Drivers are facing steep drop-off charges at UK airports, with fees having doubled in recent years, according to MoneySavingExpert.com. Since the pandemic, three airports—Gatwick, Heathrow, and Norwich—have introduced charges for dropping off passengers outside terminals, while 16 others have increased existing fees.
Stansted now charges £7 for drop-offs of 15 minutes or less, up from £4, making it the most expensive in the country. Bristol has seen a 400% rise, from £1 to £5 for a ten-minute drop-off. Other airports that have at least doubled their charges include Aberdeen, Exeter, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newcastle. London City and Newquay remain among the few airports that do not charge.
Oli Townsend, assistant deals and features editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: 'The cost of dropping people off at an airport has soared since the pandemic. Many passengers will rightly be shocked when hit with a charge as much as £7 just to set someone down outside the terminal.'
Townsend added that most airports offer free drop-off areas, often requiring a short walk or shuttle ride to the terminal. He advised passengers to check airport websites for free options to avoid the fees.
