A London Gatwick spokesperson said passengers can still be dropped off without charge at its long-stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
The West Sussex airport has “excellent” train and bus links, they added.
“The increase in the drop-off charge will… encourage greater use of public transport, helping limit the number of cars and reduce congestion at the entrance to our terminals,” the spokesperson said.
But Lisa Francesca Nand, who presents The Big Travel Podcast, said using public transport was not feasible for some.
Trains were “expensive” and often did not run services early enough to catch morning flights, she continued.
“It’s the principle,” Nand told BBC Radio Surrey. “That’s what people object to.”