Airport Admin fee

[Farol]

Am I correct in thinking that YOR's office/site is by the roundabout at the airport entrance? If so, could the fee be avoided by walking to/from there?

[bugsey]

This explains why I was told yesterday, when I picked up a vehicle from YOR, that I should not be able to drop it back in the early morning hours any more. They are also going to move into the rental building as they are no longer going to be able to use the rental van, in two weeks, due to added costs.

[cereza]

This is also tied in to the problems last year of getting into the P4 car park - each rental company is only allocated a certain number of parking spaces so if all are occupied then returning rentals aren't allowed in until a car of that company leaves and creates a space. This happened to me when I was very late for my flight - the barrier would not open and I did not know why and then a guy near the barrier told me to leave the car by the barrier on the roundabout which I did but when I told the rental company rep she freaked out and ran to the car while I ran to catch my plane

[smudger]

Twice last year I had to circle the car park until the barrier allowed me entry. My wife stood by the YOR van and phoned me when a new hirer started to leave the car park.

[Aldo]

What time of year did this happen?

I am confused why Portugal is making it so difficult for tourists - tolls, Airport admin fee, its makes hiring a car unattractive.

[aquane]

Just got an email from Economy car hire, regarding an extra charge on my car rental.

cut from the email

We have been informed within the last 24hrs that the Portuguese airport authority ANA (which is currently owned and operated by the private French consortium VINCI) are implementing a charge which will apply to all vehicles collected from the airport car park. This charge will be effective from 1st March 2015.

The charge will be 15 EUR inclusive of tax and will be collected at the time of pick up by the Car Hire Supplier.

This will apply to every car hire supplier at Faro Airport using Car Park 4 and not just to those who operate with Economy Car Hire.

The local car hire companies are currently taking legal action against the airport to avoid this fee in the future.

[smudger]

Yeah, made two booking with YOR thro' Algarvedriver and fee charged when collecting car from airport. No fee when getting car delivered to our accomodation.

[HampshireRich]

Aren't we all aware of this by now - there's been enough posts on the forum

[shanagarry]

Travelrent have just advised us of the charge and insisting the amount is paid in cash at the time of collection

[Steen Jakobsen]

Just got an email from Economy car hire, regarding an extra charge on my car rental.

cut from the email

We have been informed within the last 24hrs that the Portuguese airport authority ANA (which is currently owned and operated by the private French consortium VINCI) are implementing a charge which will apply to all vehicles collected from the airport car park. This charge will be effective from 1st March 2015.

The charge will be 15 EUR inclusive of tax and will be collected at the time of pick up by the Car Hire Supplier.

This will apply to every car hire supplier at Faro Airport using Car Park 4 and not just to those who operate with Economy Car Hire.

The local car hire companies are currently taking legal action against the airport to avoid this fee in the future.

Just shows that ECH are a little confused. The fee was introduced in July 2014, fought and lost in the courts by the car rental companies whom are now receiving 5-digit invoices for just July & August 2014.

ECH's customers have been charged the fee since late January from the car rental companies using P4. Most of the ECHs car rental providers will now use airport shuttles in order to avoid the fee, causing an average of 90 minutes delay before clients can leave the airport area in their rental car.

[Satsuma]

I received the same email from Economy Car Hire stating the 15 euro charge to be paid in cash. However collection is still from P4 & as long as it carries on this way I will reluctantly pay this extra charge for the convenience.

We have been regularly visiting the Algarve for the last 6 years & it's a good job we fell in love with the area as every time we visit there seems to be another 'new rule'.

We originally used the A22 which was a great road but now won't use it mainly because of problems with actually paying, as well as the charges.

So this April on arrival at Faro we will have to hand over an extra 35 euros to the car hire company....15 euros new charge & 20 euros for the privilege of having a car with a transponder in, although we won't use it & get this 20 euros back on return.

This isn't really the welcome that tourists need to encourage them to come back!

Last year we travelled down from the Lisbon area to the Algarve using toll toads & paying as we went. What a simple system it was & why isn't it used on the A22 if they insist on charging?

[Steen Jakobsen]

Am I correct in thinking that YOR's office/site is by the roundabout at the airport entrance? If so, could the fee be avoided by walking to/from there?

A survey shows that 93% of our customers prefer the fast and easy handling at P4 and we also believe clients are best serviced there at this time. Running a dual operation would be very costly in staff adding probably the same or more in cost per rental.

[widge]

Just got an email from Economy car hire, regarding an extra charge on my car rental.

cut from the email

We have been informed within the last 24hrs that the Portuguese airport authority ANA (which is currently owned and operated by the private French consortium VINCI) are implementing a charge which will apply to all vehicles collected from the airport car park. This charge will be effective from 1st March 2015.

The charge will be 15 EUR inclusive of tax and will be collected at the time of pick up by the Car Hire Supplier.

This will apply to every car hire supplier at Faro Airport using Car Park 4 and not just to those who operate with Economy Car Hire.

The local car hire companies are currently taking legal action against the airport to avoid this fee in the future.

Just shows that ECH are a little confused. The fee was introduced in July 2014, fought and lost in the courts by the car rental companies whom are now receiving 5-digit invoices for just July & August 2014.

ECH's customers have been charged the fee since late January from the car rental companies using P4. Most of the ECHs car rental providers will now use airport shuttles in order to avoid the fee, causing an average of 90 minutes delay before clients can leave the airport area in their rental car.

I have just spoken to ECH in UK & they categorically deny that any charges have or will be levied before the 1st March 2015. They also refute your assertion that "most of the ECH car rental providers will now use shuttles in order to avoid the fee, causing an average of 90 minute delay".

As a long standing and loyal ECH client I'm very concerned that either you or ECH are misleading me ?

[Steen Jakobsen]

The confusion is probably that all parties have agreed to the tariff starting on March 1st, but that it will also be used replacing the tariff initially imposed, the companies having lost the court case are being charged from July 2014 on-wards. The car rental companies did not charge the airport fee initially as they believed that they would win in court.

As for shuttle buses only the future will tell for certain, intentions and reality are not always the same.

[Aldo]

Just arrived at Faro airport and we tried to turn into the P4 car park and were asked to leave the car just outside
The car park is empty and the car hire staff being very diplomatic, but I gather today was the start of the new admin fee.

Cant really understand why the Portuguese are always trying to deter tourists! Lets hope its resolved before the airport gets really busy. With just 5 cars trying to enter it was very confusing and having to unpack the car and gather your belongings on the airport entry road is dangerous.

Fingers crossed