Record Parking Price Increases at UK Airports

In preparation for the upcoming busy summer travel season, drivers who will be dropping off their relatives and friends at the airport should be prepared for higher-than-ever terminal drop-off prices.

New research conducted by the has revealed that seven out of the UK’s 21 busiest airports* have increased their fees, while one airport has even introduced them for the first time.

Among the airports that have experienced the largest price hikes is Southampton Airport, which has raised its drop-off fee to £6 for a 20-minute stay, compared to £4 for the same duration in 2022.

Similarly, Belfast International Airport has increased its charge by £2, now standing at £3 for a 10-minute drop-off.

At Glasgow Airport, drivers now must pay £5 for 15 minutes (up from £4 in 2022), while Aberdeen has also set its initial rate at £5 for 15 minutes (previously £4 for 10 minutes in 2022).

Leeds Bradford has raised its charges to £6 for a 10-minute stay (up from £5), Liverpool John Lennon now requires £5 for 10 minutes (previously £4), and Birmingham has increased its fee to £4 for 15 minutes (from £3).

Belfast’s other airport, Belfast City, has recently implemented a charge of £3 for a 10-minute drop-off, whereas previously no fee was in place.

Despite maintaining the same fee as last year, London Stansted still holds the top spot on the drop-off charges table, with an initial charge of £7 for 15 minutes.

On a positive note, six of the busiest UK airports have chosen to freeze their drop-off charges since last summer.

London Heathrow and London Gatwick continue to charge £5, Manchester charges £5 for five minutes, London Luton still requires £5 for 10 minutes, and Edinburgh maintains a fee of £4 for 10 minutes.

Fortunately, there are still three airports—Cardiff, London City, and Inverness—that offer free drop-off options at their terminal forecourts.

To avoid stress and the high costs associated with airport parking, the RAC recommends the following tips:

Visit the airport’s website to review the drop-off facilities, including fees, payment options, and stay times. Keep in mind that terminal forecourt drop-off areas tend to be the most expensive.Once you are aware of the payment methods accepted, ensure you have the necessary payment ready, whether it’s cash, a debit or credit card, or the option to pre-pay online.Say your goodbyes to your loved ones before arriving at the airport to avoid exceeding the initial time limit for drop-offs, which can result in additional charges.If you plan on booking a taxi to take you to the airport, confirm whether the fare includes or excludes any drop-off fees to avoid any unpleasant surprises upon arrival.

In recent years, there have been calls to address the ongoing issue of unfair car parking fines.

In one notable case, a motorist from Brighton who works for Phyron, a Swedish company which produces videos for motor trade dealerships, successfully used an AI tool called ChatGPT to reduce a fine he received from Gatwick Airport.

The motorist utilized the airport’s designated drop-off zone, which charges £5 for a maximum of 10 minutes, with an additional £1 per minute for exceeding the time limit (up to 20 minutes). The motorist managed to reduce the fine by £85 with the aid of the AI tool.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), part of the motor trade industry, recently conducted an analysis revealing a 24% increase in parking tickets issued by private companies in Britain during the second half of 2022.

A record-breaking 5.7 million tickets were issued to drivers between July and December of last year, averaging 31,000 per day.

This marks a significant increase from the 4.6 million tickets issued in 2021, parking tickets should not impact the cost of your private or motor trade insurance policy premiums.

Private parking companies have faced persistent accusations of taking advantage of drivers through misleading and confusing signage.

The implementation of the Private Parking Code of Practice, which aimed to cap fines at £50, has been temporarily halted pending a review of charges and additional fees.

The legal challenge against the code has caused delays in its implementation, which was initially planned for this year.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokeswoman said: “We are determined to create a new private parking code of practice which will bring in a fairer system with motorists’ interests at its heart.

“We’re working with industry and consumer groups to introduce the code as quickly as possible.”