Drivers dropping off friends or family at UK airports have been hit with sky-high charges, with some paying as much as £1.60 per minute just to say goodbye.
New research has found that a quick airport drop-off – once free at most UK airports – has quietly turned into a costly extra, with charges rising and free options disappearing.
According to figures from Select Car Leasing, London City Airport now has the most expensive drop-off fees in Britain, charging drivers £8 for just five minutes. This works out at £1.60 per minute, after the airport introduced drop-off charges in January.
It means a brief stop to unload bags and wave goodbye can now cost drivers nearly the same as a short stay in a car park.
Other major airports are not far behind. At Gatwick Airport, drivers must pay £10 for up to 10 minutes, which equals £1 per minute. The fee has risen twice in the last year. In May 2024, the airport increased the charge to £7, before raising it again to £10 in January.
Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, strongly criticised the decision, saying: "This latest increase feels more like a cash grab than a necessity.
"Gatwick is now the most expensive airport in the UK for drop-offs, putting the cost squarely on passengers and businesses while doing little to tackle underlying issues around operating costs or sustainable transport.
Manchester Airport also charges £5 for five minutes, again costing drivers £1 per minute just to drop off passengers.
The airport said the increase followed a rise in costs and business rates | GETTY/PAElsewhere, Bristol Airport charges £8.50 for 10 minutes, or 85p per minute, while London Southend charges 80p per minute. Airports including Heathrow, Luton and Leeds Bradford all charge around 70p per minute.
For many families, these fees come as an unwelcome surprise at the start of an already expensive holiday, experts warned.
However, a small number of airports are still holding the line and offering free short-term drop-offs in a welcome move by drivers.
Exeter International Airport allows drivers to drop off passengers for free for up to 30 minutes in one of its car parks. Inverness Airport offers 15 minutes free, while Birmingham and Newquay both allow 10 minutes free before charges apply.
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Birmingham International Airport has free 10-minute drop-offs before charges apply
| GETTYAt Newquay, drivers must pay £2.50 if they stay longer than the free period. In Birmingham, the charge rises to £5 once the 10 minutes are up.
Graham Conway, Managing Director of Select Car Leasing, said the findings show how airport drop-offs have changed dramatically.
He said: "Free airport drop-offs are becoming rarer in the UK. What was once a standard courtesy – giving someone a quick lift to catch their flight – has now become a premium-priced service that most airports are monetising."
He added that the system is confusing for drivers, with different rules at every airport. "Our research highlights the lack of consistency across the UK, with motorists facing a confusing patchwork of fees and time limits," he said.
The report revealed sharp increases in drop-off fees for drivers
| GETTYMr Conway also warned drivers to be careful, as many airports now use barrierless payment systems, where motorists must remember to pay online later.
"Failure to pay the drop-off charge by midnight of the following day can result in a steep £100 fine," he said. "It's all too easy to forget to log on – and to remember with a sense of dread when it's too late."
With airport charges rising across the board, drivers are being urged to check drop-off rules before travelling.
Mr Conway said: "For holidaymakers begging friends or family for a lift to the airport, it's worth bearing drop-off fees in mind when booking flights. Plan ahead, check the policies, and avoid surprise charges."
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