Money Wellness

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Published 17 Jul 2025

3 min read

How to avoid rising drop-off charges at UK airports

If you’re dropping off a friend or family member at the airport this summer, be aware of costly drop-off charges.

How to avoid rising drop-off charges at UK airports
James Glynn - Money Wellness

Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

Published: 17 July 2025

According to new RAC figures, drop-off charges have gone up at more than half of the UK’s busiest airports in the last year.

They now stand at:

  • Belfast City: up from £3 to £4 for 10 minutes
  • Newcastle: up from £4 to £5 for 10 minutes
  • Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool: now £6 for 10-20 minutes
  • Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southampton: now the top rate of £7

And on a cost-per-minute basis, London Luton and Manchester are the most expensive, where drivers have to pay £5 to stop for five minutes.

How to cut the cost of airport drop-offs

If your household budget is already stretched, the last thing you want is to pay a fortune to help your loved ones off on holiday.

But with a bit of planning, these charges can be avoided.

Do your homework

Check the airport’s website beforehand so you know how long you can wait, which locations are cheaper and how to pay.

For example, you might have to pay online within 24 hours, so if that’s the case, set a reminder so you don’t forget and get fined.

Or there might be some free drop-off zones, so you don’t want to get caught out by setting down in an area where you’ll get charged.

Don’t stay too long

If you stay just a minute or two over the designated drop-off time, a small fee can turn into a bigger one, so make your goodbyes as brief as you can.

Don’t park on airport approach roads

It can be tempting to save money by dropping people off on a road inside the airport perimeter or in the surrounding area, but parking in these areas can be strictly enforced and you could be fined.

Fees going up every year, RAC warns

“The seemingly annual ritual of many airports hiking the cost of drop-offs is unfortunately continuing unabated,” said Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC.

“The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight.”

Mr Dennis pointed out that drivers mainly drop people off at airports to help them with heavy, bulky luggage, as buses can be impractical and taxis are expensive.

And although he acknowledged that some airports do offer short-stay free parking, he said this is often “well away from the terminal”.

“If a driver wants to help a passenger with mobility issues or a lot of bags get to the terminal, they’ll often end up overstaying the ‘free’ period offered and getting charged,” he commented.

Mr Davis added that drivers also need to be aware of the “growing trend” of airports getting rid of on-site payment so drivers have to pay online or by phone later.

James Glynn - Money Wellness

Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

James has spent almost 20 years writing news articles, guides and features, with a strong focus on the legal and financial services sectors.

Published: 17 July 2025

The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. Please check when it was written, as information can go out of date over time.

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James Glynn - Money Wellness

Written by: James Glynn

Senior financial content writer

Published: 17 July 2025

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