While we used to worry about the cost of a duty-free gin, UK airports have now turned the humble terminal drop-off into a high-stakes race against the clock.
If you’re planning a lingering farewell at the kerbside, you’d better have a stopwatch in one hand and your contactless card in the other.
New research from Select Car Leasing has revealed that some kiss and fly zones now cost more per minute than a premium phone line or a high-end lawyer.
To find these figures, researchers analysed the 2026 pricing structures of the UK’s busiest airports, calculating the average cost-per-minute for a standard terminal drop-off.
By breaking down flat fees into sixty-second increments, the study exposed a staggering price gap between regional hubs and the most expensive gateways.
Whether you're the designated driver or the lucky traveller, here is the leader board of Britain’s most expensive terminal goodbyes, ranked by how much they'll bleed your wallet every sixty seconds.
1. Edinburgh Airport (£0.60 per minute)
Rounding out the top ten, Edinburgh charges £6.00 for a 10-minute stay. They offer a 50% discount for residents (certain postcodes only), so it’s worth checking if you qualify before you head to the barrier. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Liverpool John Lennon Airport (£0.60 per minute)
Liverpool also charges £6.00 for up to 10 minutes in its Express Drop-Off zone. If you have more time to spare, their Drop Off 2 car park remains free for 20 minutes and is only a 10-minute walk from the terminal. | Liverpool John Lennon Airport
3. London Luton Airport (£0.70 per minute)
Luton matches LBA and Heathrow with a £7.00 charge for 10 minutes. Like many others, it has moved to a cashless, barrier-free system, so make sure you have your phone ready to pay online before midnight the following day. | Olivia Preston
4. London Heathrow Airport (£0.70 per minute)
Heathrow’s drop-off fee rose to £7.00 per entry as of January 1, 2026. This is a flat fee for the terminal forecourt, and it now operates a barrierless system where you must pay online or via phone to avoid a £100 fine. | Jack Taylor
5. Leeds Bradford Airport (£0.70 per minute)
Leeds Bradford (LBA) sits in the middle of the expensive bracket, currently charging £7.00 for up to 10 minutes. However, savvy Leeds drivers can still use the One Hour Free Zone on Whitehouse Lane—it’s just a 3–4 minute walk from the terminal doors. | Tony Johnson
6. London Southend Airport (£0.80 per minute)
Southend rounds out the top five with a charge of £8.00 for ten minutes. While cheaper than the major London hubs for a very quick stop, it still represents a steep per-minute cost for a standard passenger drop. | Google