Airport drop-off charge under scrutiny

A Liverpool grandfather faces a £25 charge after an 18-second overstay at Manchester Airport, prompting questions about fairness and policy.

Grandad ends up with £25 bill after going to the loo at Manchester Airport

Eric Moffatt, 66, from Liverpool, dropped off his daughter and granddaughter at Terminal 2 in the early morning before their Dubai flight. After assisting with farewells, he walked to the terminal lavatory and then returned to the forecourt, where he left the airport. He later discovered an online charge of £25, saying his stay was within the 10-minute limit by the time stamp, though the receipt shows 10 minutes and 18 seconds in total. The charge reflects a new rule that allows 10 minutes for a £6.40 drop-off and applies £25 for any overstay, collected online rather than at exit. Moffatt attributes the overage to a health issue with his bladder and says the fine feels unfair for a brief, unavoidable delay.

The case highlights how small timing mistakes can trigger large penalties under airport pricing schemes built to curb congestion. Manchester Airport says the charges are meant to keep forecourts moving and available, yet travelers with medical needs or unfamiliar layouts can be caught by surprise. The existence of a free drop-off option at JetParks 1 provides a workaround, but it requires extra steps and time. This tension between efficiency and fairness could fuel public scrutiny of how these rules are communicated and enforced.

Highlights

Policy design often brushes up against real-life frictions in busy travel hubs