Dropping off friends or family before a summer holiday used to be a simple wave-and-wave goodbye. Now, it’s a transaction. A steep one. The average cost to use “kiss and fly” zones at UK airports has jumped by a third in just twelve months.
If you’re planning to leave a passenger in the terminal forecourt, check your wallet. It’s going to cost more than you remember.
The new reality of ‘kiss and fly’ charges
The Research and Automobile Club (RAC) analyzed fees across the UK’s twenty busiest airports. Sixteen of them hiked prices. The average driver now pays £7 for ten to fifteen minutes. That’s a £1.70 increase on the 2025 summer average.
Some airports charge more. Some charge less. But none are cheap.
London’s airports dominate the price table, naturally. They are the most expensive in the country for drop-offs. Gatwick wants £10 for ten minutes. Stansted charges £10 for fifteen. London City is predatory at £8 for just five minutes. Do the math—that’s £1.60 per minute. It’s expensive parking. It’s expensive idling.
Heathrow, the UK’s busiest hub, charges a slightly lower £7. But here is the catch. You cannot wait. Heathrow’s drop-off zones are strictly for loading and unloading. Let go of the luggage. Exit the vehicle. Leave immediately. Violate the rule? You get fined.
“Having a captive audience should be no excuse… if free, convenient drop-off zones work elsewhere, why not here?” — Rod Dennis, RAC Senior Policy Officer
Outside the capital: The price varies wildly
Manchester Airport keeps things slightly more moderate at £5.50 for a five-minute stint. But Edinburgh and Bristol demand £8.50 for ten minutes.
Why such disparity? Space is limited. Congestion is a nightmare. Airports claim the fees discourage “kiss and fly” journeys—the least sustainable method of airport access, often involving multiple car trips for one flight. Reducing cars at the terminal helps manage capacity in these restricted areas. Stansted, which raised charges in March, explicitly cited the need to tackle this behavior.
Ignoring the signs to bypass the zone? Expect a fine of up to £10. Or £100 depending on the severity and the airport’s enforcement rigour.
Are the charges actually working?
Rod Dennis calls the rise “disappointing.” He argues that airports shouldn’t exploit travelers who have no real choice. Many international hubs offer free or low-cost drop-offs without collapsing their roads. Why the UK exception?
The Business Travel Association’s CEO, Clive Wratten, points out the hypocrisy. Airports say they want to reduce emissions and congestion. But they aren’t offering viable alternatives.
Public transport isn’t always an option. Early flights? Trains don’t run. Late-night arrivals? Buses are gone. In many parts of the UK, transit is unreliable or nonexistent. Wratten notes that if airports truly wanted to change behavior, they would invest in transport incentives rather than just penalizing drivers.
“If these charges were genuinely about changing behaviour,” Wratten says, “we’d expect to see greater investment… rather than relying on passengers to foot the bills.”
Which airport is worst for drop-offs?
For the purest penalty per minute, look to London City. The effective rate makes it arguably the most aggressive hub in the country. Gatwick and Stansted follow close behind in total cost for short stays. Manchester remains the cheapest major option for a quick stop.
But the question isn’t just which is most expensive. It’s why the trend is accelerating. With inflation squeezing holiday budgets, a sudden £7 hit before a flight feels like a tax on freedom.
Airports say it’s for green reasons. Efficiency. Clean air.
Travelers say it’s just a toll on people trying to see loved ones off.
Until the alternatives improve—the early trains, the reliable buses, the frequent shuttles—the drop-off fee remains the price of entry. You can try to avoid it. You can try to double-park. But the cameras are watching. The fines are real. And the cost of doing nothing is rising.
