It is easy to see why taxi drivers and other motorists feel they are being taken advantage of with pick-up and drop-off charges at airports.
They are delivering passengers who have spent hundreds or thousands of pounds on flights and holidays and are likely to spend more on food, drink, shops and duty free while at the airport. Meanwhile, the taxi or PHV driver who has dropped them off is being charged a minimum of £3 for spending less than five minutes outside the airport terminal. While this fee is included in the taxi fare, drivers who forget to pay face £100 fines.
Drop-off duty
While it is not a new concept, airports regularly put up the prices or change systems which can catch drivers out, as highlighted by PHTM.
It revealed that Heathrow, Britain’s busiest airport with 84 million passengers a year, charges £6 for drop-offs of up to 15 minutes. Gatwick, which has just less than half the footfall at 43 million, charges £7 for up to 10 minutes, £12 for 15 minutes, £17 for 20 minutes and £27 for half-an-hour.
The next busiest in terms of footfall is Manchester, with 31 million passengers a year. It charges £5 for 5 minutes, £6.20 for 10 minutes, then £25 for up to 30 minutes.
Southampton, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Southend and Stanstead have the highest initial drop-off charge, at £7 for 5 minutes.
The only airports not charging or drop-offs are Humberside, London City and Ronaldsway in the Isle of Man.
Disgusted
In Southampton, drivers told PHTM that the airport has raised the price to pick-up and drop-off passengers at its short-stay parking from £6 to £7 for 20 minutes.
Adrian Bridge, of Paragon Taxis, told PHTM: “I have a lot of international customers who are disgusted to see how much you have to pay just to drop people off.
“We have no control over it, they just seem to be increasing the price every year. I think it’s an unfair charge.
“We are bringing their customers to them, and we are having to pass on this charge.”
A spokesman said the money is reinvested into the airport.
Look for the signs
Meanwhile, taxi drivers in Manchester are being warned about changes to the system at the drop-off points that could catch drivers out.
While drivers are used to the £5 charge, Manchester Airport has now removed barriers at the pay stations, which means drivers do not stop at the exit and pay online afterwards. Failure to pay by midnight the following day leads to a £100 fine, reduced to £60 if paid in 14 days.
Cabbie Mike shared on TikTok that “the signs are there,” but they are “not that clear,” often positioned “on the side” rather than directly in view upon exit.
The airport’s website explains that the changes to the system have been introduced to avoid congestion.
However, the scheme has been catching drivers out, with a TikTok user telling Mike: “£100 I’ve just been done with it!! I had absolutely no idea about this new scheme e… 4am dropping off how the h**l am I gunna read these signs especially when I know nothing about it. I’ve challenged [it].”
Mike’s warning came just in time for another driver, who added: “Dropped someone off yesterday and just thought the barriers were broken! Thanks for the video, paid with 90 mins to spare.”
Drivers are understandably unhappy about the charges which they have to pass on to their passengers. While there are claims about reducing traffic and encouraging people to use public transport, the reality for most people is that getting to an airport with their luggage in the early hours of the morning is almost impossible, especially travelling with a family. Many have no choice but to arrive by car and are being charged extra for the privilege.
