Airport drop-off charges: What they are and recent price increases to be aware of

Drop-off charges may just be one of the biggest airport rip-offs going. With 16 of the UK’s 20 major airports increasing their fees since summer 2025, saying goodbye to family and friends at the terminal is rapidly becoming a costly event.

The average cost for dropping off has increased by a third since last summer according to a recent report by the RAC, with London City – the only major airport without a drop-off fee last summer – introducing charges and becoming the most expensive airport on a per-minute basis, charging £8 for up to five minutes – or £1.60 a minute.

“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,” says RAC senior policy officer, Rod Dennis. “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.”

Dennis also warns about “The growing number of airports that operate barrierless ‘park now, pay later’ drop-off zones” as drivers will need to remember to pay soon afterwards or face a parking charge notice as high as £100.

Avoiding these fees isn't impossible. Several airports offer some form of free parking but, as Dennis notes: “Those that plan on accompanying their passengers to the terminal and then coming back to their cars will almost certainly outstay the free period, which can end up being extremely costly.”

Here, we break down everything you need to know about recent drop-off price increases, current airport costs, and how to pay for the charges – or avoid them altogether.

What are airport drop-off charges?

Most airports in the UK charge passengers a fee to use designated ‘drop-off’ or ‘express’ parking zones. They’re typically located in front of, or adjacent to, the terminal building and are priced by time limits, which can vary by airport.

Some airports are better value than others. For example, prices at Belfast City start from £4 for ten minutes while those at Cardiff start from £4.50 for up to ten minutes (up from £3 last summer). London Gatwick, on the other hand, charges £10 for 10 minutes and London City has flip-flopped from being one of the only airports in the UK with a free drop-off zone to the most expensive airport on a per-minute basis, charging £8 for up to five minutes – or £1.60 a minute.

Prices can increase dramatically after the initial time limit. Go over the 15-minute allowance at Stansted, for example, and the charge hikes up from £10 to a whopping £28. Unless you’re happy to fork out for a long farewell, it’s best to keep your time in drop-off zones as brief as possible, or consider alternative airport parking options.

Which airports have increased their drop-off charges?

With 16 out of the 20 busiest airports in the UK increasing drop-off charges since summer 2025, the question should be which airports haven’t increased their drop-off charges. These were Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton.

As London City introduced a charge for drop-offs at the beginning of 2026, all of the UK’s top 20 busiest airports now charge a fee. This contrasts to 2019 when six airports including London Heathrow and Gatwick still offered free drop-offs.

How much are drop-off charges?

Here’s how much it costs to park in designated drop-off zones at 18 UK airports.

How do you pay airport drop-off charges?

Payment methods for drop-off charges depend on the airport. Some have ticket machines or pay-as-you-exit kiosks, while others require you to pay online after exit.

At Heathrow, for example, airport drop-off charges must be paid online via the airport website or by phone by midnight of the day after your visit. Automatic number plate recognition identifies the right charge for your vehicle. You can also pre-pay in advance.

Elsewhere, drop-off payments are made at the exit barrier at Bristol Airport by either card or Apple or Google Pay, while Birmingham offers three payment options: in advance using an AutoPay account; onsite using the machines; or after visiting via Post Pay.

It’s worth checking in advance how to pay for drop-off parking at your airport. Note whether payments are contactless only and whether there are specific time limits for post-exit online payments. For example, Heathrow has a non-payment charge of £80 if you miss the initial deadline, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.

Can you avoid airport drop-off charges?

Most airports offer free parking further away from the terminal, so it’s possible to drop off passengers without paying these pesky charges.

These are typically part of longer-stay car parks that require you to walk or take a short shuttle to the terminal. For example, Leeds Bradford Airport has a one-hour free drop-off car park about a five-minute walk from the terminal. It’s a similar story at East Midlands Airport, where you can get an hour’s worth of free parking in their long-stay car park. The walk to the terminal takes 15 minutes and there’s a shuttle bus.

To avoid the steep drop-off charges at Stansted, the mid-stay car park has a free drop-off area. A free shuttle runs to the terminal and takes around seven minutes.

Most airports will also have additional free options for Blue Badge holders. You can check your airport’s website for details.

Please note: All prices correct as of 25 July 2025.