0:00:02 > 0:00:04We asked you who has left you feeling ripped off
0:00:04 > 0:00:05when it comes to your holidays
0:00:05 > 0:00:09and you came back with a catalogue of travel disasters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10It happens all the time
0:00:10 > 0:00:14that somebody else has paid less for the holiday that I paid more for.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16The costs of these things are certainly going up and up.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I always think that someone is
0:00:18 > 0:00:21trying to rip me off somewhere along the line.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Whether it is a deliberate rip-off,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26a simple mistake or a catch in the small print,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29we will find out why you are out of pocket and what you can do about it.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36Your stories, your money - this is Rip-Off Britain.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Hello and thank you so much for joining us again
0:00:38 > 0:00:39here on Rip-off Britain,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41where in this series,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44we're tackling more of the problems that you have experienced on your
0:00:44 > 0:00:46holidays and today,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49we are going to be hearing how some of those problems can happen way
0:00:49 > 0:00:51before you have even reached your destination.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54When you are en route or perhaps
0:00:54 > 0:00:57even when you are already on the plane.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59I can honestly guarantee that several of the situations
0:00:59 > 0:01:01we have been looking into are ones
0:01:01 > 0:01:04that a lot of you will very much sympathise with and
0:01:04 > 0:01:07indeed, that you may even have experienced yourselves.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09And what is particularly frustrating
0:01:09 > 0:01:11about a number of them is that with a
0:01:11 > 0:01:14little bit more flexibility and understanding along the way,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17things could very, very easily have been resolved,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21without them needing to escalate in the ways that they did.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22But, as we will see,
0:01:22 > 0:01:23whether it is down to poor communication
0:01:23 > 0:01:25or a misunderstanding of the rules,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29the experiences some of you have been through have at the very
0:01:29 > 0:01:31least been deeply upsetting and
0:01:31 > 0:01:33in one instance, the stakes were much, much higher
0:01:33 > 0:01:36and could even have been life-threatening.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Coming up...
0:01:39 > 0:01:43The onboard snack that could lead to a life-threatening emergency...
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Obviously, I am not going to risk my child's life,
0:01:47 > 0:01:49so I had to get off the flight.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54..and the airlines still getting it wrong when allocating families their
0:01:54 > 0:01:56seats, splitting up parents and children
0:01:56 > 0:02:00when the rules are clear that they shouldn't.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02It was the most hideous experience,
0:02:02 > 0:02:03my stomach was churning,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05I could just hear her crying at the
0:02:05 > 0:02:08other end of the plane and it was awful.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12For many of us, getting on a plane
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and settling down for the flight is the
0:02:14 > 0:02:18first part of a memorable holiday to come, but for others,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21the thought of being trapped inside an aircraft for hours on end is
0:02:21 > 0:02:25something they would rather avoid and for these holiday-makers,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28it is not a fear of flying that makes the journey so traumatic -
0:02:28 > 0:02:30instead, it is the fear of the snacks
0:02:30 > 0:02:32that you or I might be eating and as you'll see,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36they have a very good reason to be worried and you might be
0:02:36 > 0:02:39extremely surprised by the way some airlines react when they are made
0:02:39 > 0:02:40aware of the danger.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48It started as a marketing move in the 1970s when one of the
0:02:48 > 0:02:50world's first budget carriers,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Southwest Airlines in the United States,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54abandoned the full meal served on
0:02:54 > 0:02:56most flights of the day
0:02:56 > 0:02:58in favour of free bags of nuts.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Playing on their policy of no-frills, cheap fares,
0:03:01 > 0:03:06they branded themselves the peanut airline, as in "you fly for peanuts,
0:03:06 > 0:03:07"so you get them to eat as well."
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It wasn't long before on airlines all around the world,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18whether in first class or economy,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22a packet of peanuts became as much an expected part of flying as the
0:03:22 > 0:03:24drinks trolley or duty-free.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25But in more recent times,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29not everyone has come to welcome the arrival of this humble snack.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Two-year-old Jamil suffers from a peanut allergy.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Being in close proximity to the dust from peanut or Brazil nuts can give
0:03:39 > 0:03:43him a severe allergic reaction with swelling of the lips and eyes and
0:03:43 > 0:03:44breathing difficulties.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46At one particular time,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49I gave him something that had peanut in it
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and had peanut butter in it and within...
