Knock rip-off

Banbh

Just back from my first holiday using Knock Airport. In addition to the €10 'development fee' (€40 for the family) that is extorted from all travellers, we returned to find that our week-long parking fee of €35 was in fact €44.

We were parked for 7 days and 2 hours and the two hours were charged at €9.
To add insult to injury here is what they say: "Your exit time has been extended to give you the full benefit of the per day parking rate. There is no additional cost."

From Galway city it is cheaper to use Dublin Airport than Knock and there is a greater choice of cheap flights.

flutegirl

Flying from Knock tomorrow, far less hassle than going form Dublin, which would probably involve an overnight stay the day before. Flying from Knock means I'm home in about 20 minutes after getting off the plane. Handy enough!

Fr Tod Umptious

Banbh wrote: »

Just back from my first holiday using Knock Airport. In addition to the €10 'development fee' (€40 for the family) that is extorted from all travellers, we returned to find that our week-long parking fee of €35 was in fact €44.

We were parked for 7 days and 2 hours and the two hours were charged at €9.
To add insult to injury here is what they say: "Your exit time has been extended to give you the full benefit of the per day parking rate. There is no additional cost."

From Galway city it is cheaper to use Dublin Airport than Knock and there is a greater choice of cheap flights.

yes I'd imagine there is a greater choice of cheap flight from Dublin than from Knock.

But at the end of the day it depends on where you wish to go and what is the cheapest way of getting there and back.

And I am sure that there are times that a flight to and from Knock works out cheaper for someone from Galway than a flight to or from Dublin.

It's all about shopping around.

Banbh

You're right of course. It's just that the extra €51 I got stung for took the good out of it.
A neighbour, here in Galway, drove to Dublin and got parking for €29 for the week and he claims that with the motorway the driving is easier. I think that's the way we'll go next time.

finchkerry

Banbh wrote: »

Just back from my first holiday using Knock Airport. In addition to the €10 'development fee' (€40 for the family) that is extorted from all travellers, we returned to find that our week-long parking fee of €35 was in fact €44.

We were parked for 7 days and 2 hours and the two hours were charged at €9.
To add insult to injury here is what they say: "Your exit time has been extended to give you the full benefit of the per day parking rate. There is no additional cost."

From Galway city it is cheaper to use Dublin Airport than Knock and there is a greater choice of cheap flights.

Can I make a few points here to put an even perspective on things

- The €10 is a developmental charge which effectively keeps the airport open. Unlike Dublin, cork, Shannon knock charge this on top of your airline fee. When you actually break down the taxes for flying out of Dublin and knock including the €10 developmental fee, knock is actually a euro or two cheaper

- at any airport Dublin, cork, heathrow, gatwick or shopping centre for that matter once you stay over a 'week' you will be charged an additional amount, come on now being hard on you but you must realise this. Again to point out to park outside an airport like knock its actually cheaper than Dublin or Shannon. Granted you can park cheaper in some hotel car park or that long term car park in row y to z which then entails a 15-20 minute bus journey for slighly cheaper.

- driving all the way to Dublin with the tolls included I think it would cost more than €51....

However I can see your point but in regards to the development charge/tax you are paying this already as part of a tax in Dublin.

Banbh

To avail of the weekly charge you have to be back in under 168 hours.

Most air travellers who book a return flight for seven days will be unable to clear the airport in under the 168 hours.

It would be more honest not to advertise a seven-day parking rate and to charge €4.50 per hour after that is still, in my opinion, a rip-off.

In any case, Knock Airport will hardly miss me, my family and friends in their annual profits and if so, they can dream up some other tricks to catch tired travellers.

lotusm

Banbh wrote: »

To avail of the weekly charge you have to be back in under 168 hours.

Most air travellers who book a return flight for seven days will be unable to clear the airport in under the 168 hours.

It would be more honest not to advertise a seven-day parking rate and to charge €4.50 per hour after that is still, in my opinion, a rip-off.

In any case, Knock Airport will hardly miss me, my family and friends in their annual profits and if so, they can dream up some other tricks to catch tired travellers.

think you are the one doing the Pauls daniel "Tricks" all these costs are well advertised on the the ryanair website and knock airport and also at the airport aswell ... If your more interested in driving all the way up to Dublin with tolls/Petrol/Time/queues ...good for you as for cheaper parking at Dublin airport.. wow that extra fiver saved .. I be hitting the 2 Euro shop

OldRio

'We were parked for 7 days and 2 hours and the two hours were charged at €9.'

Therefore you were parked for more than 1 week.
The same happened to myself when at Dublin Airport.
The only difference was I checked my flight times and knew I would be charged an extra day.

Great Airport Knock. Far handier than Dublin for myself.

highlydebased

lotusm wrote: »

think you are the one doing the Pauls daniel "Tricks" all these costs are well advertised on the the ryanair website and knock airport and also at the airport aswell ... If your more interested in driving all the way up to Dublin with tolls/Petrol/Time/queues ...good for you as for cheaper parking at Dublin airport.. wow that extra fiver saved .. I be hitting the 2 Euro shop

The development fee is not advertised on the Ryanair website any more at all! Advertising it at the airport is alot of good after you arrive on, not expecting it.

finchkerry

highlydebased wrote: »

lotusm wrote: »

think you are the one doing the Pauls daniel "Tricks" all these costs are well advertised on the the ryanair website and knock airport and also at the airport aswell ... If your more interested in driving all the way up to Dublin with tolls/Petrol/Time/queues ...good for you as for cheaper parking at Dublin airport.. wow that extra fiver saved .. I be hitting the 2 Euro shop

The development fee is not advertised on the Ryanair website any more at all! Advertising it at the airport is alot of good after you arrive on, not expecting it.

You do know you end up paying the same amount of tax flying out of Knock and Dublin, which includes the developmental fee. For a small airport in an area of high unemployment I wouldnt 'knock' the place. It's provided employment, allows people from the surrounding areas to travel without the long haul to Dublin plus its the handiest airport in the whole of Ireland for ease of parking and getting through bloody security, Dublin is a nightmare at the best of times. To many plus points for an area heavily hit by recession.

Banbh

Banbh wrote: »

You're right of course. It's just that the extra €51 I got stung for took the good out of it.
A neighbour, here in Galway, drove to Dublin and got parking for €29 for the week and he claims that with the motorway the driving is easier. I think that's the way we'll go next time.

All airport car parks are expensive, was there no Bus ? There are several a day that come from Galway and stop at the airport en-route to Sligo. Amazing how people always look for a way to knock their local amenities. Even more so those that don't cost anything unless you use them.