Parked in lay-bys – the drivers determined to avoid airport drop-off fees

Amidst a trend of escalating charges at major transportation hubs, a notable number of drivers are adopting unconventional methods to circumvent rising airport drop-off fees across the United Kingdom. With more than fifty percent of the nation’s busiest airports having implemented increases to their ‘kiss-and-fly’ charges over the past year, motorists are increasingly exploring cost-saving alternatives. This surge in fees, applied for even brief stops at designated passenger drop-off zones, has prompted a visible shift in behavior. Rather than incurring these costs, a growing contingent of drivers are opting to utilize public lay-bys situated close to airport perimeters. This strategy allows them to drop off or pick up passengers without entering the chargeable zones, effectively avoiding the charges that have become a source of contention for many. The practice underscores a direct response by individuals seeking to mitigate the financial impact of what were once complimentary, or minimally charged, conveniences at airport access points.