APH Compares Airport Forecourt Costs for 2024

With many consumers intent on becoming more eco-conscious in 2024, UK travellers may not appreciate the environmental damage and negative consequences of their ‘kiss and fly’ lift to the airport. Kiss and Fly is the practice of dropping-off and collecting a traveller from the airport, resulting in twice as many car journeys when compared with pre-booking off-airport parking.

Kiss and Fly

As well as resulting in vehicle congestion and producing double the amount of harmful emissions, lifts to the airport also include the ‘hidden costs’ of the time and money spent by the family member or friend. To encourage travellers to become more mindful of their journey to and from the airport, APH has therefore researched just the costs for kiss and fly drop-off fees at 22 of the UK’s airports, including Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Just four of the 22 airports researched allow drivers to drop-off passengers directly at the terminal for free, including London City and Cardiff. However, travellers should note that these airports may charge after a certain amount of time. For example, Cardiff Airport charges £5 for every 10 minutes parked after the initial 10 minutes. Most airports permit the drop-off of passengers at the terminal for a fee, with the cost varying widely. Friends and family should keep an eye on the time at Luton Airport since after paying £5 for the first 10 minutes at the terminal forecourt, motorists are charged an additional £1 for each minute they spend in the drop-off zone.

Holidaymakers willing to walk a short distance can save on premium charges by dropping off in short and long stay car parks, with many airports offering this for free. These include London Luton Airport, which allows up to 15 minutes for free in the mid-term car park, which is 10 – 15 minutes away by foot from the terminal building. Similarly, parking at Southampton Airport’s long stay car park is free for up to 30 minutes and the terminal can be reached in 5 minutes via a shuttle bus, which runs every 10 – 12 minutes. However, both Bournemouth and Bristol do not offer options for dropping-off passengers for free, even at short stay car parks.

For collecting loved ones from the airport, 14 airports permit collection of passengers from the terminal forecourt. Drivers at nine airports, including Bristol, must collect travellers from the short-stay car parks nearby, with the cost varying from free to £20 for up to one hour.

Alongside monetary charges, kiss and fly journeys include ‘hidden costs’ for loved ones. For example, drivers heading to Birmingham Airport from the city centre can expect to spend a total of two hours on the road and pay around £9.60* in fuel costs for two return trips. When combined with two charges of £5.10 for each hour of parking at Birmingham Airport, the total cost for a kiss and fly driver comes to £19.80.


ABERDEEN DYCE AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 for up to 15 minutes only
• £10.00 for up to 30 minutes
• £30.00 for up to 1 hour

SHORT STAY CAR PARK
• £5.00 for up to 20 minutes
• £12.00 for up to 1 hour in both Short and Long Stay car parks

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay car park for up to 30 minutes

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Extra 30 minutes for free

FINE
• PCN (but have to pay at exit barriers so unlikely)

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £3.00 (10 mins)
• £5.00 (10-20 mins)
• £10.00 (20-60 mins)

• £50.00 (1hrs-4hrs)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £3.00 (10 mins)
• £4.00 (10-20 mins)
• £5.00 (20-30 mins)

• £7.00 (30-60 mins)

• £11.00 (1hrs-2hrs)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay car park for up to 15 minutes

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card or cash

• Online

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Short stay car park free (30 mins)

FINE
• N/A

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• Free Drop Off Car Park (10 mins)
• Premium Set-down (15 mins)
• £5.00 (15 mins)

• £10.00 (15-20 mins)

• £15.00 (20-25 mins)

• £20.00 (25-30 mins)

• £25.00 (30-35 mins)

• £50.00 (55-60 mins)

• £5.00 (each additional hour

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £8.50 (1 hour)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Drop Off car park free for up to 10 mins

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Premium Set Down – Free (30 mins)

FINE
• £100 (red route)

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

BRISTOL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £6.00 (10 mins)
• £8.00 (10-20 mins)
• £12.00 (20-40 mins)

• £25.00 (40-60 mins)

• £25.00 (each additional hour)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (30 mins)

• £8.00 (30-45 mins)

• £12.00 (45-60 mins)

• £15.00 (1-4 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Waiting zone free for up to 1 hour

• £25 (1-2 hours)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card or cash

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Drop & Go Car park £6 (40 mins)

FINE
• £100 (red route) – reduced to £60 if paid in 2 weeks

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• Free (5 mins)
• £3.00 (every 5 mins thereafter)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £3.50 (20 mins)

• £5.50 (20-40 mins)

• £8.00 (40-60 mins)

• £10.00 (1-2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park for up to 20 mins

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• N/A

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Designated disabled parking

FINE
• £50 – when failure to present a ticket

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (15 mins)
• £1.00 (every minute thereafter)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (30 mins)

• £8.00 (1 hour)

• £12.00 (2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park for up to 1 hour (£1 every minute over 1 hour)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card only

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free at Short Stay car park (30 mins)

FINE
• PCN (£100) – for stopping in a no stopping zone

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

EDINBURGH AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (10 mins)
• £1.00 (every minute thereafter)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (15 mins)

• £10.00 (15-30 mins)

• £12.00 (30-60 mins)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park for up to 30 mins

• £7 (30 mins – 1 hour)

