Dropping off a friend or family member at the airport has become increasingly expensive, with kiss and fly fees now reaching £100 at some UK airports during peak times. The latest airports to raise charges are Glasgow and Aberdeen, where fees will increase to £7 for 15 minutes from February 3.
Gatwick Airport has become the most expensive in the UK for drop-offs, charging £10 for a mere 10-minute wait. This follows a rise to £7 in May 2025 and another increase last month. The fees apply to drivers stopping briefly at the terminal to drop off passengers.
AGS Airports, which operates Glasgow and Aberdeen, defended the increases, citing rising costs. A spokesperson for Aberdeen International Airport said: “Due to well publicised increases in our cost base we have taken the decision to increase our Express Drop Off fee. We appreciate that this is not a popular decision, however, it is important the airport remains competitive.”
Both airports highlighted free alternatives: long-stay car parks with shuttle buses taking seven minutes at Glasgow and two minutes at Aberdeen. Blue Badge holders receive 30 minutes free in short-stay car parks. In contrast, major EU airports like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt offer free drop-off zones for up to 10 minutes.
