Latest news with #kissandfly
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
How to avoid expensive drop-off charges at UK airports
Over half of airports in the UK have increased or introduced drop-off fees for drivers over the past year, new research has found. According to the RAC, 11 out of 20 UK airports have put up their so-called 'kiss and fly' charges – for people dropping off a passenger as close to a terminal as possible – since last summer. Some of Britain's busiest airports raised their charges by £1 – meaning it will now cost up to £7 just to drop someone off at the terminal doors. Other airports that did not previously have a charge have introduced one over the past year. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said this makes increases in fees at UK airports 'all the more depressing'. However, Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body AirportsUK, said fees were necessary to 'help airports manage and reduce congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for local communities, something that they are mandated to do by the government and local authorities'. Which are the most expensive airports? Nine airports raised their fees by £1 – Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle and Southampton – putting some of them in the most expensive category. Leeds Bradford and Glasgow both added 50p to their charges. Cardiff, which previously had no charge, introduced a £3 fee. Meanwhile Luton, which had no kiss-and-fly area last summer because of a car park fire, now charges £5. London City was the only UK airport analysed that allows free drop-offs outside its terminal. Drop-off charges for each airport, from most to least expensive: Bristol, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted: £7 Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Liverpool John Lennon: £6 Aberdeen: £5.50 Bournemouth, East Midlands, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle: £5 Belfast City: £4 Belfast International and Cardiff: £3 London City: £0 How to avoid expensive drop-off charges With prices upped for drop-offs, there are some handy tips to avoid paying high prices – or to avoid paying altogether. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis told Yahoo News UK that it is key to do your research – being prepared and knowing what fees to expect, how to pay and permitted waiting times can save you money or stop you being fined. Know how to pay You should make sure you know how to pay for your charges so that you avoid being fined. Dennis explained: 'An increasing number of airports no longer allow you to pay on site, instead demanding you pay online or by phone within 24 hours afterwards. Set a reminder to do this to avoid a fine.' Keep your goodbyes short Seeing someone off can be an emotional moment or simply a time with a fair bit of hugging and chatting. However, doing this at drop-offs – or if parked elsewhere – might cost you. Dennis said something as simple as a long goodbye 'can prove expensive if you go over the time limit'. Check your taxi fare includes a drop-off fee If you're booking a taxi to take you to the airport, check to see where it drops you off and whether the fare quoted includes the airport's fee, Dennis advised. Use free drop-off areas While it may not be as convenient as dropping off at the terminal, many UK airports have designated long or mid-stay car parks that offer limited free drop-off times. Gatwick, for example, has a free two-hour drop-off zone in its long stay but it will mean using a shuttle to get to the terminal. Park in short-stay car parks Some airports' short‑stay car parks are cheaper than using terminal drop‑off areas if you stay under 10–15 minutes. It may even be possible to avoid charges altogether by entering and exiting within the grace period but you should check before entry. Drop off outside airport perimeter According to MoneySavingExpert, some airports have places to stop or park nearby – such as local roads or retail parks – and walk to the airport terminal. However, you should check that the road is not inside the airport perimeter, as airports rigorously enforce no-stopping zones.
Sky News
17-07-2025
- Sky News
More than half of UK airports have hiked 'kiss and fly' drop-off fees - here's the full list
More than half of UK airports have introduced or increased their drop-off fees in the past year, RAC research has found. Eleven out of 20 major airports analysed were found to have increased their so-called "kiss and fly" charges. These are fees drivers have to pay when dropping off a passenger as close to the terminal as possible. Nine airports - Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle and Southampton - have raised their fees by £1. Leeds Bradford and Glasgow both added 50p to their charges. Cardiff, which previously had no charge, introduced a £3 fee, while Luton now charges £5. Here's a breakdown of what you have to pay to drop someone off at each airport: The RAC found there is no fee for dropping off at eight of the 10 busiest EU airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, and airports in Frankfurt and Madrid. London City is now the only top 20 UK airport that still offers drivers a free drop-off close to the terminal. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said this makes increases in fees at UK airports "all the more depressing". "The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight," he said. "The seemingly annual ritual of many airports hiking the cost of drop-offs is unfortunately continuing unabated. "Airports understandably need to manage the often-limited on-site space they have. We also know some still offer short stay free parking, but the problem is it's often well away from the terminal. "If a driver wants to help a passenger with mobility issues or a lot of bags get to the terminal, they'll often end up overstaying the 'free' period offered and getting charged. "The main reason drivers drop off at airports, according to our research, is to help people with bulky and often heavy luggage. This is understandable when the alternative to the car is often either a conventional bus, which can be impractical with lots of cases, or a costly taxi - with fares for the latter subject to the same drop-off fees that drivers need to pay." Karen Dee, chief executive of Airports UK, the industry body representing British airports, said: "All airports offer a free drop-off facility. They also have a wide variety of options to suit all passengers' needs, including premium drop-off in front of the terminal building for those who wish to use that. "Where fees are charged, this helps airports manage and reduce congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for local communities, something that they are mandated to do by the government and local authorities.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fury as airport drop-off charges cost MORE per minute than flight to Turkey - so are YOU paying through the nose?
