If you have volunteered to drop off a loved one or friend at the airport it may well cost you if you don't know the rules. Swinging by to unload passengers and their luggage can soon add up depending upon where you unload and in some places, you can even be charged by the minute for running over your time slot.
East Midlands Airport, for instance, has a rapid drop-off facility perfect for 'door to door' service. However, be prepared that your act of generosity will cost you £5 for 15 minutes and will then clock up an extra £1 for every minute over this time. A spokesperson for the airport said: “East Midlands Airport, like most airports in the UK, charges a fee for the convenience of dropping passengers off at the front door to the terminal".
They added: "This aims to reduce the number of vehicles travelling around the busiest area of our campus and to encourage people to consider more sustainable transport options, such as the Skylink bus service, which runs 24 hours a day. " They added: “At EMA, Rapid Drop Off is £5 for 15 mins, which is in line with the price charged by other airports and encourages car users not to dwell outside the terminal."
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If you're heading for Doncaster Sheffield, for instance, the rapid drop-off parking will cost you £4 for 10 minutes. However, at Birmingham Airport the cost is £3 for 15 minutes.
There are, however, ways to avoid the hefty drop off fee. As the airport representative said: "East Midlands Airport has a range of parking options to suit the needs of passengers whether they are going away for short breaks, family holidays or longer stays."
So, if you want to avoid the charges make sure you know where to park and how far away that car park is from the airport entrance. Here's a round up of what you'll pay.
Car parking options at East Midlands Airport
If you’re dropping-off or picking-up at East Midlands Airport, there are a number of options available:
- Short Stay 1 & 3 car parks: Prices start from £6 for a 30 minute stay. Short and mid-stay parking is an easy to walk to the terminal. In short stay 1 you can park for 30 minutes for £6. Blue Badge parking is available at Short Stay 1 car park (Free for first 30 minutes). Short Stay 1 can only be accessed by walking to/from the terminal, but should you require a wheelchair or further assistance, help points are located in all car parks.
- Free parking for up to 1 hour: You can get free parking for up to one hour in Long Stay 2 car park. This is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the terminal, or you can use a free transfer bus. Press for a token at entry. Be aware that an overstay in here is charged at £1 per minute. Payment at the exit is by card only. Link to East Midlands Airport Long Stay 2 Car Park in Google Maps.
- Rapid drop-off: Rapid Drop Off is at the front door of the check-in hall. It is charged at £5 for 15 mins then £1 per minute after.
Other airport car parking includes:
- Long stay 1 and 2 which are slightly further away but, again, possible to walk from within 10 mins though, in the summer months, they are served by a free airport bus
- The Jet Parks are the furthest away from the terminal (to the West of the DHL facility) and again are served by a free bus
- Meet and greet. This is when you drop your car off near the terminal and it is driven away by one of the EMA parking team who park the car in an area to the east of the airfield. The car is returned ahead of the passenger arriving back at EMA.
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