British holidaymakers returning to Gatwick Airport faced significant disruption and distress after using a meet and greet parking service, which allegedly left dozens stranded without their vehicles. Lauren James from Worcestershire, who had booked with iPark for her trip to France, described a 'nightmare' experience upon landing, where she and many others were unable to retrieve their cars.
Ms James recounted calling the firm as instructed after her flight from Bordeaux on Sunday, only for the calls to go straight to voicemail. This immediately raised 'alarm bells'. Upon returning to the drop-off car park, she encountered another woman who had already been forced to stay overnight due to the same issue. Soon, a crowd of approximately 60 people, including families and the elderly, had gathered, all waiting for their cars.
Unable to locate their vehicles within the airport's NCP car park, some individuals managed to track their cars to an off-site location, roughly a seven-minute drive away. Upon arrival, police were present, and a boot full of car keys in individual plastic wallets was reportedly discovered. Ms James's car was found at one of these sites, its wheels covered in what she described as 'concretey-mud'. Other holidaymakers reported finding their cars left in a filthy condition, with petrol used, and personal items such as disability badges and service books stolen.
A particularly concerning aspect for some customers was finding their cars had not been moved from the short-stay car park, leading to substantial fines of over £500 that they had to pay to exit. Ms James stated that she booked the service through an airport parking comparison website, but has since been informed by police that the website and the parking firm might be linked. iPark Ltd could not be reached for comment regarding the allegations.
In response to the incidents, London Gatwick's head of car parks, Oli Bedford, stated that the airport is 'aware of rogue third-party parking companies purporting to offer valet or meet-and-greet services'. He confirmed that Gatwick is actively addressing this problem by working with the police, trading standards, and the British Parking Association (BPA). The airport also advises passengers to book official London Gatwick parking for peace of mind or to choose other reputable alternatives.