The cost to drop friends and family off at the airport this summer has increased by a third at most airports across the UK – with some short stays costing a whopping £10
Drop off fees at airports are higher than ever(Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
Dropping off family and friends at the airport this summer will cost you even more as new research has found that fees have increased by a third over the last year.
It was found that 16 out of 20 airports analysed had increased or introduced so-called “kiss and fly” fees since last summer, according to the RAC.
Some airports are now charging as much as £10 just to stop outside the terminal for a few minutes.
The most costly airports are still Gatwick and Stansted, with terminal drop-offs costing £10 at both.
The bigger shock comes as the only major airport that offered free terminal drop-offs, London City, now has one of the costliest fees charged on a per-minute basis.
Drivers dropping off relatives at London City are now charged £8 for five minutes, making it the highest charge per minute among airports included in the research.
The next most expensive drop off zones are outside of England’s capital.
One is in Scotland, as Edinburgh charges £8.50 for up to 10 minutes. Bristol also charges the same fees.
The RAC noted the average cost of airport drop-off fees has increased by around a third over the past year, despite many of the world’s busiest airports continuing to offer free terminal drop-offs.
The organisation highlighted that none of the busiest airports in the European Union charge drivers for dropping passengers off outside terminals.
In some of the world’s busiest hubs, including Dubai, these fees also do not exist.
Most UK airports do have alternative options that are free, however these are usually located in mid or long-stay car parks, with passengers needing to catch a shuttle bus to the terminal.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “It’s 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.
“Having a captive audience should be no excuse for these farewell fees, especially when they’re completely at odds with how major airports around the world operate.
“Of course, airports need to manage the limited space they have carefully, but if free, convenient drop-off zones work at many other international airports, then why not here?”
Mr Dennis also warned drivers to take extra care when using airports with “park now, pay later” systems without barriers.
He said: “Those that drop off but miss the signage or forget to pay soon afterwards can face a parking charge notice as high as £100 – a fee that feels distinctly disproportionate to the contravention.”
There were only four airports in the study that had not increased their costs. Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton.
Most expensive airport drop-off charges:
- £10: Gatwick and Stansted
- £8.50: Bristol and Edinburgh
- £8: Bournemouth, Leeds Bradford and London City
- £7: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton and Southampton
- £6: Liverpool John Lennon and Newcastle
- £5.50: Manchester
- £5: Belfast International and East Midlands
- £4.50: Cardiff
- £4: Belfast City