London Airport Pick-up vs Drop-off Charges – What’s the Difference?

Airports are stressful enough without being caught out by surprise charges. If you’ve ever driven to one of London’s airports, you’ll know the confusion:

• Where do I pick someone up?
• Why is the drop-off zone charging me?
• Do I pay differently if I’m collecting passengers?
• What happens if I don’t pay at all?

The rules for pick-up vs drop-off at London airports are not always clear, and the charges vary between airports. Worse, many drivers are hit with penalty fines simply because they didn’t know how the system worked.

This complete guide breaks down the difference between airport pick-up and drop-off zones, how much they cost (estimated), how to pay, and how to avoid unnecessary fines. We’ll cover Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, and even Southend.

By the end, you’ll know exactly where to go, what to expect, and how to save money next time you’re dropping off or collecting passengers in London.

Pick-up vs Drop-off Charges: What’s the Difference?

At first glance, “pick-up” and “drop-off” sound similar — but airports treat them very differently.

• Drop-off zones are the lanes directly outside terminal doors, often called forecourts. They are designed for a quick stop only — you drive in, your passenger gets out, and you leave. These are almost always charged, and the fee is usually flat per entry. Stopping or waiting is not allowed.
• Pick-up zones are never at the terminal forecourts. Instead, passengers must be collected from short-stay car parks or designated waiting areas nearby. Why? Because forecourts are designed for flow, not waiting, and collecting passengers takes more time.

In short:

• Drop-off = quick, outside terminal, always paid.
• Pick-up = short stay car park, charged separately, with more flexibility in waiting time.

1. Heathrow Airport – Pick-up & Drop-off

As London’s busiest airport, Heathrow sees millions of drop-offs and pick-ups every year. To keep things moving, it has strict rules:

Drop-off at Heathrow

• The forecourts outside each terminal are pay-to-use zones.
• The estimated charge is around £5–£7 per entry.
• Payment is not made at the barrier. Instead, you pay online or by phone before midnight the next day.

Tip: Forgetting to pay triggers an automatic penalty fine, which can be many times higher than the charge itself.

Pick-up at Heathrow

• You cannot pick up passengers from the forecourt.
• Instead, use the Short Stay car parks, which are a short walk from the terminals. Expect to pay roughly £7–£10 for 30 minutes.
• A free alternative: the long-stay car parks offer about 30 minutes free, with shuttle buses to terminals.

2. Gatwick Airport – Pick-up & Drop-off

London Gatwick has slightly different rules, but the principle is the same.

Drop-off at Gatwick

• Both North and South Terminal forecourts charge a flat fee for around 10 minutes.
• Estimated cost: £5–£7 for the first 10 minutes, then additional charges for longer stays.
• Payment is online, by phone, or via an auto-pay account.

Pick-up at Gatwick

• Pick-ups must happen at the Short Stay car parks.
• Fees start from about £6–£8 for 30 minutes.
• Longer-term parking is available but gets expensive quickly.

Money-saving tip: Gatwick’s long-stay car parks allow free stays of up to a couple of hours, with shuttle buses to the terminals. This is ideal if you’re happy to wait a little longer.

3. Stansted Airport – Pick-up & Drop-off

Stansted has one of the priciest express drop-off zones in London.

Drop-off at Stansted

• The Express Set-Down zone is right outside the terminal.
• The estimated charge is around £7–£8 for 15 minutes.
• No cash or ticket machines — you pay online or by phone.

Pick-up at Stansted

• Passenger collection is not allowed in the Express Set-Down area.
• Instead, you must use the Short Stay car parks, which cost roughly £7–£9 for 30 minutes.
• A cheaper option: Stansted’s Mid Stay car park, which offers up to one hour free with a shuttle to the terminal.