Planning a holiday escape should be a joyful experience, but the journey to the airport can often bring a last-minute sting. For travellers using London's Heathrow Airport, a significant change to drop-off rules is set to take effect as the new year begins, adding to the cost and requiring stricter timekeeping.
New Year, New Fees: The 2026 Changes Explained
From 1 January 2026, the cost for dropping off passengers directly outside Heathrow's terminals will rise to £7 per visit. This represents an increase of £1 from the 2025 rate and a £2 jump compared to 2024. The charge is applied every single time a vehicle enters any of the four terminal forecourt drop-off zones.
In a move that sets Heathrow apart from other major London airports, the permitted time for drop-offs will be drastically reduced. Drivers will have a maximum of just 10 minutes to say their goodbyes before incurring penalties. This is a stark contrast to airports like Gatwick and Stansted, where the drop-off window remains a more generous 30 minutes.
How to Pay and What Happens If You Don't
Heathrow has outlined three specific methods for paying the new £7 fee. Payments can be made:
- Online via the airport's payment portal.
- Through an automated telephone service.
- Automatically, if drivers set up an autopay account in advance.
Crucially, payment can only be made by card, and must be completed by midnight the day after the drop-off occurs. It is not possible to pay at a ticket machine or within the terminal drop-off zones themselves.
Failure to pay will result in a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) of £80. This penalty is reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days of issue.
Are There Any Free or Discounted Options?
For those looking to avoid the terminal forecourt charge, Heathrow continues to offer a free drop-off alternative. Passengers can be dropped off at the airport's Park & Ride car parks (formerly known as Long Stay), where a free bus transfer will take them to their terminal.
This free option is only valid for stays under 30 minutes. Drivers wishing to remain for up to the maximum two hours permitted will need to pay £9.40. Blue Badge holders are entitled to two hours of free parking in these car parks.
Rules for Picking Up Passengers
The airport maintains a strict separation between dropping off and picking up. Drivers are not permitted to pick up arriving passengers from the terminal forecourts. Instead, they must use the designated Short Stay car parks, located just minutes from the terminal doors.
Rates for short stays, paid at self-service machines, are as follows:
- 0 to 29 minutes: £7.50
- 30 to 44 minutes: £11.50
- 45 to 59 minutes: £14.50
- 1 to 2 hours: £18.50
These changes underscore a continued shift at major UK airports towards managing congestion and generating revenue from curbside access. Travellers and those seeing them off are advised to factor in the new higher cost and tight time limit when planning their journey to Heathrow in 2026.
