class="alignright size-full wp-image-16930" src="http://news.cheapflights.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/parked-aircraft.jpg" alt="Parking fees at UK airport 'ridiculous'" width="266" height="201" />

Car parking charges at some of Britain’s main airports are “ridiculously high,” a consumer watchdog has said.

Which? Car magazine compared prices for seven days’ on-site and off-airport parking services, with charges starting from £19.84 at href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airports/Manchester-Intl/">Manchester Airport’s park-and-ride facility.

But at href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airports/Heathrow/">Heathrow Airport, business car parking fees skyrocketed to a massive £88.70, while even the hub’s cheapest off-airport spaces came in at £53.95 for seven days.

Elsewhere, href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airports/Edinburgh-EDI/">Edinburgh, href="http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/airports/Belfast-International/">Belfast International and Bristol airports were credited with offering some of the lowest prices, with charges starting at £20.50, £21 and £23.50 respectively.

Many of the cheapest spaces around the country were offered by off-site provider href="http://www.purpleparking.com/" target="_blank">Purple Parking.

“Travellers from the UK’s major airports now have more choice than ever,” Which? Car said. “As well as standard park-and-ride, long-term car parks, there are meet-and-greet services … and a range of deals that include car valeting, servicing or even a night’s hotel accommodation in the price.

“However, this means prices can range from sublimely low to ridiculously high. And just because you pay for a particular service, such as meet-and-greet, it’s not guaranteed to take the strain out of your journey.

“You could still face a lengthy wait outside the terminal building for your car to arrive. The car park could give you back the wrong keys, or even put miles on your car or flatten its battery while you’re away.”

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