HOLIDAYMAKERS blasted "blink and you'll be hit with a fee" as they warned of a hidden airport charge. Travellers were outraged after being caught out by new "ridiculous" airport drop-off fees across the UK. Passengers making "the briefest of stops" to hug their family and friends goodbye were slapped with £7 penalties.
Now major airports have hiked the hated charges, dubbed "kiss and fly" fees, sparking fierce backlash. Gatwick has risen the price by £1, making it £6 for visitors to stay for 10 minutes. The same cost increase was noticed at Edinburgh , which now charges £5 for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile Birmingham forces drop-off users to for out £5 for 15 minutes, after an extra £1 was added. Holidaymakers parking at the Bristol drop-off bays also have to pay £6 for 10 minutes, after the same increase. Elsewhere, Glasgow , Leeds Bradford and Aberdeen introduce 50p hikes.
Research by the RAC found Manchester Airport was the worst value for money, with travellers having to pay £5 for five minutes. The poll garnered responses from 1,841 drivers, 72% of which had driven to an airport to drop someone off in the last year. Heathrow , on the other hand, charged the same amount but for an unlimited stay.
The only free airport drop-off zones were Cardiff, Inverness and London City, as reported by Gloucestershire Live. It was found 37% of travellers interviewed as part of the RAC survey reported there was no other alternative than using the drop-off points due to a lack of public t.