0:03:52 > 0:03:55He didn't even ingest it, as soon as I put it in his mouth,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58he just spat it out and then within seconds,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02his lips were swollen and his eye was swollen as well.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06So when his mum, Akeela, takes him on holiday,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09the question of whether there will be nuts on board
0:04:09 > 0:04:10couldn't be more serious.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Before every flight,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16she has to let the cabin crew know about her son's allergy in the hope
0:04:16 > 0:04:19that they will make an announcement advising other passengers that nuts
0:04:19 > 0:04:22won't be served this time and explaining why.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Which is exactly what happened on
0:04:24 > 0:04:26her latest family holiday to Majorca.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28On the way out, it was fine, there was no hassle.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I told them that Jamil had a nut allergy.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33They said that they weren't going to serve nuts on the plane
0:04:33 > 0:04:35and they made an announcement
0:04:35 > 0:04:37asking passengers not to consume nuts on the flight.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40But at the end of the holiday,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43the family was flying back with a different airline,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45called Eurowings, and it didn't respond
0:04:45 > 0:04:49quite so positively to Akeela's request.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50When I boarded the flight,
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I told the aircrew that Jamil suffers from a nut allergy
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and what they basically said is that
0:04:57 > 0:05:00they are going to be serving nuts on the plane and
0:05:00 > 0:05:03that they are not able to make an announcement,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05asking passengers not to consume nuts
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and that I would be flying at my own risk,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11basically, if I choose to fly with them.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Akeela had to decide whether to fly home as planned with the chance that
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Jamil could become seriously ill in mid-air
0:05:20 > 0:05:21or get off the plane.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I was trying to explain to them, you know, it is only a two-hour flight.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I am sure there are loads of other snacks that people can eat,
0:05:27 > 0:05:28other than nuts.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I am sure that if you just made the announcement,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33that they would understand.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34That the people would understand.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37But they still refused to do it.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41And they said that they can't inconvenience everyone
0:05:41 > 0:05:43just because of one passenger.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Well, given the potential fatal reaction that
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Jamil could have if he came into contact with nuts
0:05:48 > 0:05:52and the cabin crew's refusal to stop serving them,
0:05:52 > 0:05:53Akeela felt she had no choice but
0:05:53 > 0:05:56to take Jamil and her daughter off the plane,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59get their luggage and find an alternative flight home.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Obviously, I am not going to risk my child's life,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06so I had to get off the flight.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09So I had to call my daughter who was already sitting down.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12She was in tears, asking how we were going to get home.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Akeela says that at the time,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Eurowings staff told her that they
0:06:17 > 0:06:19could offer her a flight the next day,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22but could not guarantee that this would be nut-free either.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Akeela said she was told that
0:06:24 > 0:06:27if she wished to fly home using a different airline,
0:06:27 > 0:06:28she would be reimbursed.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33So back at the terminal, Akeela paid £645 to fly with another company,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35which confirmed that it would stop
0:06:35 > 0:06:39the hand-out or sale of nuts during the flight, but nine months on,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and despite following up her case with Eurowings,
0:06:42 > 0:06:46the airline has said it won't be giving her any money back for the
0:06:46 > 0:06:48alternative flight she had to take.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50So, I have e-mailed Eurowings numerous times
0:06:50 > 0:06:52and they e-mailed me back twice,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56basically just saying that they can't reimburse me the money.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59They said that they can't ask passengers
0:06:59 > 0:07:01not to eat nuts on the flight,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04but it is at the aircrew's discretion,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06which I don't really understand that.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Now, when we got in touch with Eurowings,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11it told us that while they are sorry
0:07:11 > 0:07:13that Akeela did not feel treated the right way,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16it was unable to offer any payment.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20It went on to say that a complete exclusion of the sale of any goods
0:07:20 > 0:07:23containing nuts is not possible.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26And that despite regular and in-depth cleaning,
0:07:26 > 0:07:27the aircraft's shape,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29air conditioning and ventilation
0:07:29 > 0:07:32mean that it cannot completely remove nut traces
0:07:32 > 0:07:34from previous flights.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36As a result, guests with a chance of
0:07:36 > 0:07:41an allergic reaction travel at their own risk.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Now, Professor Clare Mills from Manchester University
0:07:43 > 0:07:47is one of the world's leading experts in food allergies
0:07:47 > 0:07:51and knows how devastating even minute traces of nut residue
0:07:51 > 0:07:52can be for allergy sufferers.
0:07:52 > 0:07:59So, the reason why eating peanuts on an aeroplane is different is because
0:07:59 > 0:08:01it is a very cramped environment.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03It is a very confined space,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05you are basically in a metal tube
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and you are up 30,000 feet in the air
0:08:08 > 0:08:12and when you open a bag of peanuts on an aeroplane,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15there is dust inside and it is very easy,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17because the bags go pop when you open them,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20for that dust to get on to the food
0:08:20 > 0:08:22of someone sitting next to you and
0:08:22 > 0:08:24if they don't know that has happened,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28that is still enough for them to have a real allergic reaction.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Professor Mills' fears about
0:08:31 > 0:08:33the dangers are echoed by the parents of Faye Platton
0:08:33 > 0:08:35and Amelia Nicholas, who,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38as was reported in the press in August, 2014,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41suffered severe allergic reactions
0:08:41 > 0:08:46after being exposed to other people eating nuts on board flights.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48We do need to take it seriously.
0:08:48 > 0:08:49We have fatalities,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51from people having accidentally
0:08:51 > 0:08:54eaten peanut or tree nuts or you have
0:08:54 > 0:08:59someone who has had a very severe reaction and obviously, in a plane,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01when you are up in the air,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03having somebody who has what we would call an
0:09:03 > 0:09:08anaphylactic reaction is a very serious consideration
0:09:08 > 0:09:13and unless they get prompt treatment with adrenaline, they could die.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17But part of the difficulty here is
0:09:17 > 0:09:21that individual airlines can have very different policies
0:09:21 > 0:09:23around serving nuts and indeed,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27about what to do if there is someone with an allergy on board.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30We contacted the top five UK-based airlines to ask them
0:09:30 > 0:09:32to clarify their approach.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36All of them, BA, easyJet, Virgin,
0:09:36 > 0:09:37Thomas Cook and Flybe
0:09:37 > 0:09:39confirmed that if someone on board has a nut allergy,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43they will make an announcement requesting that other passengers
0:09:43 > 0:09:46do not consume them on the flight.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50But BA and Virgin also told us that they don't sell nuts on their planes
0:09:50 > 0:09:53or knowingly use them in their food,
0:09:53 > 0:09:54although they can't guarantee
0:09:54 > 0:09:57that they have been made in a nut-free environment.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Thomas Cook does serve nuts,
0:10:00 > 0:10:01but said it won't do so if made
0:10:01 > 0:10:04aware that a passenger has an allergy.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06It also told us that staff receive annual training
0:10:06 > 0:10:09in treating anaphylaxis.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13easyJet told us that it asks passengers to make any allergies
0:10:13 > 0:10:17clear at the time of booking so that the crew are aware and again can
0:10:17 > 0:10:20restrict the sale of nuts on board.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24And finally Flybe said that while it too serves nuts and there is a
0:10:24 > 0:10:27possibility that some other products sold contain them as well,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30all packaging contains adequate warnings
0:10:30 > 0:10:34and details of what all menu items are available online.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36But of course whatever they do,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40none of these airlines can promise a completely nut-free flight,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42so several did stress they would
0:10:42 > 0:10:46recommend that passengers bring their own medication on board.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48And that is something that Anna is
0:10:48 > 0:10:53used to doing when travelling with her six-year-old daughter Ellie.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54Pass, mate!
