Parking at Gatwick Airport

[Becksagogo]

Hello all. Im sorry if this is a bit off piste but I felt it may be handy for you to know if you don't already.

My sister and I are travelling from Gatwick to Lanzarote next month and as usual I have arranged for assistance at both Gatwick and Aracife Airports.

However, I have just been informed that if you want to drop someone off or collect them from outside the terminals at Gatwick, there is now a £5 charge for each visit.

If you are a Blue Badge Holder, the charge is wavered however you will have to book in advance.

If the car is not the one that your blue badge is usually in, that's fine. Just register the registration number of the car 🚗 that you are travelling in.

I hope this is of some use to you.

[Hidden]

Good advice, thank you..

[Becksagogo in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome.

[Qualipop]

I read that most airports have started charging for drop offs so do check wherever you are going.

[Thanksnhs]

I never new that, do you know what happens if you are arriving by taxi, Glasgow airport is £4.50 at the drop off/ pick up point char

[Becksagogo in reply to Thanksnhs]

I'm afraid I don't. I would hope that the taxi company would incorporate any charges into the fare that they charge you. Probably best to check when you book.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Becksagogo]

Thanks, I checked the airport's web site and it is not very clear about a private hire, airport taxis and if someone drops you off are free. I have emailed the airport to see what they say char

[Becksagogo in reply to Thanksnhs]

It seems that the rules at each airport are very different. For example it appears at Glasgow that Blue Badge holders can't drop off outside the terminal, they have to use car park 2 but it is free for them. As you suggest, I would check with the airport and get the information straight from the horses mouth!

[Thanksnhs in reply to Becksagogo]

It is only buses and extortionate airport taxis that are allowed to stop outside the terminal building which seems a bit unfair. Hopefully they will get back to me soon char

[Becksagogo in reply to Thanksnhs]

I hope they get back to you. At least you are now aware and can make plans accordingly.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Becksagogo]

Yes and thanks for posting I never knew anything about it. Pity we can't get free parking 😅

[Hidden]

It’s not a flat £5 charge, it starts at £5 for up to 10 minutes, then it’s a pound per minute thereafter up to a maximum total stay of 30 minutes costing £25. It’s done through ANPR cameras, and you have to pay within 24 hours of having dropped off or there’s a £100 penalty issued. Heathrow has done the same thing. In some instances, it may actually be cheaper now to park in the short stay than use the drop off.

[Becksagogo in reply to Hidden]

I stand corrected Charlie G but the main point I wanted to get across was that these charges were being incurred but mainly so that if you are a fellow heartie with a Blue Badge, you don't have to pay if you book in advance.

[Bishop1]

Luton is £5 for drop off. Thanks for update about blue badge . Have a good Sunday

[Becksagogo in reply to Bishop1]

Thank you. You too.

[Alison_L]

Heathrow is also £5. And picking up is either a minimum £34, or free for 29 mins if you can persuade the people you're picking up to get the free shuttle bus to the long stay car park, and to text you when they land, when they get through customs and when they get off the bus (and at what stop!). I wait at Cobham Services for the first 2 texts. It's a 20 min drive from there to the long stay car park outside of peak M25 hours! Don't know about Blue Badge concessions at Heathrow or pick ups from Gatwick, but I'm sure I'll be called on for my taxi services again soon. Interesting about the blue badge, as the friend I usually taxi to Heathrow is a BB holder.

[Becksagogo in reply to Alison_L]

It may be worth investigating. I'm all for saving money! It appears that the Airports are following the NHS by charging us to park. A return taxi fare to Gatwick for me is the best part of £100 so driving 🚗 is the logical option.