UK airport drop-off fees are now far higher than on the continent

Sixteen of the UK’s 20 busiest airports have increased their charges for dropping off passengers, with the average cost increasing by a third since last summer, according to a new analysis by British motoring service RAC.

Using the UK’s ‘kiss-and-fly’ zones rose by an average of £1.70 (€2) to £7 (€8.20) compared to this time last year.

The latest to hike the charge is Stansted, London’s third-busiest airport. Drivers now have to pay £10 (€12) instead of the previous £7 (€8.20) for express drop-offs of up to 15 minutes, making it the second-most expensive fee in the UK.

Earlier in the year, London Gatwick raised its ‘kiss and fly’ fee to become the most expensive in the UK.

In comparison, many airports on the continent still allow free or low-cost drop-offs.

UK airports hike passenger drop-off fees

Stansted’s hiked fee also impacts longer stays of up to 30 minutes, for which drivers are now charged £28 (€32.50).

AGS Airports, which operates both Glasgow and Aberdeen in Scotland, increased drop-off levies to £7 (€8.20) for 15-minute access at their terminals in February, citing rising costs.

At Glasgow Airport, drivers who overstay their 15 minutes will also have to pay a ‘premium charge’ on exit.

At the beginning of the year, Bristol airport started charging £8.50 (€10.20) to park for 10 minutes at the Drop Off & Pick Up car park next to the terminal, as well as the Short Stay car park a short walk away.

This was followed by London Gatwick, which hiked drop-off fees at both its North and South terminals to £10 (€12) for 10 minutes’ parking.

Other London airports are also pricey. Luton charges £7 (€8.20) for 10 minutes, while London City charges £8 (€9.60). Heathrow also charges £7 (€8.20), but drivers must drop off and depart immediately without waiting.

Elsewhere in the UK, Manchester costs £5.50 (€6.45) but only allows a five-minute stay, while Leeds is £8 (€9.60) for 10 minutes.

Two of the few airports to have a free drop-off option are Birmingham, which only charges after 10 minutes (there is also a premium set down costing £7 for 15 minutes), and Inverness, which is up to 15 minutes.

Airports on the continent offer free passenger drop-off

The price hikes have frustrated travellers, particularly as public transport is often not an option for many passengers, particularly at airports outside of London.

Clive Wratten from the Business Travel Association told the BBC that airports were “pulling the easiest revenue lever” by increasing their parking fees.

“Pricing people out at the kerbside does not suddenly make public transport viable – it just pushes more cost onto workers, businesses and the taxi community,” he said.

“The consumer drop-off gouging at UK’s airports continues to escalate unabated and is, in my opinion, a national disgrace that should be declared illegal,” one comment on Business Traveller said.

It comes in stark comparison to airports on the continent, where ‘kiss and fly’ zones are often free.

Venice Marco Polo airport allows cars to park for up to 20 minutes directly outside the terminal at no cost.

At Milan Malpensa, there’s a free waiting area between terminals one and two for up to 60 minutes.

Ljubljana’s ‘kiss and fly’ zone is free for 10 minutes, as are the drop-off zones at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly.

How to avoid the UK’s airport drop-off fees

Many of the UK’s costly drop-off fees can be avoided if you are happy to walk a short way to take a free shuttle.

Consumer website MoneySavingExpert has detailed how to find free parking at major airports.

At Bristol, for example, there’s a free one-hour waiting zone by the ‘Silver Zone’ car park to the south of the terminal, with frequent buses to the terminal.

For Glasgow, drivers should head to the long-stay car park, where it is free to wait for up to an hour. It’s a 10-minute walk to the terminal, or there’s a free shuttle bus that takes seven minutes, the website says.

Drop-offs of up to 29 minutes are free in London Heathrow’s various park and ride car parks for the different terminals, and passengers can take a free bus transfer to the terminal.

However, while these options save money, they also require more forward planning from travellers who have to budget in extra time.

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