0:10:54 > 0:10:59Ellie has a number of serious allergies, including one to peanuts.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Ellie's sensitivity to nuts is extremely, extremely sensitive,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to the extent that she doesn't even have to have
0:11:06 > 0:11:09eaten or touched the nuts herself.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Somebody else could have eaten nuts
0:11:11 > 0:11:13and then gave her a kiss on the cheek
0:11:13 > 0:11:15and she will come up in hives.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19So when it comes to taking Ellie on holiday, again,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22boarding a plane is always a major risk.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26If she were to suffer an allergic reaction at any time, as a parent,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28we would be extremely concerned,
0:11:28 > 0:11:33but travelling on an aeroplane takes the anxiety levels to more than you
0:11:33 > 0:11:37can imagine, because God forbid, if something were to happen,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39we would not be sure that we would
0:11:39 > 0:11:42have the medical attention that we need.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44From the moment she arrives at the airport,
0:11:44 > 0:11:49every precaution is needed to avoid any potential contact with peanuts.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Once we get to the departure gate,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56we will not only remind them that Ellie has a severe nut allergy,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00but will request to board slightly earlier than other passengers,
0:12:00 > 0:12:05so that we can wipe down her seat, particularly the tray table,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08the buckle, the TV screen, the remote,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12anything that she could touch or come into contact with,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16we wipe down with baby wipes to try to eliminate all traces of any nuts.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Without clear and consistent rules
0:12:19 > 0:12:21around the presence of nuts on the plane,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Professor Clare Mills believes that it is crucial that cabin crew
0:12:25 > 0:12:28are properly trained to administer vital life-saving first aid,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30should it be needed.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34What I would like to see is whether the cabin crew
0:12:34 > 0:12:37are also trained to treat food allergies,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40including administer adrenaline.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I think it would make it safer for people with food allergies to fly.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47But the parents we spoke to would
0:12:47 > 0:12:50prefer airlines to go one step further
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and go for an outright ban on peanuts on board flights.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I am just concerned about Jamil
0:12:56 > 0:13:02potentially having a severe reaction mid-air, you know, on a flight
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and it should just be a blanket policy.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09We appreciate that it is difficult to monitor
0:13:09 > 0:13:11and we don't want to get in
0:13:11 > 0:13:14the way of people enjoying themselves,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16but for the sake of hundreds and thousands of people,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19we would love for nuts to be banned on flights.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Something we have touched on before is the thorny question of whether or
0:13:29 > 0:13:33not you should pay to guarantee seats together on a plane.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36It is something the airlines increasingly expect us to do,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39even people travelling with children and that is pretty controversial,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43because whenever you think about having to pay for specific seating,
0:13:43 > 0:13:44there are guidelines that say that
0:13:44 > 0:13:47parents and children should be seated close together,
0:13:47 > 0:13:51which you might think would be an end to it, but no.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Those guidelines appear to be interpreted differently
0:13:53 > 0:13:55by the various parties involved,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59from the experts through to individual airlines and
0:13:59 > 0:14:01that has led to some incredibly stressful situations
0:14:01 > 0:14:02for several of you who
0:14:02 > 0:14:04contacted us about this and indeed
0:14:04 > 0:14:07about the rest of the passengers on their flights.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10So we thought it was about time there was a definitive answer
0:14:10 > 0:14:12on this subject, once and for all.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14We went right to the top, to get one.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Children separated from their parents,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23distressed mums and dads and other passengers upset as well.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Not the start to a holiday anyone would choose,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29but judging by all the letters and e-mails we have had on the subject,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32it is becoming increasingly common as families who have not paid
0:14:32 > 0:14:35to guarantee sitting together on holiday flights are split up.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Nadine Strong from Barry in Wales
0:14:40 > 0:14:44faced such a predicament after booking a holiday
0:14:44 > 0:14:46with Thomson, now known as TUI.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Along with her husband Nathan,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53plus eight-year-old George and five-year-old Olivia,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Nadine was looking forward to a seven-day break to Rhodes.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59To save time at the airport, she checked in online.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01It's mine!
0:15:01 > 0:15:04When check-in online opened a week before we were due to fly out to
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Rhodes, we went on, checked in.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Going out, we were sat two and two,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13so we had one child with each parent.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Obviously, they would have preferred to be altogether,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19but being allocated pairs of seats
0:15:19 > 0:15:22for the outward journey could have been worse
0:15:22 > 0:15:25and indeed, that was the case when it came to the flight home.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29For that journey, the four of them had been scattered around the plane,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31each of them on their own, in a different row,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34not ideal for an eight and a five-year-old.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36They are very young.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39They have to be sat with us, so that we can take care of them,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41take care of their needs.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44And I don't want them sat close to...
