UK Airport Drop-off and Pick-up Charges

UK Airport Drop-Off and Pick-Up Charges (2025 Guide)

Dropping off or picking up passengers at UK airports now comes with significant costs that travellers need to factor into their budget. Over the past few years, many airports have introduced “kiss-and-fly” fees and continue to raise them, making the simple act of stopping at the terminal curb increasingly expensive. In fact, drop-off charges at some major airports are now as high as £7 for just a few minutes, and picking up often costs even more. This guide provides an up-to-date overview of UK airport parking fees for drop-offs and pick-ups in 2025, along with tips to avoid unexpected charges.

Dropping off at Birmingham Airport could cost £50 for an hour’s parking if you don’t want to take a bus:Wikipedia

A “Drop Off Charges Apply” sign at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal forecourt. Most UK airports now charge drivers for briefly stopping outside departures.

Why You Should Care About Airport Drop-Off Fees

If you’re heading to the airport to drop off family or collect a friend, be aware that most UK airports no longer allow free kerbside drop-offs. Short stops can incur charges up to £7 and often increase sharply if you stay longer than the initial minutes. For example, Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Southampton airports each now charge £7 for a brief drop-off. Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool recently raised their drop-off fees by 20% to £6 for a 10-20 minute stay. Even smaller airports have introduced fees – Belfast City now charges £4 for 10 minutes after eliminating its free period. These charges can quickly add up, especially if you hit traffic or your passenger is delayed.

Pick-up costs are typically even higher. Many airports direct those picking up passengers to short-stay car parks, where fees might be £5-£10 for the first 30-60 minutes, or even more beyond that. At Manchester and Luton, for instance, the effective rate can be £1 per minute – £5 for a maximum 5-minute stay – making them among the costliest per minute. All of this means that anyone driving to an airport should plan ahead to avoid a nasty surprise at the exit barrier or an unexpected parking charge notice.

Yet, there is good news: every UK airport offers some form of free drop-off or pick-up option. Typically, this means using a designated long-stay or mid-stay car park a bit further from the terminal, where you can park for a short time at no cost. You’ll then walk or take a free shuttle bus to the terminal. These free options are usually away from the busiest areas, which helps reduce congestion and emissions at the terminal front. However, they require extra time and may not be practical for those with heavy luggage or mobility issues. Still, knowing about them can save you money if you’re willing to plan for the additional transfer time.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Charges at Major UK Airports

Below is a comparison table of airport drop-off charges UK (for quick stops on the terminal forecourt) and related pick-up parking fees at major UK airports. We’ve included the initial tariffs and free alternatives where available. Always double-check the official airport website for the latest fees and rules, as charges can change and some airports adjust time limits or prices seasonally.

Note: “Drop-off” typically refers to the designated area or lane for unloading passengers outside Departures. “Pick-up” usually requires parking in a short-stay car park (since waiting at curbs is not allowed) – we list common short-stay fees or dedicated pick-up zone charges. Many airports offer free short-term parking in long-stay lots or mid-stay areas as alternatives (with a shuttle bus), which we note in the table. All amounts are in British Pounds (£).

