Drivers dropping off passengers at the UK’s busiest airports are paying significantly more than they did a year ago, according to new analysis from the RAC, an iconic British driving services brand which has been championing drivers since 1897.
Sixteen of the UK’s 20 busiest airports have raised terminal drop-off fees since last summer, pushing the average charge up by one-third to £7 (US$9.45).
London’s City Airport introduced a drop-off fee for the first time this year, meaning all of the UK’s 20 busiest airports now charge drivers for terminal access. Before the pandemic in 2019, six major airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, still offered free curbside drop-offs.
London Gatwick and London Stansted remain the most expensive airports for curbside drop-offs. Gatwick charges £10 (US$13.50) for 10 minutes, while Stansted charges the same amount for 15 minutes.
Edinburgh and Bristol follow at £8.50 (US$11.50) for 10 minutes. Leeds Bradford, London City and Bournemouth each charge £8 (US$10.80), although the time allowed varies between five and 30 minutes.
On a per-minute basis, London City is the UK’s costliest airport. Drivers pay £8 for up to five minutes, or £1.60 (US$2.15) per minute. Like many airports, motorists who exceed the permitted time can face penalties of up to £100 (US$135).
Manchester Airport ranks second on a per-minute basis, charging £5.50 (US$7.45) for five minutes, equivalent to £1.10 (US$1.50) per minute. Gatwick follows at £1 per minute, ahead of Edinburgh and Bristol at 85p, and Leeds Bradford at 80p per minute.
The RAC noted that dropping someone off at Gatwick costs slightly more per minute than the price of some return flights. It cited an August fare for two passengers flying from Gatwick to Zakynthos, Greece, where the airfare works out at less than £1 per minute of flight time.
Only four of the UK’s busiest airports left their drop-off charges unchanged this year: Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton.
UK airports out of step with the rest of the world
The RAC said the UK is increasingly out of step with international practice. None of the European Union’s 10 busiest airports charge drivers for terminal drop-offs. Free access is also available at major global hubs including Atlanta, Dubai, Shanghai and Istanbul.
The organization also warned motorists about the growing use of barrier-free “park now, pay later” systems. At Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Luton, drivers must pay online or by phone before midnight on the day after using the drop-off area. Anyone who fails to do so can receive a £100 parking charge notice.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis criticized the continued rise in what he called “farewell fees.“
“It is disappointing to see so many airports charging so much for what many regard as a simple act of kindness in dropping off family and friends,” he said.
Dennis questioned why UK airports continue to impose high charges when many major airports around the world provide free, convenient terminal drop-offs.
He also urged drivers to familiarize themselves with each airport’s payment system and free parking options, noting that travelers accompanying passengers into the terminal could easily exceed the complimentary parking period and face additional charges.
Below is the complete table of drop-off charges at the UK’s 20 busiest airports, based on the RAC analysis.
|
Airport |
Drop-off charge |
Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
|
Gatwick |
£10 (US$13.50) |
10 minutes |
|
Stansted |
£10 (US$13.50) |
15 minutes |
|
Bristol |
£7 (US$9.45) |
10 minutes |
|
Edinburgh |
£7 (US$9.45) |
10 minutes |
|
Glasgow |
£6 (US$8.10) |
10 minutes |
|
Heathrow |
£6 (US$8.10) |
Unlimited (flat charge) |
|
London City |
£8 (US$10.80) |
5 minutes |
|
Luton |
£5 (US$6.75) |
10 minutes |
|
Manchester |
£6 (US$8.10) |
5 minutes |
|
Birmingham |
£6 (US$8.10) |
15 minutes |
|
Belfast International |
£5 (US$6.75) |
10 minutes |
|
Newcastle |
£5 (US$6.75) |
10 minutes |
|
East Midlands |
£5 (US$6.75) |
15 minutes |
|
Leeds Bradford |
£7 (US$9.45) |
10 minutes |
|
Liverpool John Lennon |
£5 (US$6.75) |
10 minutes |
|
Aberdeen |
£4 (US$5.40) |
10 minutes |
|
Southampton |
£6 (US$8.10) |
20 minutes |
|
Bournemouth |
£5 (US$6.75) |
30 minutes |
|
Cardiff |
£3 (US$4.05) |
10 minutes |
|
Belfast City |
£3 (US$4.05) |
10 minutes |