0:15:44 > 0:15:47..by any strangers without me being there.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Nadine called customer services, who told her that the only way she could
0:15:52 > 0:15:57be sure of sitting with her children was to pay more, £100 more.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00It was just simply this is what you have to do,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03you have to pay £100 and then you
0:16:03 > 0:16:07will guarantee that your children will be sat close to you.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09So, as a parent, you have got no alternative,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11you have to pay that additional money.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14But travel expert Simon Calder does not agree.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17He says the rules on where children should be seated
0:16:17 > 0:16:19are really quite simple.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23There is no need for anybody to be confused about what their
0:16:23 > 0:16:26rights are and what they can expect if they are travelling with children
0:16:26 > 0:16:30under 12 - you can expect that you're going to be sat with them.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Civil Aviation Authority guidelines are clear.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37The child must be close to a parent.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Ideally in the same row or no more than one row apart,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43that is not going to cost you a penny.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47It is something that the airlines do for safety reasons.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49So, there is no need to feel ripped off,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51because there is no need to pay anything.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54As we have reported before,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57those CAA guidelines state that if children and their parents are
0:16:57 > 0:16:59separated by more than a row,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02then a flight must not take off,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04which should mean that once you are on the plane,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07seats could be swapped around to put things right.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10But Nadine says no-one suggested that to her.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Instead, she was left with the impression
0:17:12 > 0:17:15there was only one way she would be sitting with George and Olivia.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19We were never told that the flight crew
0:17:19 > 0:17:22would sit them or try their best
0:17:22 > 0:17:25to get them to sit close to you once you were on board.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28We were never told that by customer services,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30we were just simply told that you have to pay the money.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34George and Olivia were not happy
0:17:34 > 0:17:36about the idea of being separated either.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38You're sitting by a stranger,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40you don't know them and if you can't see your family,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42it is going to be sad.
0:17:42 > 0:17:48I would feel really sad to go on a plane without my mum and dad.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53So to avoid that, Nadine paid up,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56but she feels strongly that she shouldn't have had to.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58You pay enough for the holiday,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01pay enough for the flight only and then you have to pay this additional
0:18:01 > 0:18:04money on top and I just think it is..
0:18:04 > 0:18:05..a scam.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11And Simon takes the view that anyone in a similar situation should stand
0:18:11 > 0:18:13their ground and remind the airline
0:18:13 > 0:18:17of its obligations under the CAA guidelines.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19You need to say to the cabin crew,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21"I am afraid you have got to sort this out, as you know
0:18:21 > 0:18:23"you legally have to."
0:18:23 > 0:18:25So therefore, as has happened to me on occasions,
0:18:25 > 0:18:29you just say, "Would you be kind enough to sort this out?"
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Which will involve other passengers switching, but in my experience,
0:18:32 > 0:18:33they are generally happy to.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Unfortunately, however clear the guidelines may be,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41you have been telling us they are not always followed.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Planes do take off with families entirely split up,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47as Andrea Dodd from Hertfordshire
0:18:47 > 0:18:52discovered on a recent holiday to Greece, also with Thomson.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55When we first booked the holiday, you have to put in,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59obviously your ages of the children that you are flying with.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03It wasn't that we just booked a villa and the flight separately,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06we booked everything as a package.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07So it was very clear that we were
0:19:07 > 0:19:10flying with a seven-year-old and a 12-year-old.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14As this was a last-minute booking,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Andrea knew that it was unlikely
0:19:16 > 0:19:18that all four of them could sit together,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22but she did assume that they would be in pairs and she certainly never
0:19:22 > 0:19:24expected when she went online to check
0:19:24 > 0:19:26that they had been allocated seats
0:19:26 > 0:19:28on four completely different rows.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33All four of us were separated on the flight and especially my
0:19:33 > 0:19:36seven-year-old was almost at one end of the plane compared to the rest of
0:19:36 > 0:19:38us up the other end of the plane.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Andrea called the company, who gave her a choice,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46either pay the extra to guarantee seats together
0:19:46 > 0:19:50or speak to the cabin crew on the day to see what could be done.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52And confident that the airline would
0:19:52 > 0:19:54have to stick to the CAA rules to sit under-12s
0:19:54 > 0:19:58if not next to their parents, then at least close,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00she decided to wait to sort it all out on the plane.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02As soon as we got on to the flight,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04both of them were very nervous,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08so we said that we would look to see where their seats were first,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10see if actually we could see them,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13whether they was in our eye line and how far away we were from them,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16and then we would speak to the staff
0:20:16 > 0:20:18and make sure that we were either
0:20:18 > 0:20:21moved or the fact that we could see them.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25But as the aircraft started to fill up,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28the cabin crew told Andrea that the closest seat to her that they could
0:20:28 > 0:20:30put Lily would be in the row behind
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and across the aisle in a window seat.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34On the way out there, you know,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37there's other people that were sitting next to me
0:20:37 > 0:20:38that have checked in
0:20:38 > 0:20:42after I have and their seats were allocated next to them,
0:20:42 > 0:20:43yet ours weren't.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46I was on the end of the next row to Lily,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48so I kept having to look over at her and say,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50"It's fine, I can see you,
0:20:50 > 0:20:51"you're OK there."
