Driving someone to Manchester Airport now costs £5.50 for five minutes at the drop-off zone, and the government has confirmed it will review drop-off charges across the UK. The RAC found that 16 of the 20 airports it assessed have raised or introduced “kiss and fly” fees in the past year, pushing the average up by a third to £7.

The scope of the review is not yet confirmed. It could cover affordability, accessibility, how airports use the revenue and public transport take-up. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The aviation minister has just this week committed to launch a review of drop-off charges at UK airports – because it is vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly. In the meantime, we hope airports exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives.”

The tariff applies at Terminals 2 and 3:

Up to 5 minutes: £5.50

Up to 10 minutes: £6.50

Up to 30 minutes (the maximum stay): £25

The five-minute fee rose from £5 last year, and the ten-minute fee from £6.40. Manchester Airport says its five-minute charge is lower than at any comparably sized UK airport, and that most airports don’t offer a five-minute option. It says most people take about three minutes to drop off.

You must pay online or by phone by 23:59 the day after your visit. Miss that, and you risk a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days. The zone is for drop-offs only, and picking someone up there can also attract a £100 charge.

Elsewhere, Gatwick and Stansted charge £10 (Gatwick for 10 minutes, Stansted for up to 15), while Heathrow charges £7. The RAC puts Edinburgh and Bristol at £8.50, and Leeds Bradford, London City and Bournemouth at £8. By the minute, Manchester’s short stay works out at £1.10, against £1.60 at London City and £1 at Gatwick.

Only four airports left their prices unchanged: Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands, Belfast City and Southampton. Before the pandemic, six of the airports the RAC assessed still offered free drop-off.

Manchester Airport offers a free drop-off at its JetParks car park. A shuttle bus runs every few minutes, 24 hours a day, and takes roughly five to six minutes to reach the terminal.

Standard users can stay up to 60 minutes. A £25 charge applies if you re-enter within 30 minutes or overstay beyond the hour, so keep it to a single, quick visit.

If you would rather not drive at all, taxi and private hire fares generally include the drop-off fee, so you won’t see a separate charge.