Camilla Tominey has sparked debate over rising airport drop-off charges, calling the latest increases “daylight robbery” and insisting the system adds stress rather than progress for travellers.
The GB News presenter described her frustration after a recent trip to Heathrow, where the terminal drop-off fee had risen to £7.
She highlighted the challenges faced by drivers in Greater London, where driving is often the quickest and most practical way to reach the UK’s busiest airport.
“We are lucky enough to live a 30-minute drive from Heathrow,” she wrote. “And yet, the airport insists we pay more just to drop someone off for a few minutes. To suggest public transport as the only alternative adds time and stress.”
Camilla Tominey let loose against one of the country’s busiest airports
|
GB NEWSCamilla noted that the rise from £6 last year to £7 this January represents a 40 per cent increase in just a few years.
Heathrow also enforces a 10-minute maximum stay in drop-off zones and requires online payment, making it easy for drivers to forget and incur fines up to £80, reduced to £40 if settled within two weeks. Cash payments are not accepted.
The airport defended the charge as part of a “sustainability strategy” and said park-and-ride options are available for free drop-offs.
“Free airport drop-offs are becoming a rare courtesy,” Camilla wrote in her column for The Times.
Driving is often the quickest and most practical way to reach the UK’s busiest airport
|
PA
“The airport presents this as progress, but it’s really just a licence to charge more and add stress for families and business travellers alike.”
Fans of the presenter and writer were quick to share their thoughts on X.
One person penned: “It is nothing other than a tax on travellers. Even the taxi drivers are annoyed by it – it pushes up their prices too.”
Another said: “I believe we live not far from you and always use Heathrow when we can. This increase to £7 is appalling! We are literally there for 5 mins. We have to use Luton in May as BA don’t fly direct to Porto. That’s £7 too and not as easy a drop off. Where is this money going?”
“Removing the option of paying at the drop off instead having to pay online should be collecting a quite significant amounts in penalties as well. I forgot to pay online at least twice within the last two years. Emotions are high at the airports; it is easy to forget to pay,” a third added.
Someone else called the pay increase “daylight robbery.”
However, not everyone sided with Camilla, hitting back at her claim on X that dropping off her husband at Heathrow “shouldn’t be this expensive”.
“It isn’t,” one viewer wrote. “You pamper him. The Flightline 102 bus, operated by Carousel Buses, runs directly from High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport with key stops en route. The journey takes approximately 1 hour, with single fares typically costing £3 or less and returns under £6.”
Camilla Tominey hit out at the price rise
|
GB NEWSAnother said: “Get around it by dropping him off at Business parking & he can get the free bus or pod in.”
“Use the train!” demanded another.
The Times article also compared Heathrow’s fees with those of other UK airports, noting that Gatwick now charges £10 for up to 10 minutes, London City £8 for five minutes, and Manchester £5 for five minutes.
Only a handful of airports, including Exeter and Inverness, still allow free short-term drop-offs.
Camilla concluded that the fees fail to deliver any real benefit. “This isn’t progress,” she wrote.
“It simply adds another layer of cost and inconvenience to an already stressful experience for drivers and passengers alike.”