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Despite being split up, their spirits were high and the
0:20:55 > 0:20:58outward journey went without too many problems,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01but the real concern was the return journey,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03a late overnight flight.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Again, all the family had been allocated separate seats
0:21:06 > 0:21:10with Lily placed on her own at the back of the plane.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Andrea's one reassurance was the conversation she'd had with Thomson
0:21:13 > 0:21:16before she'd departed.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18And she obviously reassured me to
0:21:18 > 0:21:22say this flight would not take off if you are not in, you know,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24if you are not in the vicinity of sitting next to your child,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27let alone sitting from one end of the plane to the other.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32And that conversation was firmly in Andrea's in mind when,
0:21:32 > 0:21:33after a great holiday,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38it came to the day of departure and their midnight flight home.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Both children were exhausted and Lily was also under the weather,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43all of which added extra pressure
0:21:43 > 0:21:46to the issue of where they would all be sitting.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Lily was very tired.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51She also had an ear infection so she was very, very upset.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54She was getting herself more upset
0:21:54 > 0:21:56in the fact that she was thinking
0:21:56 > 0:21:58that she was going to have to sit on her own.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02And I'm afraid that's exactly what happened.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Cabin staff were unable to find two seats together,
0:22:05 > 0:22:10meaning seven-year-old Lily did have to sit well away from her parents.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13It was the most hideous experience.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14It's a night-time flight.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16We were worried about Lily as it was
0:22:16 > 0:22:18in the first place because she had an ear infection.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20My stomach was churning.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I could just hear her crying at the
0:22:22 > 0:22:24other end of the plane and it was awful.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Andrea says that the cabin crew made little attempt to move other
0:22:28 > 0:22:31passengers so that she could sit next to Lily,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34meaning that the situation affected not just her and Lily
0:22:34 > 0:22:36but other passengers sitting nearby.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40A night-time flight, everyone obviously wants to,
0:22:40 > 0:22:41you know, go to sleep,
0:22:41 > 0:22:46but we had at least an hour's worth of Lily crying.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47She was in pain.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49She was tired.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52She even, after take-off, we had turbulence,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55so she couldn't even get out of her seat.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Or my husband couldn't get out of his seat,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00because he was closer to her than I was, to actually reassure her.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03After take-off,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Andrea says passengers were more
0:23:05 > 0:23:08than happy to move so that she and Lily could sit together,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10but she is angry that, as she sees it,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13she got little help from the cabin crew and was left to sort out a
0:23:13 > 0:23:16potential flight safety issue herself.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20In these sort of situations, if something had, God forbid,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24occurred and there had been emergency procedures,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26you can't guarantee that a stranger
0:23:26 > 0:23:29is going to make sure that your child
0:23:29 > 0:23:31in that hustle and bustle, in that emergency,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35has got their oxygen mask on or has got their life jacket on.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38And for seven-year-old Lily,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41the experience wasn't one she'd like to repeat either.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45They said the plane wouldn't leave
0:23:45 > 0:23:49until a parent is sitting next to a child.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55And our tickets said we weren't sitting next to each other.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00My mum was sitting at the back and I was sitting at the front.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Well, Simon Calder says this case was completely unacceptable.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07In Andrea's case,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09to have a seven-year-old child
0:24:09 > 0:24:14sitting a long way from the parents is frankly scandalous.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16That is a serious flight safety issue
0:24:16 > 0:24:20and it needs to be reported to the Civil Aviation Authority,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23so that the airline gets a proper ticking off.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27So we did just that and the CAA couldn't have been clearer,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30reiterating that under European guidelines,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33airlines should ensure that children are sitting...
0:24:37 > 0:24:39..and that the cabin crew should
0:24:39 > 0:24:41facilitate this during the boarding process.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45But is that message getting through to the airlines?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Well, reassuringly, Thomson, now known as TUI,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50told us it's sorry that Nadine and Andrea
0:24:50 > 0:24:52were given incorrect information
0:24:52 > 0:24:55by its staff and that while such cases are rare,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57it will be providing...
0:24:59 > 0:25:01..on the seating of families together.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06It went on to say that it does, like other airlines, offer a pre-booking
0:25:06 > 0:25:09service where customers can request specific seats,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12but if customers choose not to use this service
0:25:12 > 0:25:14and a child is initially
0:25:14 > 0:25:16allocated a seat away from its parents,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18then the seat will be reassigned.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21The airline added that it will be getting in touch
0:25:21 > 0:25:24with both Nadine and Andrea to offer a resolution.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29But with some of you telling us
0:25:29 > 0:25:31similar stories about other airlines, too,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33it seems that for whatever reason,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36the CAA's requirements are not always being followed,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40so Simon has some no-nonsense advice for anyone who is
0:25:40 > 0:25:44told they will need to pay to be sure they sit next to their child.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47That's not the case legally.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52It is simply an empty threat which I strongly suggest everybody ignores.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55He makes it sound so easy, but for Andrea,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59the frustration remains that she knew what she was entitled to,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02and was even told by the airline it would be sorted out on the plane,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05and yet the family was still split up.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I don't think they followed the CAA guidelines.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12I think if they do feel that it's OK
0:26:12 > 0:26:16to have a seven-year-old sat at least
0:26:16 > 0:26:21a few rows away from her parents, then it's absolutely disgraceful.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Still to come on Rip-Off Britain -
0:26:31 > 0:26:34car owners hit with unwelcome bills or a
0:26:34 > 0:26:37very direct message left on their vehicle,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39both of them problems caused by the same thing,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43the sky-high cost of airport parking.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45You think, how can it possibly be that they could charge such an
0:26:45 > 0:26:48astronomical amount for parking?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Yes, it was secure, yes, it was near the airport,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54but surely it should be a more reasonable amount.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00Our travel expert Simon Calder is
0:27:00 > 0:27:02full of tips to save you money on your travels.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05He's got advice on everything,
0:27:05 > 0:27:06from how to avoid the crowds to the
0:27:06 > 0:27:09best way to steer clear of those tourist traps.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14This time it's all about holding on to your pennies in the notoriously
0:27:14 > 0:27:16expensive city of Venice.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18The so-called floating city is
0:27:18 > 0:27:20actually made up of over 100 small islands
0:27:20 > 0:27:22connected by bridges,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26and as well as the canals, it boasts some of the most notorious and
0:27:26 > 0:27:28costliest tourist spots in the world.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Ah.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Sip an exquisite espresso as you absorb the ambience in one
0:27:34 > 0:27:37of St Mark's Square's signature cafes.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38All yours for...
