Just seen this 10:40am 19 January 2008 It's totally wrong. NONREFUNDABLE ? I'll be carrying my cases in future. However it's hard on older or infirm people or families.
However, as we're not encouraged to take them back ( to get the coin back) I'd be happy to hand mine to someone, for a £1 coin, of course !!
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=19600067
Passengers picking up luggage from the carousel at Bristol International Airport now have to pay £1 to use a trolley.
As they come through into the baggage collection area at the airport, flyers face either paying £1 or two euros for a trolley, or lugging their suitcases through arrivals by hand.
The airport has installed special vending machines for passengers to get the trolleys from.
When the Evening Post checked with five other rival regional airports - Birmingham, East Midlands, Exeter, Cardiff and Southampton - none of them charged passengers to use trolleys.
One passenger who came into the airport from Alicante in Spain this week with her disabled husband ended up lugging their suitcase to her car.
The woman from Pill, who asked not to be named, said: "We have never had a problem at the airport before, but I was fuming when we arrived and I saw we had to pay a pound for a trolley.
"I told the staff I thought it was disgusting.
"Once you have paid for your flight, the least you expect is to have a trolley to take your luggage to your car."
Airport spokesman James Gore said: "From this week, new luggage trolleys have been available from vending machines at 10 locations around Bristol International Airport, at a cost of £1 or two euros.
"The move reflects the changing requirements of travellers, with the popularity of wheeled suitcases reducing the demand for luggage trolleys. The proximity of the airport's car parks to the terminal building, and the provision of a free bus service around the site, also makes trolleys redundant for the majority of passengers.
"The new service will ensure that high quality modern trolleys are available at minimal cost for those who require them."
Unlike some supermarkets and chain stores which charge for using trolleys, the cash was not refundable by putting a key into a lock in the handle, he said.
Locations where the trolley vending machines can be found include inside the arrivals lounge and in the car parks.
Mr Gore said: "Charging for the use of trolleys is not expected to generate additional revenue for the airport, but will enable us to provide a better service to the small minority of customers who use them. Our stock of old trolleys has been replaced with all-new versions, the trolley stock will be better managed, with a team of people dedicated to ensuring vending points are well stocked at all times."
This message was last edited by morerosado on 1/19/2008.