• £16.50 (1 hour – 3 hours)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card and cash

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• 1 hr free parking to any of the car parks, incl. Drop-Off zones

FINE
• £60 for turning around in Moxy Hotel

• £100 for stopping in red routes

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

EXETER AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (30 mins)
• £7.50 (30-60 mins)

• £10.00 (1-2 hours)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £5.00 (30 mins)

• £7.50 (30-60)

• £10.00 (1-2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park free

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card and cash

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• £5 (up to 4 hours) in car parks 1 & 2

FINE
• £30

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

GEORGE BEST BELFAST CITY AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £3.00 (10 mins)
• £6.00 (10-20 mins)

• £18.00 (20-45 mins)

• £24.00 (45-60 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £3.00 (0-60 mins)

• £13.00 (1-2 hours)

• £15.00 (2-3 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park free for up to 10 mins

• £4 (10-60 mins)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card and cash

• Mobile phone cashless parking system (8p added)

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Short Stay car park free up to 10 mins

FINE
• N/A

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (15 mins)
• £10.00 (20 mins)

• £15.00 (30 mins)

• £45.00 (60 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (20 mins)

• £12.00 (1 hour)

• £24.00 (2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long Stay car park free for up to 30 mins

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card only

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Short Stay car park free up to 30mins

FINE
• N/A

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

LEEDS BRADFORD AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £6.00 (10 mins)
• £8.00 (20 mins)

• £11.00 (20-30 mins)

• £14.00 (30-60 mins)

• £14.00 (each hour thereafter)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £13.00 (60 mins)

• £17.00 (1-2 hours)

• £20.00 (2-3 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• One hour free car park

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card or cash

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• £6 (60 mins) in Drop off car park

FINE
• £100 for stopping in red routes

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (10 mins)
• £10.00 (20 mins)

• £25.00 (60 mins)

• £50.00 (over 60 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (30 mins)

• £10.00 (1 hour)

• £15.00 (2 hours)

• £25.00 (4 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Drop off free for 40 mins

• £8 (40 mins – 60 mins)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card only

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free (40 mins) in Drop off car park

FINE
• £100 for stopping in red routes

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £6.00 (10 mins)
• £1.00 (each additional minute)

• £25.00 (30 mins max stay)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (30 mins)

• £10.00 (31 -60 mins)

• £15.50 (1-2 hours)

• £19.50 (2-3 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay free for up to 2 hours

• £38 (2-4 hours)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Pay online

• Phone

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free (30 mins) at Drop-off up to 3 hours of chosen start time.

• Have to pre register number plate

FINE
• £100 PCN (£60 if paid within 14 days)

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (10 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £7.50 (30 mins)

• £11.00 (30 – 44 mins)

• £13.50 (45-59 mins)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay free for up to 30 mins

• £9.40 (30 mins – 4 hours)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Pay online

• Auto-pay

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free Drop-Off

• Free for 2 hours at Long Stay

FINE
• £80 PCN (£40 if paid within 14 days)

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

LONDON LUTON AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (10 mins)

• £1.00 (each additional minute)

MID STAY CAR PARK

• Free for 30 mins

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay free for up to 60 mins

• £5.00 (1 hour – 2 hours)

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free (30 mins) for terminal 1 car park

FINE
• £95 PCN (£55 if paid within 14 days)

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

LONDON STANSTED AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £7.00 (15 mins)

• £25.00 (over 15 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £10 (30 mins)

• £18 (60 mins)

• £22 (2 hours)

• £35 (3 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Long stay free for up to 60 mins at Mid Stay car park

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free at Long Stay car park

FINE
• £100 for Red Routes

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

MANCHESTER AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (5 mins)

• £6.00 (10 mins)

• £25.00 (10+ mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £6.00 (30 mins)

• £12.00 (60 mins)

• £20.00 (2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• JetParks 1 up to 30 mins

• £25 over 1 hour

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card or cash

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free Drop-Off

FINE
• £100 for attempted pick up in the Drop-Off zone

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

NEWCASTLE AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £4.00 (10 mins)

• £7.00 (30 mins)

• £10.00 (45 mins)

• £11.00 (1 hour)

• £22.00 (2 hours)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• Free (15 mins)

• £8.00 (30 mins)

• £13.00 (1 hour)

• £15.00 (2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Short Stay car park free for up to 15 mins

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card 

• Coin hoppers 

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Only disabled parking bays

FINE
• Red route fine

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•28 days

NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £5.00 (30 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £5.00 (30 mins)

• £7.50 (30-60 mins)

• £10.00 (1-2 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Free 5 mins drop off at Short Stay car park

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card and cash

• Pre-book

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Stay in Drop-Off spaces for £5 up to 4 hours

FINE
• N/A

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A


SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT

DROP-OFF FEE (ALLOCATED TIME)
• £6.00 (20 mins)

SHORT STAY CAR PARK

• £12.00 (60 mins)

• £20.00 (90 mins)

• £30.00 4 hours)

FREE DROP-OFF OPTIONS
• Free 30 mins drop off at Long Stay car park

PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Card

BLUE BADGE PARKING
• Free 30 mins in Short Stay car park

FINE
• £80

TIME TO PAY THE FINE
•N/A

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