Travellers jetting off from UK airports are facing steeper costs before they even reach the departure gate, with sharp increases in passenger drop-off charges adding to the financial burden of a holiday.
Soaring Airport Drop-Off Charges
Drivers at London Heathrow saw the fee for a ten-minute stop rise from £6 to £7 at the start of the year. The situation escalated further this week, as London Gatwick increased its own charge from £7 to £10 for the same short stay. This move now makes Gatwick the most expensive airport in the country for dropping off passengers.
These fees are just one part of a growing list of pre-flight expenses, which also includes airport transfers, luggage charges, and costly food and drink outlets, turning the start of a holiday into a potentially expensive venture.
Insider Tips to Trim Travel Costs
Fortunately, airport workers have shared their most effective strategies for cutting costs before boarding. One counterintuitive but highly effective tip is to pay for access to an airport lounge.
While an entry fee might seem like an extra cost, experts at travel firm eShores calculate that holidaymakers can save up to £10 per adult by using a lounge instead of buying items individually. For instance, pre-booked lounge access at Manchester Airport costs £40.99 per adult and includes food, unlimited hot and soft drinks, and a selection of alcoholic beverages.
More Savvy Pre-Flight Strategies
Airport staff advise joining loyalty schemes for your departure airport to earn points on spending, which can be redeemed on future purchases. They also caution against getting carried away in Duty-Free, noting that some recommended retail prices are marked up to make discounts seem better than they are.
Furthermore, miniature toiletries are often poor value. A smarter move is to buy full-sized products and decant them into reusable travel containers. Another simple hack is to bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it at a free water fountain inside the terminal, a move that could save up to £5 on expensive bottled drinks.
By employing these insider strategies, from lounge access to refillable bottles, travellers can start their holiday with more money in their pocket, despite the rising cost of simply getting to the airport.
