uk airports with the most and least expensive drop-off charges revealed

Gatwick announced its higher drop-off charge this year in a bid to make more passengers opt for public transport (Picture: Shutterstock)

Airport drop-off charges are increasing across the UK,with most major travel hubs now charging £7 for just a few minutes.

Motorists taking a loved one to the airport to say goodbye this holiday season face rising rates to enter the drop-off zone,also known as kiss-and-fly fees.

Heathrow Airport announced last week it will hike up the drop-off charge to £7 in the new year and limit the maximum stay to 10 minutes,which drivers criticised as ‘unjustifiable.’

However,£7 for a 10-minute stint is not the UK’s most expensive as other airports near London have even stricter limits.

Although airport drop-off fees are steadily rising at the majority of UK airports,some places still offer it for free (Picture: Shutterstock)

New research ranked the UK’s most expensive and cheapest airport kiss-and-fly fees,and Southend Airport in Essex took the top spot for the highest fees.

Drivers have to dish out £7 for a 5-minute stay in the drop-off zone,according to research by Select Car Leasing.

The airport,with flights by airlines like easyJet,Aer Lingus and TUI,charges £15 for goodbyes lasting longer than 5 minutes. It does offer a mid-stay option,with stays up to 30 minutes costing £8.

Elsewhere,Gatwick Airport,Leeds Bradford and Bristol Airports already charge £7 for 10 minutes near the terminals.

Gatwick,the UK’s second busiest airport,announced the fee increase in the spring as part of its expansion plan,which private hire taxi campaigners labelled a ‘cash cow on the public.’

Stansted and Southampton Airports charge £7 for a drop-off,but motorists can stay up to 20 minutes.

But some airports are bucking the trend of rising fees and stricter limits.

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London City Airport in Newham offers a free drop-off,while at Exeter International Airport the drop-off is free for 30 minutes.

Birmingham International and Newquay Cornwall Airports have a free drop-off for the first 10 minutes,while Inverness Airport in Scotland offers it for free for 15 minutes. If drivers stay longer,fees will apply at most of them.

In some cases,like at Heathrow starting from January 1,any stay longer than 10 minutes in the drop-off zone will result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Graham Conway,the managing director of Select Car Leasing,said: ‘For families and friends tasked with ferrying loved ones to the airport, drop-off fees can be pricey – and the cost varies wildly.  

‘It’s encouraging to see that a handful of airports still prioritise passenger convenience with free short-term drop-offs. However,our research also highlights the lack of consistency across the UK,with motorists facing a confusing patchwork of fees and time limits. 

‘It’s also worth noting that failure to pay for drop-off parking – or exceeding your time limit – can really hit drivers in the wallet.   

‘Some airports now operate ‘barrierless’ systems,where you pay your drop-off parking fee online rather than getting your card out at the barrier.  

‘In some cases,failure to pay the drop-off charge by midnight of the following day can result in a steep £100 fine.’