Four out of five British airports increase drop off and pick up charge
Four out of five British airports have increased charges for motorists dropping off passengers for a flight this summer, research shows
- Airports under the spotlight for their ‘kiss and fly charges’ to pick up and drop off
- Four out of five airports have increased their charges this summer, study finds
- An RAC investigation found 18 of 22 airports have introduced or raised their fees
Four out of five UK airports have increased charges for drivers dropping off or collecting passengers this summer, a study found.
Eighteen of the 22 airports analysed have introduced or raised drop-off or pick-up fees, the RAC investigation found.
‘Kiss and fly’ charges – typically levied for dropping off someone as close to the terminal as possible – have increased at eight airports compared with last year.
Many airports offer short-term car parks for pick-ups so drivers can leave their vehicles and greet passengers at the arrivals area. Stansted, in Essex, increased its prices for this type of parking the most, with a £2.50 rise to £8 for half an hour [File photo]
Stansted and Luton have the most expensive initial drop-off charges, at £4 for ten minutes and 13 minutes respectively.
Manchester charges the most per minute, with drivers getting only five minutes for £3.
East Midlands, Birmingham, Doncaster-Sheffield and Newcastle all added £1 to their minimum drop-off charges. Six airports continue to allow free drop-offs, including Heathrow and Gatwick.
Many airports offer short-term car parks for pick-ups so drivers can leave their vehicles and greet passengers at the arrivals area.
Stansted, in Essex, increased its prices for this type of parking the most, with a £2.50 rise to £8 for half an hour. This puts it level with Luton for the most expensive pick-up fee.
Birmingham is the third costliest, at £5.50 for an hour. The hefty fees were exposed by the Daily Mail in May. Stansted charges drivers dropping off a loved one £25 if they stay for more than 15 minutes.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said motorists dropping off or collecting family or friends are ‘often left wincing’ at the prices charged.
Some airports offer cheaper rates or even no charge for using car parks further from the terminal, which often requires a shuttle bus connection.
A spokesman for trade body the Airport Operators Association said: ‘Airports that operate drop-off charges directly outside the terminal do so for a number of reasons, including to manage congestion and to limit the environmental impacts of kiss and fly journeys.’
Six airports continue to allow free drop-offs, including Heathrow and Gatwick. Heathrow Airport is pictured above [File photo]
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