Brits planning to drop a loved one off for a holiday this year have been reminded how to avoid some expensive fees. Experts explained that you can bypass drop-off charges at airports. In the UK, the majority of airports will charge you to drop someone off at departures. This can range from just £3 for a 10-minute stay to as much as £30 for half an hour (at Gatwick). However, it can be possible to dodge this cost.
Money Saving Expert Advice
Providing customer advice, the team at Money Saving Expert (MSE) — which was founded by Martin Lewis — explained more. On its website, MSE said: “At 25 out of the 29 big UK airports it’s not free to say goodbye at the terminal – ridiculously they charge to set someone down outside departures. Many now charge £7 for just a few minutes, with some of the priciest hitting £10+. Yet with a little know-how, it’s often possible to avoid these fees by getting your steps in.”
It continued: “Most major UK airports now charge between about £5 and £10 for a short drop off. At the top end, Gatwick and Stansted now charge £10 for a 10-minute stay, while London City charges £13. This can often be avoided – almost all airports have a free alternative area for drop-offs, even if there’s a charge to park right outside the terminal. But you may need to walk up to 15 minutes or take a free shuttle ride.”
“If you're not able to walk, don't assume you have to pay,” it added. “Many airports have additional free options for blue-badge holders, so check the website before you go. Airports that charge drop-off fees told us they had done so to reduce traffic outside the airport or due to increased operational costs – and in most cases, stressed that passengers do have other options to park for free.”
“Even if there's a charge to park right outside the terminal, most airports have an alternative free drop-off area. It's usually a little way away though and you may need to take a shuttle or walk for up to 15 minutes. This is not ideal when dashing to make a flight, so always allow extra time for this option.”
How to Avoid Paying for Drop-Offs
Aberdeen
Drop off is £7 for 15 minutes. Its long-stay car park is free for up to one hour, and there's a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
Belfast City
Drop off is £4 for 10 minutes or £25 for 30 to 60 minutes. The long-stay car park is free for up to 10 minutes. It's a five-minute walk from the terminal.
Belfast International
Drop off is £5 for up to 10 minutes or £13 for 20 to 60 minutes. Its long-stay car park is free for up to 15 minutes, and is a six-minute walk from the terminal.
Birmingham
Drop off is free for up to 10 minutes, £6 for 10 to 15 minutes, and £25 for 30 to 35 minutes. It's a 10-minute walk from the terminal or a free bus service runs every 15 minutes.
Bournemouth
Drop off is £6 for 30 minutes. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible.
Bristol
Drop off prices start at £8.50 for 10 minutes. 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.
Cardiff
Drop off is £3 for the first 10 minutes and an extra £3 for every 10 minutes thereafter. Car Park 2 is free for 20 minutes and is a short walk to the terminal.
East Midlands
Drop off is £5 for up to 15 minutes. Its long-stay car park is free for up to an hour. It's a 15-minute walk to the terminal or a bus gets you there in two minutes.
Edinburgh
Drop off is £8.50 for 10 minutes and £1 per minute after that. Its long-stay car park is free for up to 30 minutes. It's a 10-minute walk to the terminal.
Exeter
Drop off is £6 for up to 15 minutes. You can park for up to 30 mins for free in Car Park P4.
Gatwick
The minimum charge for drop off is £10 and it costs £30 for 30 minutes. You can drop off for free (up to two hours) in its long-stay car parks. Free shuttle buses take 10 to 12 minutes to reach the terminals. Buses run every 10 to 12 minutes.
Glasgow
Drop off is £7 for up to 15 minutes. You can pull into its long-stay car park and you can stay for free for up to one hour. It's a 10-minute walk to the terminal, or there's a free shuttle bus that takes seven minutes.
Glasgow Prestwick
Drop off is £4.50 for 60 minutes. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible.
Heathrow
Drop off costs £7. But drop-offs of up to 29 minutes are free in Heathrow's various park and ride car parks for the different terminals. Passengers can take a free bus transfer to the terminal.
Inverness
Drop off starts at £3.80 for 30 minutes. You can stay for up to 15 minutes for free in its Short Stay car park, close to the terminal.
Leeds Bradford
Drop off starts at £7 for 10 minutes. There's a one-hour free parking zone, which is a three to four-minute walk to the terminal.
Liverpool
Drop off taking between 20 minutes and one hour costs £8. Its 'Drop Off 2' car park is free for up to 20 minutes and is a five to 10-minute walk to the terminal.
London City
Drop off costs £8 for five minutes and is £1 per minute after that. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible.
Luton
Drop off is £7 for up to 10 minutes and £1 per minute after with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Luton's Long Stay Car Park is free for two hours, with shuttle buses running every 20 minutes.
Manchester
Drop off is £6.40 for 10 minutes. There's a free drop off area in the JetParks 1 car park, a five-minute shuttle ride away from the terminal.
Newcastle
Drop off is £6 for 10 minutes. A Waiting Zone at Callerton Parkway offers free parking for up to 1.5 hours, with shuttle buses every 30 minutes.
Norwich
Drop off is £6 for 30 minutes. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible.
Southend
Drop off is £8 for up to 10 minutes. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible.
Southampton
Drop off is £7 for 20 minutes. At the time of reporting, no free option was visible. MSE reported that its long-stay car park used to offer free parking but it is currently closed.
Stansted
Drop off is £13 for up to 30 minutes. Its mid-stay car park is free for an hour. There's a free shuttle bus every 10 minutes, which takes seven minutes to get to the terminal.
