Concerns Raised Over Rogue Meet-and-Greet Airport Parking Operators Amid Car Thefts and Unregulated Market
A troubling incident at Heathrow Airport involved a long-stay meet-and-greet booking, originally listed as Heathrow Park & Ride, that resulted in a car theft. After handing over their keys to an on-site agent, a couple had their car stolen along with seven others, and they were not met upon their return. This is part of a wider issue where some customers have received penalty charge notices for parking breaches while their cars were kept in supposedly secure compounds or have been left stranded when services failed to materialize.
Investigations reveal that several operators move vehicles between different compounds and relocate them to sites outside the airport perimeter, such as hotel car parks, construction sites, or fields. Reports suggest that rogue meet-and-greet operators are often listed on comparison websites, sometimes with listings linked to the providers themselves. In response to these risks, Which? has published guidance on safe on-site and off-site parking options.
In efforts to improve security and standards, Heathrow Airport has joined the AM-GO approved operator scheme, launched by the British Parking Association and supported by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives; Birmingham Airport has also joined. The AM-GO scheme requires compliance with a code of practice aiming to provide safer parking services.
Despite police investigations, such as the Sussex police closing a case due to lack of evidence, authorities remain vigilant about concerns surrounding parking providers and continue collaborating with trading standards. Travellers are advised to exercise caution by reading reviews carefully, checking for the Park Mark safety logo, and being wary of deals that are substantially cheaper than average, as these may conceal risks.
Most airports do not maintain lists of approved parking operators, and the meet-and-greet parking market remains relatively unregulated, with many operators lacking landowner contracts. The report highlights that anyone can set up a parking operator as long as they do not breach airline bylaws, which underscores the importance of consumer vigilance when selecting parking services at airports.
