Airport drop-off charges are continuing to climb, leaving travellers looking for cheaper ways to get a lift to and from the terminal without paying through the nose. In some cases, the bill starts stacking up before you’ve even checked in your bags.
New analysis shows airport forecourts are now some of the priciest places in the UK to stop your car.
London Gatwick tops the list. The cost of a 10-minute stop has jumped from £7 to £10 – a 43% rise in just a year. Heathrow follows closely behind, increasing its fee from £6 to £7. Bristol Airport sits in third at £8.50, up from £7, while Belfast City (£4), Newcastle (£5), Birmingham (£6), Leeds Bradford (£7), Liverpool (£6) and Glasgow (£0.50) complete the rankings.
To avoid being hit with unnecessary charges or fines, Holiday Extras suggests a few smart alternatives:
Heathrow: Get dropped at Hatton Cross Tube station, which sits inside Heathrow’s free travel zone. Tap in with your Oyster card for free travel to any terminal. The Hatton Cross car park gives drivers a five-minute window for drop-offs - but make sure the car’s ULEZ-compliant.
You can check your car's ULEZ compliance status for free using Regit's ULEZ checker tool.
Gatwick: Use the Long Stay car parks where drop-off is free and jump on the shuttle bus to the terminal - it only takes a few minutes.
Birmingham: Head to Birmingham International station, use the free drop-off point in the Short Stay car park and catch the Air Rail Link, which takes just two minutes.
Liverpool: Wait it out at the 24-hour McDonald’s at New Mersey Retail Park, just five minutes away, or use nearby retail parking on Western Avenue.
London City: Get dropped on Drew Road and walk through the tunnel - you’ll be inside the terminal in under a minute.
