Drop-off fees soar again at half of UK’s busiest airports
But vast majority of busiest airports in the EU still offer free drop-offs, RAC finds
Drivers dropping off friends and family at UK airports face the highest charges on record this summer with more than half putting up their fees since last year, new RAC analysis shows.*
Of the 11 airports that have increased their prices since last year, Belfast City’s rise is the steepest with charges going up by a third (now £4 for 10 minutes, up from £3 last year), followed by Newcastle (now £5 for 10 minutes, up from £4 last year). London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool all upped their drop-off fees by £1, or 20%, and now charge £6 for between 10 and 20 minutes, up from £5 last year.
The remaining five airports that put their prices up are London Gatwick, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton, which now all join Stansted in charging the top rate of £7 for dropping off, and Glasgow which increased its fee by 50p to £6 for 15 minutes.
But on a cost-per-minute basis, the most expensive airports are London Luton and Manchester, where drivers have to fork out £5 to stop for just five minutes. Remarkably, these £1-per-minute drop-off rates mean the cost of a return flight from Manchester to Turkey in August is cheaper on a per-minute basis.**
With Cardiff Airport introducing drop-off fees this year for the first time (£3 for 10 minutes, the same rate as at Belfast International airport), this leaves London City as the only top 20 UK airport that still offers drivers a free drop-off close to the terminal – although anyone doing so needs to be careful not to wait in their vehicles or leave them unattended, or face a penalty.
The demise of free drop-offs at UK airports is in sharp contrast to other major airports elsewhere in Europe. RAC analysis of the top 10 in the EU by passenger numbers found eight – including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Rome*** – still do, making the increase in fees on this side of the Channel all the more depressing for drivers.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said:
“The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight. The seemingly annual ritual of many airports hiking the cost of drop-offs is unfortunately continuing unabated.
“Airports understandably need to manage the often-limited on-site space they have. We also know some still offer short stay free parking, but the problem is it’s often well away from the terminal. If a driver wants to help a passenger with mobility issues or a lot of bags get to the terminal, they’ll often end up overstaying the ‘free’ period offered and getting charged.
“Drivers also need to be aware of the growing trend of airports dispensing with on-site payment in favour of introducing barrierless drop-offs that require payment online or by phone later. This is another source of frustration for people who in many cases are just trying to help a family member or friend get to the airport. Anyone who doesn’t notice the change or simply forgets to pay will inevitably be stung with a very unwelcome parking charge notice.
“The main reason drivers drop off at airports, according to our research, is to help people with bulky and often heavy luggage. This is understandable when the alternative to the car is often either a conventional bus, which can be impractical with lots of cases, or a costly taxi – with fares for the latter subject to the same drop-off fees that drivers need to pay.
“It’s also revealing that the tendency to charge drivers to drop close to terminals isn’t something that’s repeated right across Europe, with major airports like Paris Charles de Gaulle, Barcelona and Rome, as well as those popular with holidaymakers such as Nice and Marseilles, all still offering free ‘kiss and fly’ drop-off zones.”
RAC top tips to avoid stress and high airport parking charges
Do your research | Check out the drop-off options on the airport’s website to understand fees, how to pay and permitted waiting times. Terminal drop-off areas are likely to be the most expensive |
Know how to pay | Understand how to pay before you leave for the airport. An increasing number of airports no longer allow you to pay on site, instead demanding you pay online or by phone within 24 hours afterwards. Set a reminder to do this to avoid a fine. |
Keep your goodbyes short | Don’t spend too long saying your farewells – otherwise they’ll prove expensive if you go over the time limit. |
Check your taxi fare includes a drop-off fee | If you’re booking a taxi to take you to the airport, check to see where it drops you off and whether the fare quoted includes the airport’s fee. |
Never drop-off on a road inside the airport perimeter | Airports rigorously enforce no-stopping zones, so don’t be tempted to save money by dropping off on a road inside the perimeter. Use the dedicated drop-off zone or another car park instead. |
Notes to Editors
* Top 20 airports selected based on total passenger numbers reported to the CAA for 2024. Figures based on nearest drop-off points to terminal buildings. These areas go under different names but are listed. We acknowledge airports offer either free or differently priced alternatives in mid or long-stay car parks with connecting bus or shuttle services. 2025 figures correct as of July 2025; last year’s figures correct as of July 2024.
** Based on a Manchester to Istanbul (IST) flight taking 4 hours 5 minutes each way, with return tickets on a major carrier available for £415 (flying Economy class, 9 to 23 August 2025). Prices correct as of 10 July 2025
*** As of 11 July 2025
