Manchester Airport Drop-Off and Pick-Up Charges Explained
Dropping someone at Manchester Airport is no longer a quick stop at the kerb. Every car that enters the terminal forecourts now pays. On top of that, the charge rises the longer you stay. Below, we set out the current prices, how to pay, the free alternative and what happens when you book a chauffeur instead.
Prices checked on the Manchester Airport website on 10 November 2026. The airport can change its tariff at any time, so always check the official pick-up and drop-off page before you travel.
Which terminals are in use?
Manchester Airport now runs from two terminals. Terminal 2 handles almost every airline, while Terminal 3 serves Ryanair. Check your booking before you set off, because different roads lead to the two forecourts.
Drop-off charges at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3
Both terminals use the same forecourt prices:
| Time on the forecourt | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 minutes | £5.50 |
| Up to 10 minutes | £6.50 |
| Up to 30 minutes | £25 |
Thirty minutes is the maximum stay. For anything longer, the airport points drivers to its short stay car parks instead.
How to pay
There are no barriers or pay machines in the drop-off zones. Cameras read your number plate as you arrive and leave. You then pay online at pay.manchesterairport.co.uk or by phone on 03459 013318. Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit. The airport does not take cash.
Regular visitors can set up AutoPay so the airport charges each visit automatically. Bear in mind that it can take up to 10 hours for a visit to appear on the account.
What if you forget to pay?
Miss the deadline and the airport issues a £100 Parking Charge Notice. That falls to £60 if you pay within 14 days. The same £100 charge applies if you stop in a drop-off zone to collect someone, so never use the forecourt for pick-ups.
Collecting someone instead?
Pick-ups work differently from drop-offs. They have their own zone, a shorter time limit and their own charges. Never wait for a passenger in the drop-off zone, because the airport charges £100 to anyone who tries. Check the airport’s pick-up rules before you set off.
Is there a free drop-off at Manchester Airport?
Yes. JetParks 1 (postcode M90 5AZ) has a free drop-off area. From there, a free shuttle bus runs to the terminals around the clock. The journey takes about six minutes. Note that the shuttle runs one way only, from the car park to the terminal, so it suits drop-offs rather than collections.
Blue Badge holders can also use the Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 forecourts free of charge for drop-off only. Show your badge to the traffic marshals as you enter. This concession does not cover pick-ups.
Height limits and other rules
The lower forecourt at Terminal 2 has a height limit of 2.0 metres (6 feet 6 inches). Taller vans and minibuses should check the signs on approach.
How a chauffeur handles the charges
When you travel with MCR EXEC, airport parking is part of your quote. Your final invoice shows it as its own line, so business travellers and their finance teams can see what it covers.
Our airport charge is our own and differs from the forecourt prices above. For collections, your chauffeur parks in a short stay car park and meets you inside the terminal, so the charge reflects time in the car park rather than a few minutes at the kerb.
Up to the end of our 60 minutes of complimentary waiting, that charge stays fixed. If waiting runs past those 60 minutes, the parking charge may rise. We explain this when you book.
Meet and greet, not kerbside
Ours is a meet and greet service. Rather than circling the forecourt or waiting at the kerb like a rideshare car, your chauffeur parks in the short stay car park and comes into the terminal to meet you. They hold a digital name board in the arrivals hall at your terminal and confirm the exact meeting point on the day.
For drop-offs, we take you to the forecourt for your terminal. Ryanair passengers step out on the raised drop-off ramp that serves Terminal 3.
Why it matters for business travel
A delayed flight, a long passport queue or a lost bag can easily stretch a collection past the 15 minute limit at Express Pick Up. Meanwhile, a meet and greet chauffeur is already inside the terminal when you walk through, with no overstay charge to worry about. Consequently, travel bookers see airport parking as one clear line on the invoice instead of a fee that depends on how quickly arrivals clears.
You can book through our Manchester Airport chauffeur service. Arriving from overseas? Our guide to international arrivals at Manchester Airport covers what to expect after landing. You can also read how chauffeur waiting time works.
Frequently asked questions
How much is drop-off at Manchester Airport?
At both terminals, it costs £5.50 for up to 5 minutes, £6.50 for up to 10 minutes and £25 for up to 30 minutes (prices checked 10 November 2026).
How do I pay the Manchester Airport drop-off charge?
Pay online at pay.manchesterairport.co.uk or by phone on 03459 013318 by midnight the day after your visit. There are no machines in the drop-off zone.
What happens if I don’t pay?
The airport issues a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Is there free drop-off at Manchester Airport?
Yes, at JetParks 1 (M90 5AZ), with a free shuttle bus to the terminals that runs 24 hours a day.
Can I wait for a passenger in the drop-off zone?
No. The £100 charge applies to anyone collecting passengers there, because pick-ups have their own zone.
Is airport parking included in a chauffeur fare?
With MCR EXEC, yes. Airport parking is part of your quote and appears as its own line on your invoice. Since your chauffeur parks in a short stay car park and meets you inside, it differs from the forecourt prices. If waiting goes beyond the 60 complimentary minutes, the parking charge may rise.
