New Gatwick Airport Drop-Off charge £5

Westin

No better time in the world of airport PR than to quietly introduce and hide a new £5 drop-off/pick-up fee at Gatwick.
A £5 fee for up to 10 minute (£1 extra for each extra minute!) is being introduced from 8 March 2021.
https://www.gatwickairport.com/to-and-from/picking-up-dropping-off/

Some acknowledgement that the charge helps recover costs given the down turn in air travel at the moment, but we all know that post-covid that the charge won't be removed.  They also give the oh-so familiar corporate white wash excuse that they will be "Encouraging more sustainable journeys to the airport, the drop off charge will also help Gatwick achieve its sustainability targets, including to achieve 48% of journeys by public transport as well as deterring a car led recovery after the pandemic."   

Sandtree

Westin said:

Some acknowledgement that the charge helps recover costs given the down turn in air travel at the moment, but we all know that post-covid that the charge won't be removed. 

I assume your aware of how many years the £5 fee would need to be in place to recuperate the lost revenue from covid?  To help you with the maths their revenues are north of £800m

Westin

Thank you.
I was referencing GAL's comment on justification for the charge. Part loss of covid revenues and part environmental concerns.

getmore4less

That is going to please Premier inn and Sofitel inaccessible for free


The parking forum can start looking at bylaws etc that may apply as they do other airports.

twopenny

But how long does it take to get out of a car and the ultimate convenience?

I'd be delighted to pay £5 for a drop off as it takes me 6hrs by bus and train at considerably more + hotel to get there.

And if you don't like the price you could go by public transport like me

JGB1955

Bristol airport has had a similar charge for several years - currently £4 for 10 minutes.  Stansted is £7 for 15 minutes. 

eDicky

JGB1955 said:

Bristol airport has had a similar charge for several years - currently £4 for 10 minutes.  Stansted is £7 for 15 minutes. 

Do you know of any non-UK cities worldwide whose airports charge for dropping off a passenger by car..?

Alan_Bowen

You can still park in the long stay car park for free for 2 hours, it does mean getting the car park bus to and from the terminal rather than getting out of the car and into check-in, so no good if you or your driver are running late, but a good way to save £5. Be warned, if you go over the 2 hours, it is a minimum of £25, so no stopping to eat those delicious snacks available at double the High Street prices that are so popular in airports!

TELLIT01

Birmingham has charged for years.  You just need to make sure you get out within the permitted time for the £5 charge.  A couple of years ago my nephew got caught out.  His then fiancee called to say she was ready so he drove in to pick her up.  She finally appeared nearly an hour later landing him with a parking bill of about 50 quid.  Not only hadn't she even picked up her suitcase when she called, she and her mate decided to have a coffee before coming out!  He was not impressed.