On August 24, 2025, a renewed call rang out across the United Kingdom: disability advocates are urging every UK airport to abolish drop-off charges for blue badge holders, arguing that the current patchwork of fees and exemptions is unfair, confusing, and sometimes even humiliating for disabled travelers. The debate, ignited by a series of reports from BBC, has brought to light just how inconsistent and, in some cases, burdensome these so-called "kiss-and-fly" charges have become—reaching as high as £7 at several of the nation’s busiest airports.
It’s a story that’s left many blue badge holders feeling frustrated and, at times, excluded. Graham Footer, chief executive of Disabled Motoring UK, didn’t mince words: "Disabled customers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and not fleeced as soon as they arrive," he told BBC. Footer’s organization, which campaigns for the rights of disabled drivers, accuses some airports of letting "greed cloud their judgement," insisting that people with disabilities should never have to pay to be dropped off near a terminal.
The BBC’s investigation into the 20 busiest UK airports revealed a dizzying array of policies, discounts, and exemptions—many of which are not only inconsistent but also difficult to navigate. London City Airport stands out as an exception, charging no drop-off fees to any passenger, disabled or otherwise. Meanwhile, airports like Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, and Manchester do impose drop-off fees, but blue badge holders are exempt—at least in theory.
But the story doesn’t end there. Luton, Glasgow, Belfast International, Belfast City, East Midlands, Aberdeen, and Southampton all charge blue badge holders the same as any other passenger for the closest drop-off spaces. However, they also offer separate free drop-off parking for blue badge holders—but these are typically farther from the terminal. In Glasgow and Aberdeen, the free parking is only available if the disabled person is dropped off by a family member or friend, not by a taxi. That caveat alone has left some travelers scratching their heads, wondering why the mode of arrival should matter.
For all passengers, not just those with disabilities, every airport offers some form of free drop-off further from the terminal—usually in the form of "park and ride" facilities where travelers leave their car and take a shuttle bus to the terminal. While this might be a minor inconvenience for most, for those with mobility limitations, it can be a significant barrier.
Then there are airports like Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Bournemouth, which do charge blue badge holders for drop-off but allow them to stay longer than other passengers at a reduced rate. Bristol’s fee is £7 for 40 minutes, Leeds Bradford charges £7 for 60 minutes, and Bournemouth charges £5 for a generous four hours—an acknowledgment, perhaps, that disabled travelers may simply need more time to get from car to check-in.
But some airports offer no concessions at all. Cardiff, Newcastle, and Stansted charge the same fee to everyone, with no discount for blue badge holders. Cardiff’s fee is £3 for 10 minutes, Newcastle’s is £5 for 10 minutes, and Stansted’s is £7 for just 15 minutes. For some, these amounts might seem trivial; for others, especially those making frequent trips or on fixed incomes, the costs add up quickly.
According to Airports UK, the industry group representing airport operators, there’s a reason for the variation. "No one option is ideal at all airports, so to optimise access at each airport the offer will necessarily be different," the group explained to BBC. They advise all passengers—especially those with special requirements—to check the airport’s website before traveling to identify the best drop-off location.
Yet, as many blue badge holders point out, the devil is in the details. Most airports that waive drop-off fees do so if the disabled driver shows their blue badge at the airport on the day. But at Heathrow and Liverpool, the process is more complicated: travelers must claim their exemption online or by phone, either before or after traveling. Heathrow’s process can take up to five days, though the airport says it usually completes the check within 48 hours.
For James Williams, a 67-year-old blue badge holder from London, these digital hurdles are more than just an annoyance—they’re a real barrier. "I am a blue badge holder and I have to pay because I am not computer literate," Williams told BBC. "You have to jump through hoops to get this discount." For others, like 51-year-old Jonathan Cassar, the complexity of online registration strips away the spontaneity that most travelers take for granted. Cassar lamented, "Disabled people who need to be dropped at terminal cannot be spontaneous as others can."
Heathrow has defended its process, saying it has tried to make registration "as simple as possible" and encourages anyone needing urgent registration to call for phone approval. Liverpool, for its part, said it introduced online confirmation "to minimise abuse of the blue badge system." The tension between preventing fraud and ensuring accessibility is clearly a delicate balance.
Not every blue badge holder is opposed to paying the same fees as non-disabled passengers. Gordon Richardson, chair of the British Polio Fellowship Board and a blue badge holder himself, told BBC he’s "not against the principle" of paying, so long as the spaces are accessible and easy to use. For Richardson, accessibility matters more than the price tag. He urges fellow badge holders to contact airports ahead of time so staff can be ready to help and ensure discounts or free parking are properly applied.
Behind the scenes, many airports say they have consulted with disability groups when drafting their blue badge policies, striving to balance the needs of disabled travelers with practical considerations like airport layout and the prevention of abuse. Still, as the outpouring of stories to the BBC shows, the current system leaves many feeling left out or unfairly penalized.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the issue of airport drop-off fees for blue badge holders is about more than just money. It’s about dignity, independence, and the right to travel with as little hassle as anyone else. Whether UK airports will heed the call for sweeping change remains to be seen, but for now, blue badge holders—and their advocates—are determined to keep the pressure on.
