The Most Inflated Airport Parking in the UK

Planning a trip this year? You might be interested to discover which UK airports inflate their parking prices during the peak summer season. In our recent analysis conducted on 18^th March, we compared the prices for a week-long parking period in April and July and ranked them based on which airports were more expensive in July. We also analysed price comparisons when booking directly with the airport and third-party platforms.

*Unless stated otherwise, all prices are found on the FHR website. Amounts are correct at the time of writing (18/03/24) and are subject to change.

Here are the most Inflated Airport Parking in the UK

15. Exeter Airport

Exeter Airport offers various Meet & Greet and On Airport parking options at affordable prices. It’s the least inflated airport parking option in the UK, with prices from April to July staying the same. Exeter Airport is not a major airport in the UK, so peak travel periods affect parking prices less. Interestingly, Meet & Greet is the cheapest option (starting at £73 for a week), while self-parking options are more expensive.

14. Heathrow Airport

The price of £80.99 for one week of parking does not change from April to July, so it’s a safe and reliable option. However, booking directly with the airport inflates the price drastically. At the time of writing, the same week period in April is £155.40 and increased by 13.77% (to £176.80) for the same period in July.

13. Aberdeen Airport

Book in advance for the best prices On Airport parking prices at Aberdeen Airport. For a week in April, the price (at the time of writing) is £59.99 – the price doesn’t budge in July, either. We had a look at how much it would cost to book directly with Aberdeen Airport. The prices for the same week periods in both months in April and July were at least £10 more than FHR’s prices.

12. Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport delivers on affordable parking, with the prices for On Airport and Park & Ride parking options starting at £57.99 and £44.99 respectively for a week in April. The On Airport price remains the same for a week in July, while Park & Ride increases to £46.99. It’s important to shop around, as we found prices for the same time period to be at least £10 higher on other sites.

11. Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport offers On Airport and Park & Ride parking options for passengers. The price only differs a little between April and July. However, the cheapest On Airport option is slightly more expensive in July than in April – from £76 to £79 on FHR. This is a small price difference, but that will increase as July gets closer, so it’s important to book in advance for affordable prices.

We found prices for the same time period for as high as £126, so be sure to check multiple booking platforms for the most cost-effective deals.

10. Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport offers budget-friendly parking for both Park & Ride and On Airport options. Prices don’t differ too much between April and July for airport parking, although you will get a slightly better price during off-peak periods. There is a wide range of parking options in Edinburgh, however, prices start at £36.99 for Park & Ride and £46.99 for On Airport parking for a week in April. Both prices increase by £2 to £3 for a week in July.

9. Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport offers passengers a wide range of parking choices, including several Meet & Greet, On Airport, and Park & Ride options. We saw no difference in the prices of Meet & Greet and On Airport options when comparing the months of April and July, but Park & Ride rates increased by at least £5 in July. However, Park & Ride is still the most affordable parking option at Manchester Airport.

8. Liverpool Airport

Opting for a Meet & Greet service at Liverpool Airport? Meet & Greet prices remained the same for April and July, while On Airport increased by at least £8 in July. We checked how much it would cost to book directly with Liverpool Airport for the same April and July period, and found that they were at least £10 more expensive than FHR.

7. Bristol Airport

For those flying out of Bristol Airport, there is a wide selection of parking options. Customers have the choice of several Meet & Greet, On Airport, and Park & Ride options. Park & Ride is the most affordable parking option at Bristol Airport – the weekly prices we compared for April and July were both £65. Meet & Greet prices also remained the same at £75. However, On Airport prices increased by £17.50 in July.

FHR customers can save over £100 on both Meet & Greet and On Airport parking options, which start at £220 and £183 respectively on other booking platforms.

6. Newcastle Airport

Find the most affordable Meet & Greet and On Airport parking options at Newcastle Airport during off-peak seasons. When comparing the prices in April and July, we found the amount to increase by at least £10 in July on FHR. This number increases when booking directly with Newcastle Airport.

5. East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport passengers have the choice of Meet & Greet, On Airport, and Park & Ride parking solutions. All options are more expensive in July than in April, so it is cheaper to travel during off-peak seasons.

4. Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport Park & Ride is considerably more expensive in July than in April. A week of Park & Ride parking in April starts from £84.99, compared to £118.99 in July. However, if you are going away in July, you can opt for On Airport parking for a slightly lower rate at £109.99.

3. Luton Airport

At Luton Airport, parking prices for Park & Ride options increase by over 150% in July in comparison to April – from £37.99 for a week to £97.99. If you’re choosing this option, bear in mind that July is a busy and pricier time to travel from Luton Airport. However, Meet & Greet prices started at £87.99 for both July and April.

2. Stansted Airport

Stansted Airport caters well to its passengers, with Meet & Greet, On Airport, and Park & Ride options on offer. Park & Ride prices remained the same in April and July, while Meet & Greet and On Airport parking options increased considerably in July. On Airport parking is a popular option with Stansted Airport passengers, leading to prices inflating by over £60.

1. Gatwick Airport

As one of the UK’s major airports, Gatwick sees significant price escalation during the peak summer period, contributing to an inflationary spiral. Meet & Greet and On Airport parking both increase by over 60% (from £75 to £125), while Park & Ride goes up by nearly £18. Those travelling during this period should bear in mind that parking prices will be higher and plan accordingly. We found prices differ on various booking platforms. Some prices are £70 to £125 more than what we found on FHR.

Our analysis of off-peak and peak pricing reveals how much airports inflate their prices in response to demand. We aim to provide up-to-date and important airport parking pricing information, making customers aware of how airports inflate their prices during peak season. For many, particularly families, travelling during off-peak season is not an option. Therefore, booking in advance is the best way to secure parking prices that are as affordable as possible. This analysis was conducted on 18th March, four months ahead of July, and the price increase is already significant. As the UK has officially entered a recession and with rising inflation, we know that holidays are expensive enough without forking out huge amounts for parking. We advise travellers to be price savvy, organised, and to shop around for the best prices.