Airport Admin fee

[cereza]

Today I enquired about renting a car for this summer and was told that there will probably be an airport admin fee of 20 Euros per rental. At this moment the date of implementation has not been announced and the rental companies are trying to find ways to reduce or cancel this extra tax. Has any one heard about this or have any further information ?
Lumping on more and more taxes is not really good for tourism is it? - especially when it is being handled so haphazardly but I guess that's just par for the course

[e-richard]

As I understand it, this is not a state or national government tax, its a fee imposed by ANA, the airport owners on the rental companies.

OK, that does not make it any more sensible or defensible, but lets lay blame in the right place.

[Steen Jakobsen]

Faro Ana Airports now impose a fee of +/- (depending on calculation method) 7,50 euro/collect and 7,50 euro/return when car rental companies use their parking area.

As a result many companies will use shuttle buses in order to avoid the fee - http://www.algarvedriver.com / Yor believe our clients are best served with the usual fast service on P4 just outside the terminal building. Unfortunately we have to pass on the cost to the concerned clients.

[RichardHenshall]

If the fee charged by the airport is 7,50€ each way, why not include for this in the rental price quoted instead of adding it as a 21€ 'tax'?

... NEW - NOT INCLUDED: 21 euro ANA Faro airport tax ...

When does (or did) this charge take effect?

[Steen Jakobsen]

http://www.algarvedriver.com will charge 7,50 euro for delivery in Faro Airport and 7,50 euro for return. Reason being some clients have a car delivered at their accommodation in Carvoeiro (free on rentals of 6+ days) and return it at the airport or vice versa. Other clients doesn't use Faro Airport at all.

Faro Ana airport charge the car rental companies 5 euro to enter the parking area + 1 euro per hour beyond the first, the 7,50 euro charge is thus Yors estimation of the average cost; cars will be returned and await the next client, clients will arrive delayed, or not at all, or the car return to HQ for next day delivery etcetera.

The fee is effective from February 1st. It has been fought and lost in court by the Association of Rent-a-Car Companies in the Algarve (ARAC).

... NEW - NOT INCLUDED: 21 euro ANA Faro airport tax ...

This was added months ago when ARAC had lost the court case and was the initial amount put forward by ANA - I have removed it.

[cereza]

Thanks for the explanation Steen.
From what you have said and also from what I was told by other rental companies, there will be differences in the charges to renters due to the calculations made by each individual rental company. The quicker the turn round of cars the cheaper the fees but nobody can account for delays so the rental company has to decide on a fair average cost for each rental - in YOR case 15 euros or 20 euros from the company who quoted me. It will be something else to consider when looking for a car.

[RichardHenshall]

Steen, thank you from me too.

I see that this charge is now shown, as an extra, on an algarvedriver.com price quote. Could I suggest that for slightly greater clarity it is described as 'Delivery/Collection Options' or 'Pick-up/Drop-off Options' rather than 'Short term rental delivery and/or return at accommodation'?

[HampshireRich]

Steen - presumably this charge will added to any quote given out prior to the decision by the courts - so my actual cost for hire from YOR will be different to the quote. Is this correct?

HR

[Steen Jakobsen]

Steen - presumably this charge will added to any quote given out prior to the decision by the courts - so my actual cost for hire from YOR will be different to the quote. Is this correct?

HR

Probably, hence the reason I added "Faro Ana airport charge not included" on all bookings starting and/or ending in Faro airport since late October.

[Steen Jakobsen]

Steen, thank you from me too.

I see that this charge is now shown, as an extra, on an algarvedriver.com price quote. Could I suggest that for slightly greater clarity it is described as 'Delivery/Collection Options' or 'Pick-up/Drop-off Options' rather than 'Short term rental delivery and/or return at accommodation'?

We're working on it right now.

[Algar Seco Parque]

We were told and Ana is also charging for every shuttle bus for car rental companies who do not have an office at the airport. So one way or the other there will have to be an extra charge.

[Aldo]

How sad, the Algarve does not want tourists to visit
The tolls, acar rental airport charges and other charges are massive deterrents
The toursits seems to be prey to supplement the residents cost of living

[cereza]

Surely the rental companies must have paid some sort of fee for using the car park in the past so are these new fees extra or a revamped system which provides a good excuse for the companies to earn a bit more at the customer's expense?

[Algar Seco Parque]

To be fair this charge is levied by ANA, who was sold to the French company VINCI a couple of years ago. There have been many complaints from local companies about new charges and increases in rent since they took over. This one (for once) is not on the Portuguese government (other than that misguided sale, but that's another story) not wanting tourists or tourism.

[joeysoap]

http://www.algarvedriver.com will charge 7,50 euro for delivery in Faro Airport and 7,50 euro for return. Reason being some clients have a car delivered at their accommodation in Carvoeiro (free on rentals of 6+ days) and return it at the airport or vice versa. Other clients doesn't use Faro Airport at all.

Faro Ana airport charge the car rental companies 5 euro to enter the parking area + 1 euro per hour beyond the first, the 7,50 euro charge is thus Yors estimation of the average cost; cars will be returned and await the next client, clients will arrive delayed, or not at all, or the car return to HQ for next day delivery etcetera.

Faro airport charging their best and most loyal customers (hire companies) €1 per hour for parking is extortion, charging €5.00 to enter and exit is extortion on a grand scale. And as Steen says the car hire companies have fought and lost this case in court. Faro Airport advertise €4 per day for 'casual' car parking. No hourly rate, no entry or exit charge. Yet they are prepared to levy these charges on the hire companies? Portuguese authorites should have installed a light rail system into Faro years ago, bussses to and from resorts such as Albufeira/Portimao/Lagos etc should be allowed to pick up passengers to and from the airport. Which would make it more attractive to hire/leave back in the resort.