Anyone who’s dropped a friend or family member at the airport recently will know the familiar sting of being charged a few pounds just to pull up for a couple of minutes. According to new research, that sting has got noticeably sharper over the past year, and the Government has now announced a review into these so-called “kiss and fly” charges.
The numbers tell their own story. RAC research found that 16 of the UK’s 20 busiest airports have raised their drop-off fees in the last 12 months, with the average charge now sitting at £7 for a window of just 10 to 15 minutes, up £1.70 on last summer. Some airports charge considerably more. Gatwick and Stansted both ask £10 for a short stop, London City charges £8 for five minutes, and Heathrow charges £7 with no waiting allowed at all. At the other end of the scale, Belfast City is the most affordable at £4. Miss the payment window and penalties can reach as much as £100.
It’s perhaps no surprise that an RAC survey found four in five drivers consider current charges a rip-off. The Department for Transport appears to agree there’s a problem worth looking at, with a spokesperson saying it’s “vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly,” while adding they’d like to see airports show some restraint on price rises, particularly where there’s no decent public transport alternative nearby.
The RAC’s Rod Dennis welcomed the review, describing drop-off charges as “a growing source of anger and frustration” among drivers. Not everyone is convinced the review goes far enough, or that it will happen quickly. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden was more pointed, calling it “yet another shameless U-turn by Labour.”
For their part, airports argue the charges exist for good reason. A Stansted spokesperson pointed out that charges there have been in place since 2012 specifically to discourage “kiss and fly” trips, which they describe as “the least sustainable way of accessing the airport,” since they add extra vehicle movements and congestion right outside the terminal.
The Business Travel Association, representing corporate travellers, has its own suggestions for how a fairer system might look. Chief executive Clive Wratten pointed out that £10 “is a lot to ask of travellers,” and that free drop-off zones are often inconveniently far from the terminal itself. The BTA is pushing for a £3 cap on charges, fees that only apply at peak times, a 50% discount for electric vehicles, and a single daily charge regardless of how many times a car enters the zone.
Where this review lands is anyone’s guess at this stage, and these things tend to move slowly. In the meantime, if you’re heading off on a trip soon, it’s worth checking your specific airport’s drop-off policy in advance, as the free zones (where they exist) are often a short walk rather than a pull-up-and-go option, and the time allowance can be tighter than you’d expect. A few minutes’ planning can easily save you a parking fine-sized bill for simply saying goodbye.