We've all been there; having to find a parking spot at an airport. It can be nothing short of a logistical nightmare.
Therefore it is not surprise that most major airports designate short-term parking zones for quick passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, often allowing drivers a brief grace period before imposing steep fees to discourage long stays.
Multiple airports arond Europe permits stops of up to 20 minutes free of charge, while many other airports offer only 10 minutes before charging increasing rates.
However, one driver in Germany seems to have missed that memo, and by more than a year, according to eleconomista.es.
The Car That Never Left
According to the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, a Volkswagen Golf has been sitting in the express parking area at Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport for over 12 months. The space, which funny enough is used for quick stops, has instead become an expensive long-term parking spot, with the car racking up an astronomical parking bill.
You see, at this
At this particular airport, the first 10 minutes of parking are free. However, after that, fees skyrocket, as you have to pay €5 for the first 15 minutes, plus an additional €2 for every five minutes thereafter. This means that an hour of parking costs roughly €23, while a full day sets a driver back €552. Given that the vehicle has been occupying the spot for over a year, its accumulated fees now exceed €200,000.
A Mystery Yet to Be Solved
Despite the staggering cost, the owner has yet to return, and the reasons behind the car’s abandonment remain unknown, but the situation has turned the Volkswagen into an unexpected fixture of the airport’s departure area.
Authorities have not disclosed what action, if any, they plan to take to recover the unpaid fees or remove the vehicle.
Until then, Berlin-Brandenburg Airport continues to host what may be the world’s most expensive short-term parking mistake.
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