Most of the airports in London area have introduced a fee to pay for dropping-off passengers near the terminals — Heathrow drop-off charge, Gatwick drop-off charge and Stansted drop-off charge, and Luton is no exception.

Learn how much is the Luton airport drop-off charge and how to pay it.

What is the Luton drop-off charge?

The Luton Airport drop-off charge is a £5 fee, valid for 10 minutes that applies to any car dropping off passengers at the dedicated Drop Off zone.

Staying for more than 10 minutes implies an additional £1 per minute.  

IMPORTANT: The drop-off charge operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without exception.  

How to pay the Luton drop-off charge?

You can pay the drop-off charge using your card at dedicated machines at the airport.  

IMPORTANT: You can’t pay Luton Airport’s drop-off charge with cash.  

This cost is automatically included in the trip payment supported by the passenger to cover the minimum expenses you have for the ride.  If you’re driving a car on a PCO car hire or a PCO rent to buy subscription plan, make sure to pay the drop-off charges on time and avoid a PCN administration surcharge from your car subscription provider. 

Are there cheaper options for dropping passengers off at Luton Airport?

Parking in Terminal Car Park 1 is cheaper if you need to stay more than 10 minutes. This car park is a 4-minute walk to the terminal building via a direct link footbridge. The minimum fee is £9.50 for up to 30 minutes stay. The prices increase depending on the length of stay. 

You can also drop passengers off at the Mid Stay Car Park, located 600 m from the Airport Terminal, for free, if you stay no longer than 15 minutes.

Can I get a discount for the Luton drop-off charge?

There is no discounted rate if you drop passengers off at the Drop Off zone. However, Terminal Car Park 1 offers EVs a discounted rate for drop-offs.  

IMPORTANT: If you drive a fully-electric car, you only have to pay a £1 fee for picking up or dropping off at Terminal Car Park 1.  

To get this discounted fee, you must take your parking ticket to the Priority Parking Office to validate it. This discount only applies to stays for 30 minutes or less in the dedicated electric vehicle spaces on level 2 of Terminal Car Park 1.  

Can I drop off passengers at Luton airport for free?

Yes. There are two free dropping-off options available: 

  • Mid Stay Car Park – located at a 10-minute walk to the terminal building, and you get 15 minutes of free drop-off 
  • Long Stay Car Park – you get one-hour free parking. Passengers can take a shuttle bus to the terminal building free of charge.

Do I need to pay the same charge for picking-up passengers?

Yes. The closest option for pick-up is the Drop-Off zone. There is a £5 fee for stays less than 10 minutes.  If you require more time for your pick-up, opt for Terminal Car Park 1, which offers EVs designated parking for just £1. 

There are also free parking options in the Mid Stay Car Park and Long Stay Car Park, located further away from the terminal building. 

About Splend

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