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 seven of the UK’s major airports increasing their fees in 2024, and two more raising their charges since the start of 2025, saying goodbye to family and friends at the terminal is rapidly becoming a costly event.

Our handy guide reveals what 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 and Cardiff start from £3 for up to ten minutes. Luton and Manchester, on the other hand, charge £5 for just five minutes in their drop-off zones – working out at a hefty £1 per minute. London City is one of the the only airports in the UK to offer a free drop-off zone.

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 £7 to a whopping £25. 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?

As of January 2025, Heathrow and Edinburgh have upped their drop-off charges from £5 to £6 for ten minutes of parking.

It follows other £1 increases at airports such as Gatwick, Birmingham and Bristol in 2024. The latter costs a pricey £7 for a ten-minute stay. Leeds Bradford and Glasgow also saw price increases of 50p.

How much are drop-off charges?

Here’s how much it costs to park in designated drop-off zones at 16 of the UK’s major 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 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 Manchester Airport by either card or exact cash, while at Birmingham, you can either pay at one of the onsite machines (cash and card accepted) or at the exit point (card only).

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.

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 zone about a four-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.

To avoid the steep drop-off charges at Stansted, the mid-stay car park is free for up to an hour. A free shuttle runs every ten minutes to the terminal.

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 20 March 2025.