Tuesday, March 12, 2024
If you often find yourself as the go-to airport shuttle for your family, be aware that dropping off family and friends at the airport, a practice affectionately known as ‘Kiss and Fly,’ is becoming slightly more costly due to an increase in the drop-off area usage fees at London Gatwick, which have risen from £5 to £6 as of January.
In the UK, it’s a common practice for airports to impose fees on drivers for both dropping off and picking up passengers. To aid drivers in planning their airport runs, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) has compiled a list of fees across the top 20 UK airports.
This useful guide, accessible at www.aph.com/kissandfly, details the charges, permissible times for drop-offs, pickups, and parking in the short-stay areas at various UK airports, including Manchester, London Gatwick, and Newcastle.
Among these, London Stansted emerges as one of the priciest, levying a £7 fee for a 15-minute stay. Bristol, Leeds, and London Gatwick are not far behind, charging £6 for a 10-minute duration. On the more affordable end, Norwich International and Southampton Airports charge £5 for up to 30 minutes. Notably, Cardiff International Airport and Birmingham International Airport offer complimentary drop-off options outside the terminal, granted the stay does not exceed 5 or 10 minutes, respectively.
While most airports provide free drop-off zones, these typically come with time restrictions and are located in the long-stay parking areas, necessitating a lengthy trek or a bus ride to the terminal.
Drivers should also be vigilant about the different payment methods accepted by airports to avoid penalty charges that could reach up to £100. London Gatwick and London Heathrow, for instance, only accept payments made online, via phone, or through an AutoPay account, whereas most other airports accept both cash and card.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) said, “Asking friends and family for a ‘Kiss and Fly’ lift may seem like a good option, however once they’ve taken into account the cost of fuel, vehicle wear and tear and airport fees it may cost them a lot more than you think. Also, there is an environmental cost to consider from the extra return journey. We advise travellers to do their research before asking friends or family as other options such as pre-booking airport parking can not only be cheaper, but also a more environmentally friendly way to travel.”
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