0:27:40 > 0:27:42..rather more than £10.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45The most expensive coffee I've found anywhere.
0:27:48 > 0:27:53But if paying eye-watering prices simply isn't your cup of cappuccino,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56then you can still take in all the sites by heading to the
0:27:56 > 0:27:57Lido di Jesolo,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00a purpose-built beach resort just north of Venice.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05There's accommodation ranging from
0:28:05 > 0:28:07campsites to four-star all-inclusives,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10with 15km of beach thrown in.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Then hop on a boat back to Venice to
0:28:13 > 0:28:16see the sights, including, of course, the gondolas.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Now, if you are tempted to hire one,
0:28:19 > 0:28:23it could cost you £100 for half an hour.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Luckily, there is a low-budget alternative.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Old gondolas are pressed into service as traghetti
0:28:29 > 0:28:31shuttling back and forth
0:28:31 > 0:28:33across the Grand Canal,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and a ride on one is all yours for a couple of euros.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Amongst the many fine things that Italy has offered to the world,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47opera comes pretty near top of the list.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50A night at the opera, La Fenice,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53is an unforgettable experience,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55and perhaps surprisingly it can be
0:28:55 > 0:28:59one of the less expensive Italian thrills.
0:29:01 > 0:29:07Now, you could splash out 200 or 300 euros on a seat in a private box.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11But at the other end of the scale,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14there's the wonderful Italian concept of the listening seat,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17which basically means you get a terrible view
0:29:17 > 0:29:19but it only costs about 15 euros
0:29:19 > 0:29:21and you get to appreciate the
0:29:21 > 0:29:24magnificent music and the excitement.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Bellissimo.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Now for a situation that usually
0:29:33 > 0:29:36guarantees that the most even-tempered of us
0:29:36 > 0:29:40will eventually get into a spin, and that is car parking,
0:29:40 > 0:29:42cos let's face it, it's bad enough
0:29:42 > 0:29:46trying to find a car parking space in an overcrowded supermarket,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48but if you add that to the stress
0:29:48 > 0:29:52and the costs that come with trying to find somewhere
0:29:52 > 0:29:55to safely park your car when you jet off on holiday,
0:29:55 > 0:29:56then you can see you've got a situation
0:29:56 > 0:29:59that's absolutely ripe for frayed tempers.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03And unfortunately that's exactly what happened last summer when a
0:30:03 > 0:30:04group of people discovered what they
0:30:04 > 0:30:08thought was a very cost-effective and practical solution
0:30:08 > 0:30:11to the whole car parking situation, but sadly,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15whilst the people parking their cars were very happy indeed,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18those that were left behind were rather less than chuffed.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Holidays abroad bring the promise of longer evenings,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26warmer days and plenty of sunshine,
0:30:26 > 0:30:31but the expense doesn't just start when you arrive at your destination.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35For millions of us, there is the extra cost and hassle of finding
0:30:35 > 0:30:38somewhere to leave your car before you've even taken off, which,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41as we've reported before, doesn't always go entirely to plan.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47These vehicles left on kerbs,
0:30:47 > 0:30:48in fields,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51and in pub car parks
0:30:51 > 0:30:53had been entrusted by their owners to one
0:30:53 > 0:30:56of the many meet-and-greet companies that have sprung up,
0:30:56 > 0:31:00promising to safely store your car while you're away.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03But clearly they weren't kept in the secure environment
0:31:03 > 0:31:06that had been promised.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10You'd think they'd park them in a secure car park,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13but when they hand the cars over to the drivers,
0:31:13 > 0:31:15they're often just parked in locations
0:31:15 > 0:31:17such as this on your right.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20Or if it's returned dented and damaged.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22All the paintwork above the wheel was all scratched.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24The rear fog lamp was all broke.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26I've had to pay for the damage myself.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Of course, not all meet-and-greet companies
0:31:29 > 0:31:31leave customers in this kind of pickle,
0:31:31 > 0:31:35and using one of them when you go away can save a lot of money.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Which is why, in November 2016,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40June and Mike Jackson from Melton Mowbray
0:31:40 > 0:31:42decided that one such company
0:31:42 > 0:31:44would be their parking solution when
0:31:44 > 0:31:46they headed to Heathrow Airport
0:31:46 > 0:31:51ready to fly off on a very special six-week cruise to Sydney and Japan.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55The trip was to celebrate our golden wedding anniversary.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59It only comes by once, so we wanted to make it special.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01And we were so excited about it and
0:32:01 > 0:32:03all the planning that we put into it before we went.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05After you, dear.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09The cheapest quote they found at an official airport car park came in at
0:32:09 > 0:32:12around £250 for the six-week stay.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14But with a meet-and-greet company
0:32:14 > 0:32:17offering to collect and return their car at the airport
0:32:17 > 0:32:20for a total of £136.70, for June and Mike,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22it seemed a no-brainer.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Having used a similar company before,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26we felt it would be straightforward.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28It would be convenient.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32We could just leave the car, straight into the airport.
0:32:32 > 0:32:33What could be better?
0:32:33 > 0:32:35But on the morning of the flight,
0:32:35 > 0:32:37the couple received a text message
0:32:37 > 0:32:40from the company with some distressing news.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Saying, we are unable to park your car this morning.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50We'll reimburse the fees and you'll have to seek other forms of parking.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Alternative parking.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54With less than three and a half hours to departure,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56June and make were now in a
0:32:56 > 0:32:58desperate rush to find another way to park at Heathrow.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01I'm thinking, "The time's going past, the time's going past."
0:33:01 > 0:33:02You know, we were looking, just checking.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04"We've got to get rid of this car."
0:33:04 > 0:33:06So we just saw...
