Last Updated: 21 Feb 2024
London Heathrow, the most searched-for airport on Reward Flight Finder, has announced that it is “exploring” plans to charge cars £5 for dropping off passengers at its departure forecourts. The current proposal suggests that the charge may also apply to some taxis, potentially bumping up fares for those using private hire vehicles too.
Emergency vehicles and blue badge holders will be exempt from the charges, Heathrow is considering further exemptions too, but the full list hasn’t yet been finalised.
The new charge has been dubbed by Heathrow bosses as the “Forecourt Access Charge” or FAC, an abbreviation which has provoked some mirth, among individuals familiar with the local vernacular. If the FAC proposals are implemented, the fee would come into force during the last three months of 2021.
The airport’s press release claims that the charge is being considered to, “Prevent a car-led COVID-19 recovery”. Sceptics have suggested that it may have more to do with the reported £1.5 billion loss the airport incurred in 2020, as a result of an 80% drop in outbound air travel from the UK, during the coronavirus pandemic.
In fairness to the airport, Heathrow has admitted that the FAC proposal is not completely unrelated to their financial situation. The coronavirus context is one that no business could have budgeted for. Heathrow Director of Surface Access Tony Caccavone said:
“The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been severe, especially on the aviation industry with Heathrow passenger numbers down over 80% and the business losing £5m a day. These changes will help us to protect the business financially and save jobs in the short term, whilst also allowing us to stay on track for our long-term goals of providing safe, sustainable and affordable transport options into the future.”
Controversially, the FAC also replaces plans for a Heathrow Low Emissions Zone, an initiative which had more defined environmental benefits. LHR has also ended the Heathrow Airport management say they are considering other new initiatives, to reduce vehicle emissions, but these have yet to be announced.
Heathrow says that it is “consulting with stakeholders” about the proposed forecourt access charge. Nonetheless, it seems almost certain that a charge will come into force, given the financial context but also because Heathrow is actually one of the few large UK airports which doesn’t already levy such a fee. Eight out of the ten largest UK airports already charge cars for dropping off, including Manchester, Stansted and Birmingham. East Midlands Airport has hit the headlines a few times for what many consider to be overzealous enforcement of its access charges. The Heathrow announcement also comes just two months after Gatwick Airport announced its own £5 “kiss and fly” charge would come into effect in 2021.
Whilst the new drop-off fee seems inevitable, Reward Flight Finder has a few tips for travellers that should see them reduce the cost of taking a car to Heathrow. Firstly, the airport has said it will still allow free passenger drop-offs at its long-stay car parks, from where passengers can get a complimentary shuttle bus to the terminal.
If you are taking a British Airways or Oneworld flight from Heathrow Terminal 5, at the time of writing, the Sofitel Hotel, on Wentworth Drive, gives drivers 20 minutes of free drop-off time and is connected directly to the terminal. The London Underground Piccadilly Line serves Heathrow Airport and whilst drop-off isn’t always easy at the stations immediately preceding Heathrow, you can easily drop off passengers around the corner from Boston Manor station, which is a short tube ride from Heathrow, costing £2.90 with an Oyster card or using contactless payment.
For many the most convenient option will be to use a Heathrow short-stay car park. Currently, the charge for 29 minutes of parking in a short-stay bay is £4.90, so it will be interesting to see how this price changes in relation to drop-off charges next year.
For stays of over two hours, you can book car parking in advance, on the official Heathrow Parking website. Charges are lower than arriving on the day, plus if you open a Heathrow Rewards account, you get points too. Once you have built up sufficient Heathrow Rewards Points, you can convert them to Avios, via a transfer to your British Airways Executive Club Account.
Of course, London Heathrow is also well-served by public transport. The Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes from Paddington in central London and also allows you to collect Heathrow Rewards points. As mentioned, the Piccadilly Line, on the London Underground, is a cheaper alternative, though slower and it can be crowded at peak times. Don’t forget to pay using your contactless American Express card, if you have one, to get cheaper fares and earn points too. If you are travelling from further afield, Reading, Guildford and Woking railway stations all have frequent, affordable, rail-air coach link connections to Heathrow.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the main UK hub for both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic international flights.
Nothing here should be construed as financial advice, and it is your own responsibility to ensure that any product is right for your circumstances. You should seek separate specialist advice if unsure. Opinions are based primarily on the ability to earn Avios points. Reward Flight Finder discusses products offered by lenders but is not a lender itself.