Io fully agree. In about 2011 a group of my students had been in the Philippians doing charity work. We got them to Heathrow no problem. But when I investigated picking them up I got a shock. I would be driving a van for the luggage, and a colleague would take the mini bus. The van was, as you say, expensive, but the mini bus was too high for the barrier. So they wanted £70 to put it in a coach park. Best part of £100 for both. I could have claimed expenses, but we tried something else. We went to the drop off which is above arrivals and told the group to come up stairs. All went well until a copper in a tow truck came. My female, colleague was sweet talking him and as it was a charity mission, he was softening. Then a car turned up trying the same pick up thing. The copper said, “there's a mini cab, I hate them” and went off to get him leaving us alone.
Strange how things happen.
Birmingham are OK for collections.
John