0:33:06 > 0:33:12..a light on, on a car park in a little cabin, so we just said,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15"Let's just go for it. Let's see if they can help us out."
0:33:16 > 0:33:20The couple had found an official Heathrow Airport car park where an
0:33:20 > 0:33:21attendant warned them that,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23because they hadn't pre-booked a space,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26they'd face a very large bill on their return,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28but with time running out to make their flight,
0:33:28 > 0:33:31June and Mike felt they had little choice.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32We had to go for it.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35We decided it was either a case of parking there
0:33:35 > 0:33:38or we were going to miss the flight and miss the cruise altogether.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41So the Jacksons parked their car and caught their flight,
0:33:41 > 0:33:42but throughout the holiday
0:33:42 > 0:33:46they couldn't shake off the worry about the big parking bill to come.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48We kept thinking about it, kept going through your mind and...
0:33:48 > 0:33:50- Yes.- Thinking, we knew that we'd got
0:33:50 > 0:33:52this big bill to face when we got back.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57And when they got back, their worst fears were realised,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00when they were hit with a £891.30 bill
0:34:00 > 0:34:03for their six weeks' worth of parking.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05That's almost another holiday, isn't it?
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- It is, really.- You think,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10how can it possibly be that you can be away for six weeks and they can
0:34:10 > 0:34:13charge such an astronomical amount for parking?
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Yes, it was secure.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16Yes, it was near the airport,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20but surely it should be a more reasonable amount.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Well, of course, Mike and June paid top whack because,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27being let down by the meet-and-greet firm so late in the day,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30they hadn't had a chance to pre-book anything cheaper.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33And when we contacted Heathrow Airport,
0:34:33 > 0:34:34it stressed that pricing is based on demand
0:34:34 > 0:34:39and last-minute parking will always cost more as available space
0:34:39 > 0:34:41may be limited. It went on to say
0:34:41 > 0:34:46that pre-booking can save you money as little as 24 hours in advance,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48and as well as pointing out that you can
0:34:48 > 0:34:51also get to the airport by public transport,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54it recommends that, whatever parking service you use, it's one
0:34:54 > 0:34:55that's British Parking accredited.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59But June and might remain aggrieved
0:34:59 > 0:35:01at their whole airport parking experience
0:35:01 > 0:35:04and say it took the shine off the whole trip.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06I think we'll remember the golden wedding for...
0:35:06 > 0:35:09- Yeah, for the car...- For the parking rather than the holiday.- Yeah.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Our travel expert Simon Calder
0:35:12 > 0:35:14understands why airports charge a premium to park,
0:35:14 > 0:35:16but he agrees with June and Mike
0:35:16 > 0:35:18that the costs have now got out of hand.
0:35:18 > 0:35:24Over the last 20 years, the cost of flying has fallen amazingly,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26and partly it's done that because
0:35:26 > 0:35:29the airports are charging less than they used to,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32but of course they have to make the money back somehow and
0:35:32 > 0:35:36airport parking, they think, is a great way to do it.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38I've done research which shows that
0:35:38 > 0:35:40at most of Britain's top ten airports
0:35:40 > 0:35:43it's actually cheaper to park a small plane
0:35:43 > 0:35:46than it is to park a car in the short-term car park.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49In fact, the cost of parking your car
0:35:49 > 0:35:53for seven days at a UK airport can vary wildly.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Exeter is generally reckoned to be the cheapest,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57with Luton the most expensive.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00But in most cases you can easily find that your parking
0:36:00 > 0:36:02costs more than the price of a
0:36:02 > 0:36:05return flight to Europe on a budget airline.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07For example, at Manchester Airport,
0:36:07 > 0:36:13the on-the-day cost of a week in the multi-storey car park is £280,
0:36:13 > 0:36:15which, when we checked, would more than cover
0:36:15 > 0:36:17a return flight to Prague.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19At London City Airport,
0:36:19 > 0:36:21the drive-up prices for seven days
0:36:21 > 0:36:23in the official long-stay car park can
0:36:23 > 0:36:25be as much as £357,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29enough to fly a family of three to Dublin and back.
0:36:29 > 0:36:30And at Luton Airport,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33turn up on the day to park your car for a week
0:36:33 > 0:36:37and you'd end up having to pay up to £385,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40enough for a return flight to Morocco.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Now, of course, those prices drop dramatically
0:36:43 > 0:36:44if you book in advance.
0:36:44 > 0:36:50A pre-booked space at Manchester Airport works out as £79.99,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52a saving of £200.01.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Similarly, pre-book at London City
0:36:55 > 0:37:00and the price plummets to around £88 for the week, a saving of £269.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04And you may find that parking away
0:37:04 > 0:37:08from the terminals offers better value and more flexibility.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14At Manchester, it's £10 per day to park in the open long-stay car park,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16with a free shuttle bus to the terminal,
0:37:16 > 0:37:18even if you turn up and pay on the day.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21But with parking likely to
0:37:21 > 0:37:23significantly bump up the cost of your holiday,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25whichever airport you fly from,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28some passengers have tried to avoid
0:37:28 > 0:37:30any charge whatsoever by leaving
0:37:30 > 0:37:33their cars on residential streets nearby.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36But that doesn't always go down well with the locals,
0:37:36 > 0:37:37many of whom very much resent
0:37:37 > 0:37:40their neighbourhoods becoming unofficial car parks
0:37:40 > 0:37:44for several weeks of the year, and in the summer of 2017,
0:37:44 > 0:37:46some of those simmering tensions
0:37:46 > 0:37:48came to a head with residents finding ways
0:37:48 > 0:37:51to take matters into their own hands.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54This car's been here for just under two weeks
0:37:54 > 0:37:58and I would expect the owner to come back soon...
