Stansted airport free set down area

This is a helpful blog post to explain Stansted airport free set down area.

Back in 2015 it was still possible to be dropped off at Stansted airport’s departure entrance, this has now since changed.

In 2015 a barrier was introduced by the drop off zone close to Stansted Airports departure gate’s.

Its since increased from £2 the introduction price to £2.50 and since April 2016 its gone up once more to £3.

You think this would be the end of it, but its not that easy. This fee entitles you to 10 minute entry in the drop off zone. No more, no less.

Avoid a hefty £50 charge

(It used to be easier to fly from London Stansted)

If you happen to bump into traffic at the exit gate and go over your 10 minutes allocation you will be subject to a £50 charge.

Some readers have reported paying up to £50 as some drivers struggle to leave on time and hold up a traffic jam causing more cars to run into the same problem.

This was my reasons for first writing about this horrible fee as it’s simply unfair to the driver. Whilst you go off and enjoy your holiday your friend or family member who offered kindly to drop you off gets stuck into this trap!

Stansted airport free set down area

(Please read this section carefully to help avoid this horrible situation from happening. )

Be a good person and help plan in advance what to do and help who is dropping you off not to land into the same problem as many other people have in the past.

First of all please add an additional 30 minutes to your travel time to Stansted airport. This method is a free one, but requires more time.

If you are in a rush, your only choice is to fork out the high fee and be dropped off in the drop off zone. You have been warned.

The above method is the only method without being fined, landing in trouble or having to pay the overpriced drop off fee.

Stansted airport has a free set down area located in the Mid-stay car park.

How the free Stansted airport set down area works

(Simply follow the signs to the “Free set down” area. )

Here you will find a free bus transfer that will take you to the departure gates.

They run every 10 minutes and will take around 5 minutes journey time.

You can stay in this zone for free up to 1 hour.

For an additional £1 you can stay for 2 hours.

Now that’s a lot better than possibly landing yourself into a £50 charge!

This method works for pick up too

This method works for both pick up and drop off.

A short walk away from the Mid-stay car park you can find a Mc Donalds so you can grab a coffee whilst you wait or grab the free bus to the arrival terminal and wait there, many options without any shocking fees.

This is a recently introduce feature and this was the reason for writing an update post on the situation.

Still, many drivers are getting caught by this over priced drop off zone fee. Now you have a solution to the problem I hope this makes the situation a bit better.

Still, I will highlight that charging for drop off is purely unfair and the running over 10 minute situation is unfair if you get caught in a jam at the exit barrier.

Do’s and dont’s

(The free shuttle bus from the mid stay car park is a hassle but it’s the easiest solution to deal with this problem. )

Do not get dropped off at the Radisson hotel which was once advised. Since the introduction of the drop off fee the hotel has installed a fine system for non customers using the car park facilities.

Do not drop off by the barrier roundabout, CCTV cameras are located around these areas and they are marked with double yellow lines, it is against the law to drop off here.

Do not walk up to the barriers by foot and into the departure zone its clearly sign posted that this is not allowed and you could cause trouble. Police are present around this area.

Thank you for reading

Thank you for reading my blog post all about Stansted airport free set down area, I hope you’ve found it useful and I hope this solves the situation for your next visit to Stansted airport.

Have you just been caught by the Drop off fee? Have you used the Mid-stay car park shuttle service? Let me know what you think in the comment section below. Thank you for reading and happy travels!