More than half of UK airports raised or introduced drop-off fees for drivers in the past year - while most of the busiest EU airports still have no charge, a study has found. Eleven out of 20 UK airports have increased 'kiss and fly' charges - typically levied for dropping off a passenger as close to a terminal as possible - since last summer. Nine airports raised their fees by £1 - Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle and Southampton. Leeds Bradford and Glasgow both added 50p to their charges – while Cardiff introduced a £3 fee having previously had no charge, according to the RAC. Luton had no kiss and fly area last summer because of a car park fire, but now charges £5. Prices were frozen at Aberdeen, Belfast International, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Manchester and Stansted. London City was the only UK airport analysed which allows free drop-offs outside its terminal. On a cost-per-minute basis, the most expensive airports are Luton and Manchester, where drivers have to spend £5 to stop for just five minutes. These £1-per-minute drop-off rates mean the cost of a return flight from Manchester to Turkey in August is cheaper on a per-minute basis. This is based on a flight to Istanbul taking four hours and five minutes each way, with return tickets on a major carrier available for £415 return in economy, on August 9 to 23. Flying from Luton to Istanbul on the same dates costs £275 return and takes four hours and ten minutes each way. That makes the flight nearly double the price per minute of the five-minute drop off at Luton (55p versus £1). The RAC also found there is no fee for dropping off at eight of the ten busiest EU airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said this makes increases in fees at UK airports 'all the more depressing'. He went on: 'The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight.' Mr Dennis said the main reason passengers get dropped off at airports is because they have bulky luggage, which means taking public transport 'can be impractical'. He acknowledged that many UK airports offer free options for dropping passengers off in car parks which require a walk or bus ride to the terminal. But he claimed these areas are 'often well away from the terminal' and drivers wanting to help a passenger get to the terminal will 'often end up overstaying the free period'. Mr Dennis also expressed concern over the growing trend of airports replacing on-site payment with a barrierless system requiring payment to be made online or by phone. 'Anyone who doesn't notice the change or simply forgets to pay will inevitably be stung with a very unwelcome parking charge notice,' he added. Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body AirportsUK, said: 'All airports offer a free drop-off facility. 'They also have a wide variety of options to suit all passengers' needs, including premium drop-off in front of the terminal building for those who wish to use that. 'Where fees are charged, this helps airports manage and reduce congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for local communities, something that they are mandated to do by the Government and local authorities. 'These charges are a part of the airport business model and help enable the provision of the widest variety of flights from the airport.' The top 20 airports were selected based on total passenger numbers reported to the Civil Aviation Authority for 2024 – with the figures based on nearest drop-off points to terminal buildings.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- The Sun
Huge blow to Brit drivers as more than half of Britain's busiest airports hike ‘kiss & fly' parking fees
UK MOTORISTS are being slapped with price increases as more than half of Britain's busiest airports have hiked their kiss-and-fly parking fees. Out of the 20 most popular airport, 11 have upped their drop-off prices since last summer, according to car service agency RAC. 4 4 4 4 The worst offenders now charge as much as £7 for a stop that could last less than ten minutes. These hefty drop-off charges are found at Gatwick airport, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted, which handle millions of passengers every day. Rod Dennis from the RAC blasted the charges, saying: '£7 for a stop that could be no more than 10 minutes does seem a little steep. "And the fact that these costs keep going up year after year is going to be a huge source of frustration for anyone dropping off a friend or loved one this summer.' Pulling up and waving someone off could cost you £7, but some airports, including Luton or Manchester, charge a fiver for five minutes. Heathrow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool have also all bumped up their kiss-and-fly rates by £1. Cardiff Airport was previously free but has now slapped a £3 fee for 10 minutes on drop-offs for the first time. The RAC branded the move a "cash grab", with experts saying UK airports are 'taking