‘Charging £7 for someone to get out of a car at a drop off point is a joke’David Prince, Miles O’Leary Senior Content Editor and Bristol Live readers
10:46, 04 Aug 2025Updated 16:27, 04 Aug 2025
Bristol Airport following the opening of the new transport hub(Image: John Ford/submitted)
Bristol Airport frequent flyers have revealed a money-saving trick to avoid the car park charges when collecting or dropping off passengers.
The airport has recently launched its £60m transport interchange, boosting its bus and coach facilities whilst introducing a fresh ‘drop-off and pick-up’ zone situated above a multi-storey car park.
Holiday-makers using Bristol Airport during the summer break are being urged to note the “significant” modifications outside the terminal building, which were revealed a fortnight ago.
The airport outlined seven major alterations, affecting zones including the meet-and-greet area, the multi-storey car park and the short-stay parking section.
The updated arrangement will see motorists, along with bus, coach or shuttle passengers, accessing the terminal through a sheltered walkway, reports Bristol Live.
Improvements feature an expanded multi-storey car park, a relocated meet-and-greet service area, and a larger space for passenger collections and drop-offs.
The designated passenger collection point, which was formerly located in the short-stay car park, has been relocated to the transport interchange.
Furthermore, there’s a specially created area for minibuses and ‘over-height vehicles’ to collect and drop off travellers.
The £7 charge for 10 minutes remains the same as the previous drop-off area, which became cashless in May.
Whilst the charge isn’t new, some visitors still consider it excessive.
Responding to Bristol Live’s article about the airport’s new interchange, Sonic Bath commented: “Charging £7 for someone to get out of a car at a drop off point is a joke.”
Airmarshall chimed in: “I find it quite disgraceful that you have to pay £7 just to drop someone off. It usually takes me 3-4 minutes to drop off and for that privilege you have to pay £7. Come on Bristol make drop off free for say 10mins and after that charge.”
The cost escalates to £9 for 20 minutes, £13 for 40 minutes and a whopping £30 for an hour. The airport suggests its short-stay car park for longer waits, which is half the price at £15 for an hour.
However, there’s also an area known as the ‘Waiting Zone’, which offers up to one hour of free parking. BMushroom recommended this option, commenting on Bristol Live: “No one is forcing you to pay £7. Use the free drop off / pick off zone by the Silver Zone car park and bask in 60 (sixty) glorious minutes of free waiting.”
Thecookedsock concurred: “Free drop off exists just outside the airport on the roundabout entry. Quicker and easier than the Silver Zone car park drop off.”
BMushroom added: “Great to see that the free drop off/pick up point is still available for 60 (sixty) minutes, no matter how confusing it is for some people. Use the free drop off/pick up area by the [Silver] Zone car park then.”
The airport’s official website details: “Located close to Car Rental Centre, the Waiting Zone allows up to one hour free of charge parking for those waiting for a passenger, prior to collection from the Drop Off and Pick Up Car Park (charges apply).
“There is access to a frequent bus service to the transport interchange, which is short walk to the terminal building via covered bridge. Please follow pedestrian signage to the bus stop at the car rental centre.”
A user named Mictorveldrew suggested avoiding the use of cars entirely, stating: “Forget parking altogether! My last trip from BRS was £15 return for the week.
“Train from Highbridge and Burnham, then the A3 bus from Weston to the airport. Leaving the car at home doesn’t always work but compared with forking out up to £180 for a week’s parking it was a no brainer.”