V-Flyer

Just dropped off a friend today to find that the baggage trollies at Gatwick now require either a pound coin or Euro to release- similar to what you find in supermarkets[:0][:0][:0]

so come prepared

No doubt this is another BAA ploy to reduce the number of staff (or pay for the staff handing out plastic bags)

buns

[:0]

Well hopefully with BAA being made to put LGW up for sale it wont last too long. I wonder if they will do this at LHR.

In the US arent smart carts collected landside needing money to use them?!

Originally posted by buns4vs
Just dropped off a friend today to find that the baggage trollies at Gatwick now require either a pound coin or Euro to release- similar to what you find in supermarkets[:0][:0][:0]

so come prepared

No doubt this is another BAA ploy to reduce the number of staff (or pay for the staff handing out plastic bags)

buns

Is the coin returned like with supermarket trolleys though??[:?] (or is that just wishful thinking).

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by buns4vs
Just dropped off a friend today to find that the baggage trollies at Gatwick now require either a pound coin or Euro to release- similar to what you find in supermarkets[:0][:0][:0]

so come prepared

No doubt this is another BAA ploy to reduce the number of staff (or pay for the staff handing out plastic bags)

buns

Is the coin returned like with supermarket trolleys though??[:?] (or is that just wishful thinking).

Yep[y]

I would imagine the scheme is to prevent trollies being left all over the place - as you know us Brits will doing anything to get our money back - even if this means taking the trolly back somewhere

Only thing is - in the USA (Denver) - I find that if im using a 'smartcart', i have airport 'porter' staff following me everywhere I go waiting for me to take my luggage off so that they can knick the trolley and get the 50cents back themselves! On one occasion, a guy knicked the trolley (fortunately taking my luggage off first) while I was in the check in queue trying to sort out a flight change!

So ..... dont let go of your trolley!

Brain x

Originally posted by musicmanbrain
i have airport 'porter' staff following me everywhere I go waiting for me to take my luggage off so that they can knick the trolley and get the 50cents back themselves!

I used to gather carts before my shift with I worked at the airport. Earned about $10.00 a day; basically my lunch.

I see one BIG issue with the deposit: it requires a Pound or Euro coin. Gatwick is a major internationally airport. Many people do not arrive with coins. Many foreign exchanges do not change coins. Some people do not use cash (I have not spent more than $70 cash in the USA in the last 6 months). Good idea to solve the issue of carts everywhere but with large gaps in planning. [:?]

Bear in mind - this is UK - by the time BAA have come up with a charge and then the government have added some kind of special environmental tax to 'smartcarts' - you wont need coins to use them - you'll need a credit card!