advantage' of drivers who have little choice but to cough up. In other airports in Europe, nine of the ten busiest airports don't charge a penny for drop-offs. Airports like Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle allow you to drop loved ones off for free while only Amsterdam Schiphol only charges £2.17. Travel chaos as TWO flights have mid-air emergencies within A MINUTE at major UK airport Some UK airports claim there are free park-and-ride options further away but many argue it's unrealistic for many passengers. Holidaymakers with lots of luggage or mobility issues may struggle using drop-off spots further away. Karen Dee from Airports UK tried to defend the charges, saying they help reduce 'congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution' and that they're 'mandated' by local authorities. She also argued the money supports 'a wide variety of flights'. But many stunned drivers are taking to social media to express their disbelief. One wrote: 'I collected my daughter's friend at Luton airport, dropped her off on their holiday at Stansted, collected them back at Stansted and finally back to Luton - £24 in total for about 20 minutes." Another fumed: "It's daylight robbery, you're penalised for doing a good deed." Gatwick said the charge helps cut congestion and funds green transport projects. Blue Badge holders are still exempt at Gatwick, Belfast and Southampton, but many feel the rising costs are simply punishing people for saying goodbye. Southampton insisted fees were reinvested into the airport to secure 'new routes for the region'.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- The Independent
Most UK airports raise drop-off fees while many major EU hubs have no charge
More than half of UK airports raised or introduced drop-off fees for drivers in the past year, while most of the busiest EU airports still have no charge, according to new research. Eleven out of 20 UK airports analysed by the RAC have increased so-called 'kiss and fly' charges – which are typically levied for dropping off a passenger as close to a terminal as possible – since last summer. The nine airports which raised their fees by £1 are Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, Newcastle and Southampton. Leeds Bradford and Glasgow both added 50p to their charges. Cardiff, which previously had no charge, introduced a £3 fee. Luton had no kiss and fly area last summer because of a car park fire, but now charges £5. The RAC found there is no fee for dropping off at eight of the 10 busiest EU airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and Madrid airports. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said this makes increases in fees at UK airports 'all the more depressing'. He went on: 'The sky really does seem to be the limit when it comes to the amount drivers get charged for making the briefest of stops to let friends or loved ones out to catch a flight.' Mr Dennis said the main reason passengers get dropped off at airports is because they have bulky luggage, which means taking public transport 'can be impractical'. He acknowledged that many UK airports offer free options for dropping passengers off in car parks which require a walk or bus ride to the terminal. But he claimed these areas are 'often well away from the terminal' and drivers wanting to help a passenger get to the terminal will 'often end up overstaying the free period'. Mr Dennis also expressed concern over the growing trend of airports replacing on-site payment with a barrierless system requiring payment to be made online or by phone. 'Anyone who doesn't notice the change or simply forgets to pay will inevitably be stung with a very unwelcome parking charge notice,' he added. London City was the only UK airport analysed which allows free drop-offs outside its terminal. Prices were frozen at Aberdeen, Belfast International, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Manchester and Stansted. Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body AirportsUK, said: 'All airports offer a free drop-off facility. They also have a wide variety of options to suit all passengers' needs, including premium drop-off in front of the terminal building for those who wish to use that. 'Where fees are charged, this helps airports manage and reduce congestion, noise, carbon emissions and air pollution for local communities, something that they are mandated to do by the Government and local authorities. 'These charges are a part of the airport business model and help enable the provision of the widest variety of flights from the airport.' – Here is a breakdown of charges for each airport: £7: Bristol, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted. £6: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Liverpool John Lennon. £5.50: Aberdeen. £5: Bournemouth, East Midlands, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle. £4: Belfast City. £3: Belfast International and Cardiff. £0: London City.
