Martyn James: Heading to the airport? Here’s what to watch out for

If you’ve not been on a foreign holiday for a while, you may be in for a surprise, because charges for all sorts of services have increased recently. So here’s my guide on how to keep costs down.

The cost of ‘kiss and wave’

The French call it ‘kiss and wave’, though in the UK it’s less sexily known as ‘airport drop off’. And it’s just got much pricier. Charges for just 10 minutes of parking and unloading have hit a whopping £13 at London City Airport and most of the main airports charge between £6 and £8. You can usually find free options if you check online, but you may have to walk to the terminal for a bit or jump on a free shuttle.

Getting there by car or train

Airport parking charges are astonishingly pricey if you pay on arrival – up to £100 a day! But if you pre-book online you can get much cheaper rates. Flexibility is the watchword in this day and age. So ask about charges for amending your booking and refunds if your flight is cancelled and you have to go home.

You may opt to take public transport to the airport instead. But buyer beware... If you arrive on a late flight that’s delayed, you could be stuck with hundreds of other tourists. Always allow for the ‘worst case scenario’ – what you’d have to pay if you were forced to get cabs.

Hand luggage rules

The most important thing to take to the airport is a phone or gadget charger. Last-minute announcements about your flight tend to arrive by email or through your app – and your tickets are likely to be on your phone too. There are loads available online so buy a few, charge them fully and keep them in your hand luggage. Most airports have charging stations these days but there may be a high demand for them.

Don’t forget to check with your airline about what you are allowed in your cabin and hold luggage. There’s a list of things to check here.

In addition, there is no definitive size for a cabin bag and airlines have different dimensions. You will need to prove your cabin bag meets the specific dimensions set out in their rules – when it’s full – or you may face a hefty charge.

Shops and restaurants

Be sceptical when exploring the duty-free shop. While you might get a cheaper bottle of holiday gin, things like perfumes and aftershaves aren’t actually much cheaper than they are when you shop online.

When you are airside, you will encounter all sorts of inflated prices, so shop around for meal deals and bottles of water, which will keep the costs down and will save you cash on the plane.

Currency

Never, ever buy or sell back currency at the airport. The rates are consistently the worst and the charges can be high too.

If you’re relying on cards, do your research beforehand. Some online banks don’t charge commission or interest on payments made using their cards (high street banks do, generally) and you can get some credit cards that do the same and give you the best daily rates. Look for ‘travel debit cards’ which guarantee the best rates without fees – some offer this on a subscription model.

Delays and cancellations

We may see a number of delays and cancellations this season. Knowing your rights when your flight doesn’t take off on time isn’t going to change the immediate problem – but it can help to know what you’re entitled to, and how much compensation you might get. Type my name and ‘flight delay’ in to a search drive to find my guides to your rights!

Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist. For more from Martyn, visit martynjamesexpert.co.uk​​​​​​​