Calls are mounting for all UK airports to scrap drop-off charges for blue badge holders, as a leading disability charity and numerous travelers decry what they describe as a confusing and often unfair system. On August 24, 2025, Disabled Motoring UK, a prominent advocacy group, urged airports across the country to end the practice of charging disabled passengers for being dropped off close to terminals—a move that has sparked fresh debate about accessibility, equality, and the real cost of convenience.
The issue came to the fore after the BBC reported that more than half of the UK’s busiest airports had hiked their so-called “kiss-and-fly” drop-off fees to as much as £7, prompting a wave of complaints from blue badge holders. Many airports do offer discounts or waive fees for disabled drivers, but as blue badge holders have pointed out, the rules are anything but straightforward. The system, they argue, is riddled with inconsistencies and unnecessary complexity, leaving many unsure of their rights or saddled with unexpected costs.
Graham Footer, chief executive of Disabled Motoring UK, didn’t mince words in his criticism. According to the BBC, he said some airports have “allowed greed to cloud their judgement,” insisting that people with disabilities shouldn’t have to pay these charges at all. “Disabled customers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and not fleeced as soon as they arrive,” Footer told the broadcaster, capturing the frustration felt by many who rely on blue badges for accessible parking and drop-off privileges.
To get a clearer picture, the BBC reached out to the 20 busiest airports in the UK, asking each about their policies on drop-off charges for blue badge holders. The responses revealed a patchwork of approaches. London City Airport stands out for not charging any drop-off fees to any passengers, disabled or otherwise. Meanwhile, major hubs like Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Liverpool John Lennon, and Manchester do levy drop-off fees—but blue badge holders are exempt.
The situation is far less straightforward at other airports. Luton, Glasgow, Belfast International, Belfast City, East Midlands, Aberdeen, and Southampton all charge blue badge holders the same rate as other passengers for the closest drop-off spaces. However, they also offer separate free drop-off areas specifically for blue badge holders, though these are often farther from the terminal. There’s another wrinkle: at Glasgow and Aberdeen, this free drop-off is only available if the blue badge holder is being dropped off by family or friends, not by taxis.
For all passengers, including those with disabilities, every airport surveyed offers a free drop-off option further from the terminal, typically via “park and ride” facilities. These arrangements, while technically accessible, can be far less convenient—especially for those with mobility challenges or tight travel schedules.
Some airports have tried to strike a balance between accessibility and logistics. Bristol, Leeds Bradford, and Bournemouth all charge blue badge holders for drop-off but allow them to stay longer than other passengers at a reduced rate. For instance, Bristol charges £7 for 40 minutes, Leeds Bradford charges £7 for 60 minutes, and Bournemouth charges £5 for four hours, the latter explaining that disabled passengers “may require more time.”
But not all airports offer such concessions. Cardiff, Newcastle, and Stansted charge the same fees to all, with no discounts for blue badge holders—£3 for 10 minutes at Cardiff, £5 for 10 minutes at Newcastle, and a hefty £7 for 15 minutes at Stansted.
Airports UK, the industry body, defended the diversity of arrangements, telling the BBC that “no one option is ideal at all airports, so to optimise access at each airport the offer will necessarily be different.” They advised passengers to check airport websites before traveling to identify the best drop-off location for their needs—a suggestion that, while practical, does little to address the underlying complexity.
For many blue badge holders, the process of claiming exemptions is itself a barrier. Most airports that waive drop-off fees do so if the disabled driver presents their blue badge at the airport on the day. But at Heathrow and Liverpool, travelers must claim their exemption online or by phone either before or after their journey. Heathrow says its online process for confirming blue badges can take up to five days—though it usually takes 48 hours. Liverpool introduced online confirmation to “minimise abuse of the blue badge system.”
These requirements can be daunting, especially for those less comfortable with technology. James Williams, 67, from London, shared his frustration with the BBC: “I am a blue badge holder and I have to pay because I am not computer literate,” he said. “You have to jump through hoops to get this discount.” Another traveler, Jonathan Cassar, 51, added that the convoluted online registration means “disabled people who need to be dropped at terminal cannot be spontaneous as others can.” Heathrow, for its part, said it had tried to make the process “as simple as possible” and advised those needing urgent registration to call in for approval.
Not all blue badge holders are opposed to paying drop-off fees. Gordon Richardson, chair of the British Polio Fellowship Board and a blue badge holder himself, told the BBC he is “not against the principle” of disabled people paying the same as non-disabled people. For him, accessibility and ease of use are paramount. He encourages fellow blue badge holders to contact airports ahead of time so staff can be ready to help and ensure they receive any discounts or free parking to which they are entitled.
Airports, for their part, maintain that their policies have been drafted in consultation with disability groups and with special consideration for the needs of disabled passengers. Still, the lived experience of many travelers suggests that good intentions are not always translating into seamless journeys. The balance between security, revenue, and accessibility remains a delicate one.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: for many disabled travelers, the current system is too complicated, too inconsistent, and too often leaves them feeling like an afterthought. The call for a simpler, more humane approach is growing louder—and airports across the UK may soon have to answer.
