Don't pay €140 to hug someone goodbye.

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Plan your drop-off

Airport

Trip type

Group size

Time of day

Luggage situation

Dublin Airport alternatives

Curbside fee: €2.90/min (max €140)

Ranked from cheapest to most expensive. Walking times are from the drop-off point to the terminal entrance.

Your notes

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Real scenarios

What this looks like in practice.

Dropping off Grandma at Dublin T1 on a bank holiday

Grandma uses a walker and has two suitcases. She's flying Ryanair to Stansted. You're driving from Naas. Bank holiday Monday means the express car park is full by 7 AM.

What to do: Use the Hoppa House area on St. Margaret's Road (free, 8-minute flat walk to T1 via covered path). Arrive 30 minutes earlier than normal. Text Grandma when you're 5 minutes out so she can meet you at the path entrance.

Early-morning international at Luton with three friends

Flight at 6:15 AM. Three friends, six suitcases total. You don't want to pay £5 for a 3-minute stop.

What to do: Drop at the Mid Stay car park and take the free shuttle (runs every 5 minutes from 4 AM). Total cost: £0 for drop-off. Walking from the shuttle drop is under 2 minutes to the terminal.

Wheelchair passenger at Melbourne Tullamarine T2

Your partner needs wheelchair assistance. You're not sure if the free accessible zone is the same as the paid curb.

What to do: Melbourne has a dedicated free accessible drop-off at the front of each terminal, clearly signed. It's separate from the paid zone. Call the airline 24 hours ahead so staff meet you at the curb.

Quick reference card

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Drop-off alternatives

Common mistakes

Wrong terminal entrance: Many airports have separate drop-off zones for each terminal. The fee applies at all of them. Check your airline's terminal before you drive.
Time-of-day pricing: Some airports charge more during peak hours. Glasgow charges £5 at the curb but the long-stay shuttle is free after 9 AM.
Ride-share surprise: Uber and Bolt usually pass the drop-off fee to the passenger. The fee shows up as a separate line item. Ask before you confirm the ride.
Construction detours: Airport road layouts change. A spot that was free last year might be a building site now. Check the airport's live traffic page the morning of your trip.
Oversized luggage: If you're dropping off surfboards, bikes, or musical instruments, the free kiss-and-walk zone might not work. You may need the cargo entrance, which is sometimes in a different location.

How drop-off fees differ from parking

Drop-off fees charge you to stop briefly at the terminal curb, usually for 5-10 minutes. Parking fees are for leaving your car in a lot for hours or days. Some airports charge both. A few airports (like Dublin) have a minimum charge that makes even a quick stop expensive. This guide focuses on avoiding the drop-off fee, not the parking fee, though some alternatives (like free car park shuttles) solve both problems.

Questions travelers ask

: Drop-off fees charge you for stopping briefly at the terminal curb, usually for 5-10 minutes. Parking fees are for leaving your car in a lot. Some airports charge both. This guide focuses on avoiding the drop-off fee, not the parking fee.
: Most airports provide free accessible drop-off at a separate entrance. Check the airport's website for the exact location. This guide flags where known, but accessibility info changes often.
: Sometimes. A few airports exempt ride-share vehicles or charge them less. Most treat ride-share the same as private cars. Check the airport's policy before assuming.
: Use the 'Share Plan' button to copy a link with your settings encoded in the URL. The departing traveler can open it on their phone and see which alternative you chose, where to meet, and any notes you added.
: Yes. Pick the closest listed airport as a starting point, then use the notes field to record your own alternatives. Your notes are saved in your browser and will persist across visits.
: Fee structures and walking routes change. We review the listed airports quarterly. If something looks wrong, add a note in the planner and check the airport's own website for the latest info.