Heathrow/Gatwick start charging a drop-off fee

Heathrow Airport is set to introduce a £5 charge for cars dropping off passengers from the first week in November. The airport will not be introducing barriers to implement the fee and instead the service will be operated via number plate recognition cameras. If you decide to park up to drop off a friend at the country’s busiest airport you’ll be in sticky waters if you don’t pay an £80 parking charge notice (PCN). This will be reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. The charge cannot be paid at an airport ticket machine or in the terminal drop-off zones.
The normal car parks will still be available which won’t require an extra fiver.
A free drop off option is also available at Heathrow’s long stay car parks. Here passengers can take a shuttle bus to the airport. UPDATE- Gatwick is also now charging a drop-off fee