A UK airport has warned customers to stay vigilant after a string of alleged cases involving rogue parking firms mishandling vehicles.
Manchester Airport is urging holidaymakers to book only with approved parking providers following multiple complaints about ‘meet and greet’ services
A BMW which crashed on Mill Lane in Ashley, Cheshire[/caption]
Manchester Airport is the first in the UK to adopt the Accredited Airport Parking Provider scheme, ensuring passengers can easily find parking with confidence, knowing the car park meets high standards and has a simple process if issues arise.
A spokesperson from Manchester Airport said: “There are also a number of high-quality third-party providers based around the airport but we recommend customers take care to make sure they are properly accredited before they book.
“Steps to take include having a good look at the provider’s website and checking that it is verified by the police-backed Park Mark scheme, looking at reviews on a separate and reputable website like TrustPilot and considering whether an offer looks too good to be true.”
The warning comes after a couple’s alleged £157,000 BMW XM was wrecked while in the hands of an airport parking company.
The couple returned from the Czech Republic on February 22 to find their 2024 hybrid petrol-electric BMW XM allegedly crashed into a hedge near the airport.
They were told by the parking firm that their vehicle had been in an accident, but received no apology or explanation.
Instead, they were advised to take a taxi home, with the company refusing to disclose where the car had been kept.
A ‘meet and greet’ parking service allows travellers to drop off their vehicle with an attendant, who then parks it in an off-site location.
While many of these services are legitimate, rogue operators have been known to misuse, damage, or even steal customers’ vehicles.
Manchester Airport has joined the International Parking Community’s Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP) scheme to help travellers avoid unregulated firms.
The scheme ensures that parking operators meet high standards, with measures in place to protect customers if things go wrong.
However, despite these efforts, incidents continue to occur, with reports of cars being stolen, damaged, or clocking up thousands of miles while owners are abroad.
In 2022, Cheshire Police launched a crackdown on rogue airport parking firms after receiving 55 complaints in just two months.
Some travellers returned from holidays to find their vehicles had been driven extensively, with one customer discovering an extra 3,000 miles on their odometer.
Police have also received complaints from residents near the airport, who say streets are being used as makeshift car parks by these companies.
Last year, officers raided an illegal parking site at Lode Hill, where a former country house had been converted into an unauthorised lot.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police confirmed officers attended the scene of the BMW crash but said no injuries were reported, and no arrests were made.
Greater Manchester Police added that the driver provided a negative breath test, with no evidence of another vehicle being involved.
After alerting police, they found their badly damaged 24-plate BMW XM crashed[/caption]
Manchester Airport has since joined the International Parking Community’s Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP) scheme[/caption]
This incident is just the latest in a series of complaints about ‘meet-and-greet’ services around Manchester Airport[/caption]
