I don’t know about you, but I find the increasing trend of charging extortionate fees to simply drop someone off at the airport terminal just another example of why flying is no fun anymore. Particularly when you throw into the mix having to get to the airport at least two hours before your flight departs so that you have enough time to get through passport control and security before sitting for hours in a less than generous seat in a cramped plane for which you may well have had to pay extra fees just to put your luggage in the hold or bring a bag on board. The thrill and enjoyment of flying off on holiday is sadly long gone.
With this in mind, I thought I would look at how much UK airports are charging us today for the privilege of being dropped off at the terminal or as some call it a “kiss and fly” fee.
Recent research from Select Car Leasing shows that UK airports are charging motorists up to £1.60 per minute for passenger drop-offs, with very few airports not levying a charge.
This is even more galling when you discover that eight of the top ten European airports, including Frankfurt, Madrid and Charles de Gaulle do not charge a fee for drop-offs. And should you not notice that there is a charge, or you simply forget to pay it, you will be stung with an unwelcome parking charge notice!
Select Car Leasing’s research shows how costs can vary wildly when it comes to dropping off family or friends with the number of airports that offer free drop-offs rapidly shrinking.
London City Airport is the latest airport to introduce a drop-off charge, starting this month for the first time. It also now has the highest per-minute rate in the UK at £1.60, charging £8 for a five-minute stay. So, it’s probably a good idea to keep your goodbye hug brief!
Gatwick Airport is not much better, charging drivers £10 for a drop-off of up to 10 minutes, costing you £1 per each minute. In fact, Gatwick Airport announced two price increases within the past 12 months. In May last year, it announced a drop-off fee increase to £7, which then increased to £10 this month, blaming the government’s budget. It smacks at sheer greed at the expense of its customers.
Manchester Airport will charge you £1 per minute with a standard charge of £5 for five minutes while Bristol Airport charges £8.50 for a maximum stay of 10 minutes, costing motorists 85p per minute with London Southend Airport not far behind at 80p per minute.
London Heathrow, Leeds Bradford International Airport and Luton all charge 70p per minute, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Edinburgh Airport rounding off the list at 60p per minute.
However, there are a few international airports here in the UK where dropping-off passengers to the outbound terminal is still free of charge. These include Exeter International Airport, which is free for 30 minutes at Car Park 4, Inverness Airport which is free for 15 minutes, Birmingham International Airport is free for the initial 10 minutes, but you will have to pay £5 if you exceed that 10-minute stay and Newquay Cornwall Airport which is also free for 10 minutes before having to pay a £2.50 drop-off charge.
Graham Conway, Managing Director of Select Car Leasing, said:
“Free airport drop-offs are becoming rarer in the UK. What was once a standard courtesy – giving someone a quick lift to catch their flight – has now become a premium-priced service that most airports are monetising.
“It’s encouraging to see that a handful of airports still prioritise passenger convenience with free short-term drop-offs. However, our research also highlights the lack of consistency across the UK, with motorists facing a confusing patchwork of fees and time limits.
“It’s also worth noting that failure to pay for drop-off parking – or exceeding your time limit – can really hit drivers in the wallet.
“Some airports now operate ’barrierless’ systems, where you pay your drop-off parking fee online rather than getting your card out at the barrier.
“In some cases, failure to pay the drop-off charge by midnight of the following day can result in a steep £100 fine. It’s all too easy to forget to log-on – and to then remember with a sense of dread when it’s too late!
“For holidaymakers who’ll be begging friends or families for a lift to the airport, it’s worth bearing drop-off fees in mind when booking your flights. Plan ahead, check the drop-off policies, and avoid any surprise charges.”
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based travel and motoring journalist and editor, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
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