Posted on July 05, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

Picking up UK car hire  this week? Watch out for the ‘hand-bags at dawn’ scenario that’s waging at airport trolley bays.

What’s it all about?

Something of a ‘trolley-gate’ row has broken out after the fee for renting a baggage trolley mysteriously doubled from £1 to £2 overnight.

Last week, passengers flying into and out of London Luton Airport and Bristol Airport were left gob smacked when they were hit by the sudden increase in trolley hire charges.

The charge, which takes effect just as the summer holiday season begins, is non-refundable according to a Luton Airport spokesperson.

The new charge is already set to be introduced in Cardiff Airport within the next few weeks and will appear by stealth at a number of other airports later this year.

Commenting on the rather abrupt hike in fees, a spokesperson for Bagport said: “This price increase enables Bagport to continue to provide a quality service after the heavy shortfall of passenger traffic in the European aviation industry since autumn 2008.

“The new charges of £2/2 euros reflects the international market leading prices as airports, for example in the US, are charging between four and five dollars per baggage trolley.”

The company said it had tried to avoid any price increases last year and in the first two quarters of this year.

Tip: If you’re looking to save some money, pay with Euro, if you’ve got it. The equivalent charge in euros is two euros, which converts as £1.65.

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