Sky-high costs at airports: Dropping off passengers found to be pricier, minute by minute, compared to flights to Turkey, causing public outcry - are airport fees draining your wallet?
## Rising Drop-off Fees at UK Airports: A Closer Look
A growing trend of increasing drop-off fees at UK airports has raised concerns among passengers and transportation experts. More than half of the UK's busiest airports have raised their fees, with some seeing an increase of up to 33% in the past year.
### The Costliest Airports
The most expensive airports now charge £7 for brief stops, while Manchester and London Luton impose punitive per-minute rates, charging £1 per minute. This makes them the most expensive on a per-minute basis. London Heathrow Airport is now charging £6 for drop-offs, up from £5 last year.
### European Airports Offer Free Drop-offs
In contrast, most major EU airports continue to offer free drop-offs, which highlights the disparity in costs between UK and EU airports. Airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid do not charge for drop-offs at eight of their ten busiest terminals.
### Airports with Increased Fees
- **Belfast City Airport** increased its fee from £3 to £4 for 10 minutes. - **Newcastle Airport** now charges £5 for a 10-minute drop-off, up from £4 last year. - **London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Liverpool** all increased their fees by £1 to £6 for between 10 and 20 minutes. - **London Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Southampton** now charge £7 for drop-offs. - **Glasgow** raised its fee by 50p to £6 for 15 minutes. - **Cardiff Airport** introduced drop-off fees for the first time, charging £3 for 10 minutes.
### Exceptions and Alternatives
London City Airport remains the only top 20 UK airport not to charge for drop-offs near the terminal. More than half of UK airports have increased or introduced drop-off fees for drivers in the past year. However, Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, states that all airports offer a free drop-off facility, often in car parks with a walk or bus ride to the terminal.
### RAC's Tips for Navigating Drop-off Fees
Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, finds the increases in drop-off fees at UK airports 'depressing'. To help passengers navigate these fees, the RAC offers the following tips:
1. Check the airport's website for drop-off options. 2. Understand how to pay, whether it's by phone, online, or at a machine. 3. Set a reminder to pay to avoid parking charge notices. 4. Keep goodbyes short to avoid overstaying the free period. 5. Check taxi fares, as they may be a more cost-effective option. 6. Never drop off on a road inside the airport perimeter. 7. Use the dedicated drop-off zone or another car park instead.
Dennis also expresses concern over the growing trend of airports replacing on-site payment with a barrierless system requiring payment to be made online or by phone. He notes that anyone who doesn't notice the change or forgets to pay will receive a parking charge notice.
In conclusion, while drop-off fees continue to rise at many UK airports, it's essential for passengers to be aware of their options and plan accordingly to avoid unnecessary costs.
- The growing trend of increasing drop-off fees at UK airports, as seen in more than half of the busiest UK airports, has sparked worries among travelers and transportation specialists.
- Some UK airports, like Manchester and London Luton, impose high per-minute rates, making them the most expensive in this regard.
- In contrast, European airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid do not charge for drop-offs at eight of their ten busiest terminals, highlighting the significant difference in costs between the UK and EU airports.
- Multiple airports across the UK have increased their drop-off fees, with examples including Belfast City Airport, Newcastle Airport, and several others, causing concern among passengers and lifestyle experts.
