Fees for dropping off passengers have increased in the past year at more than a third of major UK airports, new research has revealed. Southampton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool John Lennon are among the airports where drop-off costs have gone up.
However fees to drop off passengers at Manchester Airport have remained the same since they were last increased in 2020. For forecourt drop off at Manchester it currently costs £5 for five minutes and £6 for 10 minutes.
The RAC has analysed data at 21 airports to see if charges for dropping off passengers have been raised or introduced since August 2022. The biggest increase in existing so-called kiss and fly charges – which are typically levied for dropping off someone as close to a terminal as possible – are at Southampton and Belfast International airports.
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The former has raised its fee from £4 to £6 for 20 minutes, while the latter has hiked its price from £1 to £3 for 10 minutes. Belfast City Airport previously allowed drivers to drop-off passengers for free, but this now costs £3 for 10 minutes.
According to the research Aberdeen, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool John Lennon airports have each added £1 to their fees. Meanwhile, despite not raising its price this year, Stansted airport continues to top the table for the most expensive drop-off cost, charging £7 for 15 minutes.
Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, has frozen its fee of £5 with no time limit.Passengers being dropped off at airports by taxis and private hire vehicles generally have the fees added to their fares.
Cardiff, Inverness and London City were the only airports analysed which allow free drop-offs outside terminals. Many airports offer free options for dropping passengers off in mid or long-stay car parks connected to terminals by buses. At Manchester Airport there’s a free drop-off option at JetParks, which is a five-minute bus transfer from the terminal.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said motorists being hit by annual hikes in airport charges has become “an annual ritual”. He added: “Drivers should brace themselves for jaw-dropping prices when they drop their loved ones off at the terminal.
“Thankfully the proportion of airports hiking fees this year is lower than last year, but that will be little consolation as charges across the board have never been so high.
“What’s perhaps more frustrating is that many travellers will call on their friends or family to take them to the airport because of persistent industrial action on the rail network meaning that for many, being dropped off at the airport by car is the only reliable way to make their flight on time.
“Doing your research ahead of travelling has never been more important. Many airports offer a free or reduced-rate drop-off area away from the terminal in long-stay car parks where travellers can hop on a shuttle bus connection, saving their driver incurring more expensive charges nearer the departures building.
“Drivers tempted to drop loved ones on the roads inside the boundaries of the airport should beware as many enforce no-stopping areas with cameras which could lead to hefty penalty charges.”
