A recent investigation by MoneySavingExpert.com reveals that passenger drop-off fees at many UK airports have surged by two-thirds over the past year. Now, three airports charge at least £6 as a minimum fee.
However, you can still avoid these charges at most airports by using designated free drop-off areas, typically located in long-stay car parks with shuttle buses to the terminal.
Since May 2022, Belfast City has started charging for drop-offs, and 11 more airports have increased their fees. Belfast International, for example, has tripled its 10-minute drop-off fee from £1 to £3.
Other airports, including Bournemouth, Exeter, and Norwich, have raised their fees from £3 to £5.
The highest initial fee is at Stansted, which charges £7 for up to 15 minutes, followed by Leeds Bradford and Southampton at £6.
Airports justify the increased fees by saying they discourage drivers from hanging around and ultimately help to keep flight prices lower.
| AIRPORT | CHARGE FOR 5 MINS | CHARGE FOR 10 MINS | CHARGE FOR 30 MINS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | £5 | £5 | £10 |
| Belfast City | £3 | £3 | N/A (1) |
| Belfast International | £3 | £3 | £10 |
| Birmingham | £4 | £4 | £19 |
| Bournemouth | £5 | £5 | £5 |
| Bristol | £5 | £5 | £10 |
| Cardiff | Free | £3 | £15 |
| East Midlands | £5 | £5 | £20 |
| Edinburgh | £5 | £5 | £15 |
| Exeter | £5 | £5 | £5 |
| Gatwick | £5 | £5 | £25 |
| Glasgow | £5 | £5 | £15 |
| Glasgow Prestwick | £3.50 | £3.50 | £3.50 |
| Guernsey | Free for up to an hour | ||
| Heathrow | £5 (no waiting allowed) | ||
| Inverness | Free | Free | £2.50 |
| Isle of Man | Free | Free | Free (2) |
| Jersey | Free to drop off (but no waiting allowed) | ||
| Leeds Bradford | £6 | £6 | £11 |
| Liverpool | £5 | £5 | £25 |
| London City | Free to drop off (but no waiting allowed) | ||
| Luton | £5 | £5 | £25 |
| Manchester | £5 | £6 | £25 |
| Newcastle | £4 | £4 | £7 |
| Newquay | Free for an up to 10-minute drop-off | ||
| Norwich | £5 | £5 | £5 |
| Southend | £5 | £5 | £8.50 |
| Southampton | £6 | £6 | N/A (3) |
| Stansted | £7 | £7 | £25 |
(1) You're not allowed to wait longer than 10 minutes. (2) Free to drop off, but no waiting allowed. (3) You're not allowed to wait longer than 20 minutes.
A few airports, like London City and Newquay, still don't charge for drop-offs. Here’s how you can avoid fees at 22 UK airports:
1. Aberdeen: Free for up to 30 minutes in the long-stay car park with a shuttle bus to the terminal. Electric vehicles can drop off for free if pre-registered.
2. Belfast City: Free for up to 10 minutes in the long-stay car park, a 10-minute walk to the terminal.
3. Belfast International: Free for up to 15 minutes in the long-stay car park, a six-minute walk to the terminal.
4. Birmingham: Free for up to 20 minutes in the drop-off zone, a 10-minute walk or free bus service to the terminal.
5. Bristol: Free one-hour wait in the 'Silver Zone' car park, with frequent buses to the terminal.
6. East Midlands: Free for up to an hour in 'Long-stay 2' car park, a 15-minute walk or two-minute bus ride to the terminal.
7. Edinburgh: Free for up to 30 minutes in the long-stay car park, a 10-minute walk to the terminal.
8. Gatwick: Free drop-offs in long-stay car parks with shuttle buses to terminals.
9. Glasgow: Free for up to 30 minutes in the long-stay car park, an eight-minute walk or shuttle bus to the terminal.
10. Heathrow: Free for up to 30 minutes in long-stay car parks with bus transfers to terminals.
11. Leeds Bradford: Free for one hour in the parking zone, a three to four-minute walk to the terminal.
12. Liverpool: Free for up to 40 minutes in 'Drop Off 2' car park, a five to 10-minute walk to the terminal.
13. Luton: Free for up to 15 minutes in the Mid Stay Car Park or free for one hour in the Long Stay Car Park with shuttle buses.
14. Manchester: Free drop-off area, a five-minute shuttle ride to the terminal.
15. Newcastle: Free for up to 15 minutes in 'Short Stay 2' car park, a short walk to the terminal.
16. Southend: Free for up to 15 minutes in 'Long Stay 3' car park, a four-minute walk to the terminal.
17. Stansted: Free for an hour in the mid-stay car park with shuttle buses to the terminal.
Some airports, like Bournemouth, Exeter, Glasgow Prestwick, and Norwich, don't have official free drop-off options. For Exeter, one tip is to walk from the nearby Business Park.
Always allow extra time if using the free drop-off areas, as they often require a shuttle or a walk to the terminal. Be cautious of stopping roadside, as many airports enforce strict no-stopping rules.