It seems there’s a bit of delay for the Heathrow drop-off charge system -with it now earmarked to start on the 1st of November instead of October.
Want to get dropped off in front of the terminal? Expect to pay – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The Terminal Drop-Off Charge is operated via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) – there are no barriers, and you will incur a charge once you enter the drop-off area. The charge is applied per drop off and not per day.
You will need to pay for it online – you cannot pay for it in the terminal. It is payable online, via an automated telephone service or autopsy. Business users will need to register too.
The charge will apply to:
- Private vehicles being dropping off passengers
- Private Hire vehicles
- Taxis (London Black Cab) in due course
- Rideshare vehicles (eg Uber, Ola, Bolt)
- Most vehicle traffic.
It will not apply to emergency vehicles, Roadside recovery vehicles, Two-wheeled motorbikes and buses or coaches or blue badge holders. For those of you using the drop off as a pick up 1) that’s naughty according to Heathrow, and 2) you should be parking in short stay and picking up your people. If you do decide to drive into the terminal area, expect a charge to land.
It will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you don’t pay, expect an £80 Parking Charge Notice (PCN), reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days to land on your doorstep.
What if you don’t want to pay?
Heathrow recommend you get dropped off at a Long-stay car park – where you have 30 minutes to say your goodbyes and take a shuttle to the terminal complex.
Taxi Drivers – be aware
Per Heathrow Airport
If you are a taxi (black cab) who is actively licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH), you will have a 100% discount. This discount will be applied automatically to taxis actively licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH) until 1st April 2022, allowing TfL time to conduct a public consultation and for any adjustment to meter charges to be made in accordance with statutory requirements.
This discount is only for a taxi (black cab) who is actively licensed with London Taxi and Private Hire (TPH), all other taxis (black cab) must pay the £5 Terminal Drop-Off Charge.
Private hire vehicles (PHVs) do not have a 100% discount from the Terminal Drop-Off Charge. PHV drivers and operators need to pay the Terminal Drop-Off Charge if they drop-off in the terminal drop-off zones.
Other options
Here are some non-Heathrow airport sanctioned solutions, that might reduce the cost (but increase the faff).
- Get dropped off at Hatton Cross or Hounslow West and Tube into Heathrow
- Get dropped off on Bath Road near a bus stop and bus to T2/3/5 from there
I’m sure some of you can be more creative if needed.
Recovering revenue
Whilst the move to introduce a dropoff charge does two things – it replaces the planned Ultra-Low Emissions Zone that was earmarked for the area.
It also gives the chance for the airport to fill its coffers after a bruising 18 months. That revenue will be useful to the airport that is sufferer thanks to reduced passenger numbers and the vanishing Duty-Free options.
The full details are at https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/terminal-drop-off-charge. If you’re planning to drop someone off, check before you go. Otherwise, you could have a nasty bill land on your doorstep…
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, featuring in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can follow me on Instagram too!
Also remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
DN: CB-09
Thank you for the Heathrow link at the bottom of the article. Things I learned from the link include:
1. Charge for drop offs and any entry into the drop off zone.
2. Not supposed to pick up people at the drop off. Pick ups supposed to be at the car parks.
3. quote from link
Free drop-offs will be available at the Long Stay terminal car parks, with a free bus transfer to the terminals. Follow road signs towards Remote drop-off and Long Stay.
4. Cannot pay at the airport. Pay online, automated telephone system or autopay.
Give it week and people will find ways to circumvent the charge.
So no more free picking up at Heathrow airport.
How is the 30 minutes free at long stay parking even logical? The bus takes usually 10 minutes each way to reach the terminal plus you usually wait at least few minutes at the bus stop. You usually spend at least 30 minutes just in travelling and waiting for the bus.
They should change the message on the website to “you cannot anymore pick up free of charge but you need to pay at least 8£ to Heathrow airport”. This would be more fair