Airport	Drop-Off / Pick-Up Details
Aberdeen (ABZ)	Express Drop-Off: Up to 15 minutes £5.50 aberdeenairport.com; each minute thereafter £1 (max 30 minutes, then £50). Free Alternative: Long Stay car park – 30 mins free with shuttle bus.
Belfast City (BHD)	Kerbside Drop-Off: 10 minutes £4 (no free period). Short Stay Pick-Up: ~10 mins free, then standard parking rates (e.g. ~£20 for 30 mins). Free 10-minute parking was removed; use long-stay for any free drop-off.
Belfast Int’l (BFS)	Drop-Off Zone: Minimum £3 charge for up to 10 mins (initial fee); ~£5 for 20 mins, ~£10 for 1 hour. Free Alternative: Long Stay car park – 15-30 mins free (short walk).
Birmingham (BHX) – Premium	Premium Set-Down (Terminal Forecourt): 0-15 mins £6.00 birminghamairport.co.uk; 15-20 mins £11.00; 30 mins £23.00; 60 mins £59.00. (Closest to terminal, intended for quick drop-off.)
Birmingham (BHX) – Standard	Drop-Off Car Park (5–10 min walk): First 10 mins free birminghamairport.co.uk; 10–15 mins £5.00; 15-20 mins £6.00. Pick-Up: Use Short Stay (Car Park 1) ~£10.50 up to 1 hour. Free Alternative: Yes – the standard drop-off car park itself is free for 10 mins (as above, with a free shuttle available).
Bournemouth (BOH)	Drop-Off/Pick-Up Area (Car Park 1): Up to 30 mins £5.00 (fixed fee). No dedicated free drop zone (previous 15 mins free scrapped); longer stays charged at normal rates.
Bristol (BRS)	Drop & Go (Express): Up to 10 mins £7.00 bristolairport.co.uk; 10–20 mins ~£9; 40–60 mins £20. Short Stay & Pick-Up: ~30 mins £7.00 (same initial fee as Drop & Go, located a short walk from terminal). Free Alternative: Yes – “Waiting Zone” in Long Stay (Silver Zone) car park, 1 hour free + shuttle bus.
Cardiff (CWL)	Drop-Off Area: 10 mins £3.00; up to 20 mins £6.00. Pick-Up (Short Stay 2): 10 mins £1.00; 1 hour ~£5.00. Long Stay 1: 20 mins free (short walk) – a good free option for drop-off or pick-up.
Doncaster Sheffield	Airport permanently closed to passenger flights in 2022.
East Midlands (EMA)	Rapid Drop-Off: 15 mins £5.00 + £1 per minute thereafter (30 mins ~£20). (Closest drop zone, next to terminal.) Short Stay Pick-Up: ~30 mins £3.50. Free Alternative: Yes – Long Stay 4: 1 hour free, with shuttle bus.
Edinburgh (EDI)	Pick-Up & Drop-Off Zone: Up to 10 mins £6.00 edinburghairport.com; over 10 mins, £1 per additional minute (max ~£16 for 20 mins). (This is a combined paid area for drop-off/pick-up right by terminal.) Free Alternative: Yes – Long Stay: 30 mins free (10-min walk)
Exeter (EXT)	Car Park 1 (Short Stay): Up to 30 mins £5.00 exeter-airport.co.uk (right by terminal). Car Park 4: Free for up to 30 mins – located slightly further (shuttle available). Tip: Use P4 for free drop-offs/pick-ups if you don’t mind a short shuttle ride.
Glasgow (GLA)	Pick-Up & Drop-Off Zone: Up to 15 mins £6.00; 15–30 mins ~£11; 30–60 mins £21. (Located next to terminal, no free period.) Free Alternative: Yes – Long Stay: 30–60 mins free, with a 5–10 min shuttle bus.
Glasgow Prestwick (PIK)	Terminal Drop-Off/Pick-Up (Car Park 1): £4.50 flat rate for up to 60 mins glasgowprestwick.com (no free period). Note: No grace period anymore – even a quick stop costs £4.50.
Humberside (HUY)	Car Park 1 (Drop-Off/Pick-Up): 15 mins free; up to 30 mins ~£2.50; 1 hour ~£4.50. Small airport: short stays are inexpensive; first 15 minutes are free.
Inverness (INV)	Short Stay Car Park: Free for up to 10 minutes (drop-off or pick-up); ~£3.80 for 30 mins.
Leeds Bradford (LBA)	Terminal Drop-Off/Pick-Up: Up to 10 mins £7.00 ; ~30 mins £12.50. Free Parking Zone: Yes – One Hour Free in designated zone (~3–4 minutes’ walk).
Liverpool (LPL)	Express Drop-Off (closest): Up to 10 mins £6.00 (no free period, was 20 mins for £10 previously). Drop-Off 2 (Alternative): Free for up to 20 mins (5–10 minute walk to terminal). Picking up: Use Drop-Off 2 for 20 mins free, or Short Stay (fees similar to drop-off charges).
London City (LCY)	Terminal Forecourt: Free drop-off (no charge for immediate drop-off, but no waiting allowed). Pick-Up: Short Stay Car Park ~ £7.50 for 30 mins (adjacent to terminal).
London Gatwick (LGW)	Terminal Forecourt Drop-Off: 0-10 mins £7.00 minimum gatwickairport.com; each additional minute +£1 up to 20 mins (max ~£25). (No waiting; camera-enforced, pay online.) Short Stay Pick-Up: ~30 mins £8-£9 (standard parking rates, 2-3 minute walk). Free Alternative: Yes – Long Stay car parks: 2 hours free with shuttle (10-12 min ride).
London Heathrow (LHR)	Terminal Drop-Off Zones: £6 charge per entry (covers up to 10 mins) heathrow.com. No waiting allowed at curbs. Pick-Up: Must use Short Stay car parks – e.g. 0-29 mins £7.50. Free Alternative: Yes – Long Stay car parks: up to 30 mins free with shuttle bus (park & ride lots for each terminal).
London Luton (LTN)	Drop-Off/Pick-Up Zone: 5 mins £5.00 london-luton.co.uk; then £1 per minute thereafter (20-minute max stay). (Barrier-free system, pay online by midnight.) Free Alternatives: Yes – Mid Stay: 15 mins freelondon-luton.co.uk (5-10 min walk or short bus ride). Long Stay: 1 hour free (shuttle bus every ~20 mins).
London Southend (SEN)	Terminal Drop-Off (Short Stay 1): Up to 5 mins £7.00; 5–30 mins £15.00. (Free 15-minute drop-off option has been removed – any stay incurs a fee.) Long Stay 3: No longer free for 15 mins (the previous free period was discontinued).
London Stansted (STN)	Express Set-Down: Up to 15 mins £7.00 stanstedairport.com; 15-30 mins £25.00 (max stay 30 mins). Re-entry within 30 mins incurs a £20 penalty. Mid Stay: Free for up to 60 mins (use the free shuttle bus, ~5-7 min ride). (Recommended for free drop-off or if you need to wait longer when picking up.)
Manchester (MAN)	Terminal Drop-Off Areas: 5 mins £5.00; up to 10 mins £6.20 (pay at exit, barrierless ANPR system). Overstay beyond 10 mins triggers a £25 fine. Pick-Up (Short Stay): £6-£8 for up to 30 mins (varies by terminal car park). Free Alternative: Yes – JetParks 1: 1 hour free, with a 5-minute shuttle to terminals.
Newcastle (NCL)	Express Drop-Off (Short Stay 1): Up to 10 mins £4.00 – £5.00; ~30 mins £10.00. (No free kerbside drop-off.) Medium Stay Car Park: Free for 15 mins (5-minute walk) – a good pick-up/drop-off option.
Southampton (SOU)	Short Stay (Pick-Up & Drop-Off): Up to 20 mins £7.00 (was £6 for 15 mins, recently increased). Long Stay: 30 mins free (currently temporarily closed; check airport site for status). Plan for the £7 fee if using the main forecourt; otherwise, use off-site parking if available.

