Get you up to speed: Stansted Airport Introduces £28 Fee for Extended Drop-Offs
Stansted Airport has raised its drop-off fee to £10, following Gatwick’s example, amid growing concerns over increased travel costs for passengers.
Stansted Airport implemented a £10 drop-off fee, following Gatwick’s lead, prompting criticism from Which?, indicating growing traveller costs amid the holiday season.
Stansted Airport has implemented a new drop-off fee of £10, joining Gatwick in raising charges before the Easter holidays, citing congestion reduction as a motive.
What we know so far
Stansted Airport has increased its drop-off fee to £10, following a similar move by Gatwick, as the travel rush approaches for the Easter holidays. Longer stays will now cost £28, raising concerns among frequent users of the airport.
This decision follows City Airport’s introduction of its first drop-off fee in January and Gatwick’s record increase just before Christmas. The new charges have raised eyebrows among passengers who typically choose Stansted for its budget-friendly services, particularly with airlines like Ryanair.
A spokesperson for Stansted confirmed that the fees, in place since 2012, aim to encourage the use of public transport and reduce congestion around the airport. Consumer group Which? has labelled the move as “a fresh blow to travellers,” highlighting the growing trend of rising charges at UK airports. Alternatives for free drop-offs remain available at nearby areas, including the mid-stay car park.
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Stansted Airport now charges £28 for longer drop-offs | News UK
A second UK airport is now charging drivers £10 for a regular drop-off, while longer visits will cost £28.
Stansted Airport has followed in the footsteps of Gatwick and upped its drop-off fee to £10 before the Easter holidays.
All London airports are now charging for these short visits after City Airport announced its first-ever fee in January. Gatwick increased the fee to a record-high £10 just before Christmas.
From today, drivers to Stansted will have to dish out more after the fee went up by £3 from £7 – a decision that sparked disbelief among drivers who use the airport known for its budget-friendly flights with airlines like Ryanair.
One person joked: ‘When the drop off fee is half the price of the flight.’
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How much is the new Stansted drop-off fee?
A 15-minute stay will set you back £10, while any longer visits will cost £28 a pop.
Stansted said the charge has been in place since 2012 to encourage people to take public transport to the Essex travel hub.
A spokesperson told WTX: ‘This measure makes an important contribution to encouraging alternative, more sustainable transport options and reducing congestion on the airport and surrounding roads.
‘Express Set Down charges have been designed to tackle ‘kiss and fly’ journeys, which are the least sustainable way of accessing the airport, involving four car journeys per flight. Reducing the number of cars accessing the space immediately in front of the terminal also helps manage congestion in a capacity-restricted area.’
Consumer champion Which? labelled the move ‘a fresh blow to travellers, just in time for the Easter holidays.’
Naomi Leach, the Which? Travel deputy editor, said: ‘These rising fees, combined with strict time limits, will only pile on more stress, frustration and expense for passengers during an already uncertain time for travel.
‘Fortunately, there are alternative long-stay car parks where you can drop off free of charge at all major UK airports.’
Despite the incease, Gatwick’s drop-off fee is still the highest in London as £10 fee only gets you a 10-minute stay.
Where can you drop off passengers for free at Stansted?
If you are looking to avoid the payment, there are some ways to set down passengers for free, although it might require a bit of extra time.
For the free zone, head to the mid-stay car park instead, located at postcode CM24 1PZ.
It has a free shuttle service running 24/7 from the nearest bus stop, and the journey to the terminal takes 7 minutes.
Does Heathrow Airport have free drop-off areas?
The UK’s busiest airport does charge drivers for the pleasure of dropping someone off – £7 for a 10-minute stay.
If you are looking to avoid it, you can use any of the three Heathrow Park & Ride car parks instead.
A free shuttle bus connects them to the terminals every 15 minutes.
Here are the locations for your sat nav:
Terminal 2 & 3: Long Stay Terminal 2 & 3, Eastern Perimeter Road, TW6 2SB
Terminal 4: Long Stay Terminal 4, Scylla Road, Southern Perimeter Rd, TW6 3XL
Terminal 5: Long Stay Terminal 5, Northern Perimeter Road, TW6 2RL