0:37:59 > 0:38:02..after, I assume, being on holiday.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Tony Raines is from Greater Manchester,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09around a six-minute taxi ride from nearby Manchester Airport,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12and while that's come in handy for him over the years,
0:38:12 > 0:38:13it's also meant his neighbourhood
0:38:13 > 0:38:15has become a hotspot for people trying
0:38:15 > 0:38:18to dodge paying to park at the airport.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Tony believes that the cars left here, sometimes by tourists,
0:38:21 > 0:38:24other times by meet-and-greet companies,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26are both an eyesore and a safety hazard,
0:38:26 > 0:38:30and he's found a way to let the owners know exactly what he thinks.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32I'm putting it on the driver's side
0:38:32 > 0:38:34so the driver realises he's got to
0:38:34 > 0:38:38move it before he moves the car.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Take one of these which says,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43"This is not a car park.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46"You are creating a dangerous obstruction.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51"Please back much further away so we can see to get out safely."
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Well, I think there will be four cars
0:38:55 > 0:38:58that I'll be putting stickers on today.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02This is definitely not a resident's car
0:39:02 > 0:39:05because the residents know the situation and
0:39:07 > 0:39:09most of the residents have got
0:39:09 > 0:39:12enough car parking space of their own.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15There is another car up here that needs a sticker.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20Tony would like the local council to introduce restrictions like permits
0:39:20 > 0:39:22or even double yellow lines to tackle the problem.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27And while the council agrees that would have benefits for safety,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30congestion and the surrounding community,
0:39:30 > 0:39:34any measures like this wouldn't be actioned until 2019.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37But this is a problem affecting
0:39:37 > 0:39:38plenty of other neighbourhoods
0:39:38 > 0:39:41within a few miles of UK airports.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42In Southend, for example,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45as the local airport has grown in popularity,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47so too has the number of people
0:39:47 > 0:39:50using nearby streets to park for free.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53And in Luton, some residents have taken extreme action against those
0:39:53 > 0:39:57hoping to evade the airport's particularly high charges.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01Far from returning to see one of Tony's simple and harmless stickers,
0:40:01 > 0:40:04some car owners who left their cars here have come back to find their
0:40:04 > 0:40:07vehicles either damaged or covered
0:40:07 > 0:40:10in graffiti, with a very clear message.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12But with the price of airport parking so high,
0:40:12 > 0:40:17you can understand why people may be tempted to find cheaper solutions,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19and while the airports maintain that
0:40:19 > 0:40:21the revenue from parking helps offset
0:40:21 > 0:40:24other costs, and therefore keeps fares down,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Simon Calder believes that anyone considering driving to the airport
0:40:27 > 0:40:30should, if they can, ditch the idea altogether.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Make driving to the airport and parking your last alternative.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40Consider all the other possibilities first, in particular,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42the increasingly good public transport to airports,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46but, of course, you may simply find a taxi works out cheaper.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49But June and Mike, who live too far from Heathrow for either
0:40:49 > 0:40:53public transport or a taxi to always be the best option,
0:40:53 > 0:40:56don't see why choosing to take a car to the airport should result in such
0:40:56 > 0:41:02hefty charges. So next time they won't be leaving anything to chance.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05All I would say is just check and double-check,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09and just make sure that you've done all your homework, really,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11before you commit yourselves.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15Don't go through the experience that we've gone through,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- because it really... - It ruins your holiday.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19It ruins your holiday and it's not nice.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Rip-Off Britain wouldn't be here without your stories
0:41:28 > 0:41:30and we've got plenty of ways you can get in touch.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Send us an e-mail to...
0:41:37 > 0:41:43..or write to us at...
0:41:45 > 0:41:48But please don't send original copies of any documents.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55And even if you haven't got a story you'd like us to investigate,
0:41:55 > 0:41:58you can join in the conversation on our Facebook page.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00Just search BBC Rip-Off Britain.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Well, I'm afraid we're almost out of time for today's programme,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10but I have to confess and being absolutely astonished at the very
0:42:10 > 0:42:12different ways in which airlines
0:42:12 > 0:42:16approach the whole issue of serving nuts on their planes
0:42:16 > 0:42:20when they've got a passenger who has an allergy to them on board.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23When you think of the consequences that can be so deadly,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25you would think, wouldn't you,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27that the industry might have a more consistent approach?
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Yes, I would say that it's elementary that they do, actually,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33but you know what struck me about some of the other stories that we've
0:42:33 > 0:42:37heard about today is that the issues may well have been avoided if those
0:42:37 > 0:42:39with the authority to do so had
0:42:39 > 0:42:41simply asked nicely for someone to maybe
0:42:41 > 0:42:45swap their seats or indeed to park their cars elsewhere.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47But sometimes, I'm afraid, we are just too polite,
0:42:47 > 0:42:49or should I say just too British?
0:42:49 > 0:42:52- What do you think? - Well, interestingly,
0:42:52 > 0:42:54a lot of people come up to me and say,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56"Your programme has made me a lot braver
0:42:56 > 0:42:59"about complaining when things aren't right."
0:42:59 > 0:43:01And I think that's a very good thing.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Well, I certainly hope you're not
0:43:03 > 0:43:05too polite to let us know if something
0:43:05 > 0:43:08on your holiday doesn't go to plan. Do please tell us about it.
0:43:08 > 0:43:09It's by sharing your experiences
0:43:09 > 0:43:11that we can make sure that other people
0:43:11 > 0:43:14don't get caught out in the same way.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16We'll be back with more of your stories very soon, but for now,
0:43:16 > 0:43:18from all of us, goodbye.
0:43:18 > 0:43:19- Goodbye.- Bye.