Sources: Data compiled from official airport websites and news releases (July-August 2025). Specific fees and time limits are subject to change, so verify on the airport’s official page before your trip. Many airports now operate cashless, barrier-free drop-off systems, meaning you pay online or by phone after exiting the zone. Failure to pay these can result in hefty penalty charges (often £60-£100) sent by post.

Plan Ahead to Avoid High Fees

As the table shows, UK airport pick-up costs and drop-off fees vary widely, but nearly all airports offer a way to avoid charges if you plan ahead. Here are some tips to keep your costs down:

• Use Free Drop-Off Zones: Take advantage of the free parking periods in long-stay or mid-stay car parks. For example, airports like Stansted, Luton, Gatwick, and Heathrow all offer free parking for 30-60 minutes in designated lots with shuttle service. This is ideal if you don’t mind a short bus ride and it completely avoids the drop-off charge. Just allow extra time for the shuttle transfer.
• Keep it Quick: If you must use the terminal forecourt, have your passenger ready at the curb to jump out, and depart promptly. Every minute counts in drop-off zones – if you stay beyond the initial 5-10 minute window, fees escalate sharply (or you may incur a fixed “overstay” fine, such as £25 at Manchester). No waiting is allowed; for pickups, it’s usually best to park in the appropriate area rather than circling the terminal.
• Consider Short-Stay Car Parks for Pick-Ups: While they cost more than drop-off zones, short-stay car parks are often the only option for meeting arriving passengers. Check the airport’s rates beforehand and choose the cheapest band that will cover the wait. For instance, if your passenger has checked bags, you might opt for 30-60 minutes parking. If they’re carry-on only, 0-30 minutes might suffice. Some airports allow you to pre-book pick-up parking online at a discount, which can save money for longer waits.
• Share Information: If you’re a frequent traveller or driving friends and family, spread the word about these charges so others aren’t caught out. Many people are still surprised by a drop-off fee or a ticket in the mail for not paying online. Knowing the fees in advance helps you choose the best option – whether that’s using public transport, a taxi (note: taxis will pass on drop-off charges to the fare), or the free parking areas to avoid the charge.
• Blue Badge and Special Assistance: Most airports offer exemptions or special arrangements for disabled passengers or those requiring assistance. For example, blue badge holders often can use short-stay car parks for free or at a reduced rate for a short period. Check the airport’s official guidance if this applies to you, rather than using the standard drop-off zone.

Airport drop-off charges in the UK have become an important factor to consider when planning your journey. A quick stop that used to be free might now cost £5-£7, and lingering too long can result in hefty fees. The key is to plan ahead: if possible, use the free long-stay or mid-stay options for dropping off and picking up. These require a bit more time, but they can save you money and stress. If you do use the paid drop-off lanes or short-stay car parks, be mindful of the time limits – set a timer if needed – to avoid crossing into a more expensive fee bracket or getting an overstay fine. Finally, always check the airport’s website for the latest UK airport parking guide on drop-off/pick-up rules and prices before you travel. With a little preparation, you can navigate airport drop-off and pick-up charges smoothly, save on parking fees, and ensure your journey starts and ends on a good note. Safe travels!