BOSSES at Manchester Airport have banned car park attendants from giving motorists a push start if they break down.
Officials at the airport - which aims to provide `outstanding customer service' - introduced the rule to prevent staff accidentally damaging vehicles when they are trying to help owners.
But the policy has been condemned by motoring groups, with one critic saying the airport had `thrown common sense out of the window'. A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers said: "It would be a matter of normal humanity to decide to help someone who is experiencing difficulty. The employer should just keep out of it and allow people to make their own personal judgement."
Sean Corker, who campaigns for motorists' rights in the north west, said: "It's incredible and I'm afraid it's more political correctness gone mad.
"You always come across the odd jobsworth but you don't often get people ordered by their bosses not to help customers. Their customer service obviously doesn't extend to those who drive to the airport."
Holidaymaker Paul Ross fell foul of the ruling when he returned to the Terminal 2 car park after a trip to Menorca and found the battery had gone flat on his Volkswagen Golf.
He approached staff at the car park for help but they said they couldn't assist him on the orders of their superiors.
Paul, 40, who had paid about £60 to leave his car at the airport while he was abroad, had no breakdown cover and no cash to pay for a tow-truck.
He said: "All that was needed was a bit of common courtesy. I just wanted to get home. It was an awful situation at the end of a very good holiday."
Retail support manager Paul and his wife, Janet, had been away for 10 days when they landed back at the airport at 12am on September 25.
He ended up trying to push-start his car in pouring rain first on his own and then with the help of a police officer.
The couple were only able to make their way back home to Barnsley three hours later when another holidaymaker appeared with a pair of jump leads and offered to help.
Paul was so appalled by the attitude of staff that he complained to airport parking bosses.
He has now been offered an apology plus the return of his parking fee.
Paul says in his letter of complaint: "Your customer service is very bad, has no flexibility and consists of blaming others for the inability to help.
"With only one exception, the attitude of your staff is negative, unhelpful and extremely unprofessional.
"I for one will not be recommending use of your car parking, rather the reverse."
He added: "The experience we have had with your organisation has nullified the relaxation we had on holiday.
"Your service is a great advertisement for taking a taxi next time."
A spokeswoman for Manchester Airport said it employed the AA to provide free assistance to motorists stranded in its car parks from 6am to 6pm.
She said staff used to be able to help customers whose cars had broken down outside these hours, but this had been stopped after complaints that a car had been damaged.
The spokeswoman added: "It's something we have kept under review and are hoping to bring back very soon.
"We are in the process of finalising a disclaimer form so that, if there is a fault in the future, we would not be blamed."
She said Derrick Heatley, the airport's operations manager for parking, had contacted Paul and had agreed that customer service "did fail".
She said he had also agreed to refund the money Paul had paid to park at the airport during his holiday.
Security staff at the Trafford Centre, where parking is free, are permitted to help customers jump-start their cars and have the kit to do it.
And BAA, which operates seven major UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, said car park attendants are given jump leads to help motorists whose batteries go flat.
But a spokesman for Liverpool Airport said it operated the same policy as Manchester Airport in its car parks and banned attendants from helping stranded motorists because passengers had become "increasingly litigious" and they wished to guard against insurance claims.
Should parking attendants give drivers a push-start? Have your say.
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It sounds like common sense has been given a "push start" out of the door! If I ever see an Airport boss in need of help at the roadside, I for one won't be stopping to help.
I think if someones car will not start than he/she should be prepared to call the rescue services, but if anyone is kind enough to give a shove all well and good, but airport workers or anyone else should not be pressured into helping. I myself have back problems and do not feel I should have to give any reasons for not doing a favour. No I dont work at the airport.
Or use a park and ride scheme such as Chapel House Farm. Leave your car safe and get a short taxi ride to the terminal and the reverse on your return.
Yes I totally agree with this rule. What if the member of staff fell under the car as it started?
The people whos cars break down should push it.
This country! Get me to the airport.
Hi
This treatment of loyal customers is not new.
After using Manchester airport long stay parking for
many years,I returned from a winter holiday to find My car
totally frozen. All the locks
were inaccesible.
I went to the car park attendents cabin,to find two chaps having a brew.
I told them of My predicament,and asked if I could have some hot water,
I was told to catch the bus back tothe terminal and try to get some there, this was 4-30 am . I ended up having to urinate on the lock in order to get home.
Another time I returned in winter to find My battery flat.When I asked for help I was told to ring for National Breakdown to sort Me out.So after a 10 hour flight We had to wait in freezing conditions for over an hour .
Needless to say We dont use the airport facilities any more. We now park for a fraction of the cost privately at a place where help is at hand if needed.
Regards P.R.
It is nonsense and poor car park management, only to offer jump start assistance between certain hours. I agree with ban of push starting vehicles, there are many reasons for not allowing this then are given here. But have a set of jump leads available at least.
1. Don't drive around with a tired battery.
2. Join the AA/RAC
If the airport management had any common sense they would know that there is no need to push start any car. Rechargeable power units are quite cheap and light to carry so why not have them on site. Maybe they are frightened they might get stolen.
Whats a "retail support manger"? Keeping the cheese shelves stocked?
Lisa Moore - Wilmslow
You have done it again opening your gob before thinking, it is highly unlikely to fall under a car if your pushing it.
The trouble with the airport it is a monopoly so they can do what they like.
We all jump in and say that Manchester airport are foolish for making this rule but then we read stories on a daily basis of people suing big companies for stupid things, I can understand the airport doing this. People don’t want to get involved these days as it may be a set up by someone trying to rob you or worse, Everybody should have a breakdown service in place, you can get one for about £26 a year and ok you might have to wait an hour but it is better than relying on other people.
"She said staff used to be able to help customers whose cars had broken down outside these hours, but this had been stopped after complaints that a car had been damaged." Speaks volumes that quote doesn't it ? It seems as though on ecustomer wasn't grateful and has spoilt it for everyone else. Typical of our society in 2007.
Just picture it. A woman with two young kids in the car at midnight in the middle of winter.
Pathetic.
Don't blame the Airport Bosses for this rule. They are ony doing this to cover their own back because no doubt if any damage was done to a car, I'm sure the owner would be straight on the phone complaining.
Why drive to the airport anyway? Surely people have friends and family who can drop you off and pick you up from the airport, or for £15 get a taxi
A small charge say ten pounds to jump start your car from the staff should pay for itself ...buy a small charging set "Around" 50quid five jump starts pays for that then the rest is profit....
Clearly the result of some canny lad getting a claim in. Where there's blame there's a few quid. Pathetic!
Typical Airport, rip off, more rip offs, and long queues! miserable staff, and planes that go no where other than via London, or to the Costa's!
Had the staff been given the correct Health and Safety training in push starting a car?
Why dont these whingers just but a decent motor!?