Luton Airport drop-off charge
£9 for 12 minutes. Here's how to pay it, what happens if you forget, and the free way to drop off or pick up at London Luton Airport.
When do I have to pay by?
We don't take payments. That link goes to the airport's own page.
The charge
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 minutes | £9.00 |
| Each minute after 12 minutes | £1.00 |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
The zone is cashless and barrier-free, with two entrances. Use postcode LU2 9QT and, on the roundabout before the tunnel, follow the Drop Off / Pick Up Zone signs rather than your sat nav.
How to pay Pay later, by midnight the day after
- Online only, through Luton's 'Pay for Drop Off / Pick Up Zone' page
- If you can't pay online, contact APCOA customer services
Forgot to pay?
If it's not paid by midnight the day after, London Luton Airport sends a Parking Charge to the registered keeper. Stay past 30 minutes and it's a £95 enforcement charge, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days. Luton's page doesn't state the charge for paying late.
You can still pay or appeal it: follow the instructions on the letter. APCOA customer services (linked from Luton's drop-off page).
Free drop-off and pick-up
Luton's Long Stay car park (postcode LU2 9NW) is free for up to 2 hours and £7 for 3 hours. Free shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes, from Bus Bay B outside the terminal.
Picking someone up at Luton
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 minutes | £9.00 |
| After 12 minutes | £1 per minute (max 30 minutes) |
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | Free |
| 3 hours | £7.00 |
Pick-up uses the same zone as drop-off. If you need longer than 30 minutes, Luton recommends the Long Stay car park.
Blue Badge holders and discounts
There are no Blue Badge concessions in the main Drop Off and Pick Up Zone. Blue Badge holders, and people with booked assistance, get 30 minutes free and reduced rates in Terminal Car Park 1 instead.
Where to go
Postcode LU2 9QT. Follow the Drop Off / Pick Up Zone signs on the roundabout before the tunnel.
Lift or park: which is cheaper?
Being dropped off and picked up means your driver does the trip twice each way: four journeys. This adds that up using Luton's own charges.
15p a mile is a starting point; change it to suit your car. Parking prices change by date, so get a quote from the airport's own parking site.
Questions
How much is the drop-off charge at Luton Airport?
£9 for 12 minutes in the Drop Off and Pick Up Zone, a 5-minute walk from the terminal. The zone is cashless and barrier-free, with two entrances. Use postcode LU2 9QT and, on the roundabout before the tunnel, follow the Drop Off / Pick Up Zone signs rather than your sat nav.
How do I pay the Luton drop-off charge?
Online only, through Luton's 'Pay for Drop Off / Pick Up Zone' page; If you can't pay online, contact APCOA customer services. You must pay by midnight the day after.
What happens if I forget to pay the Luton drop-off charge?
Stay past 30 minutes and it's a £95 enforcement charge, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days. Luton's page doesn't state the charge for paying late. It's sent to the registered keeper of the car.
Is there free drop-off at Luton Airport?
Luton's Long Stay car park (postcode LU2 9NW) is free for up to 2 hours and £7 for 3 hours. Free shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes, from Bus Bay B outside the terminal.
Do Blue Badge holders pay to drop off at Luton Airport?
There are no Blue Badge concessions in the main Drop Off and Pick Up Zone. Blue Badge holders, and people with booked assistance, get 30 minutes free and reduced rates in Terminal Car Park 1 instead.
Where do I pick someone up at Luton Airport?
Pick Up (and Drop Off) Zone (up to 12 minutes: £9.00). Pick-up uses the same zone as drop-off. If you need longer than 30 minutes, Luton recommends the Long Stay car park.
Sources
Checked on London Luton Airport's own website on 15 October 2026. Airports change these charges often, so check the signs on the day. Spotted a change? Email hello@airportdropoff.co.uk.