellation if not done within 24 hours of making the booking, whereas Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) and Purple Parking have no charges for cancelling at least a day in advance of the departure date.

Nick Caunter, managing director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) says: “The good news is that compared to the no frills airlines where the extra charges often occur, the airport parking industry has many fewer “extras”. However, customers really need to be savvy about who they book with because there are significant differences between companies.”

Airport Parking and Hotels Ltd is one of the UK’s leading booking agencies and this year celebrates its 30th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of Belize rainforest.