Rapid Drop-Off charges
Rapid Drop-Off costs £5 for up to 15 minutes, then £1 a minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Cameras log your visit, and you pay online or by phone.
| Time | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 minutes | £5 |
| Each minute after 15 | £1 |
| Around 20 minutes | About £10 |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
The barriers came out on 1 May 2025. Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit, and there is no cash option. Rapid Drop-Off is for dropping passengers off only, not for picking them up.
How drivers get fined
Late payment or overstaying 30 minutes brings a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 when paid within 14 days. Stopping on the red-route approach roads can bring a separate charge.
Nothing stops you at an exit barrier, so the charge is easy to forget. Pay the same day to be safe.
The airport's approach roads are no-stopping red routes. Wait in Long Stay 2 instead of pulling over.
Most fines at East Midlands come from these two mistakes rather than from the tariff itself. A reminder on your phone before you leave the airport avoids the first.
Picking someone up
Rapid Drop-Off is drop-off only. For collections, use Short Stay 1 at £6 for up to 30 minutes, or the free first hour at Long Stay 2.
Short Stay 1
£6 for up to 30 minutes, a short walk from arrivals. Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free.
Long Stay 2
The first 60 minutes are free. A 15–20 minute walk, or a free bus.
- Track the flight. Check the arrival time before you leave home.
- Wait for free at Long Stay 2. The first hour costs nothing. Collect a token at the entry barrier.
- Move when they land. Once your passenger has their bags, drive to Short Stay 1 for a quick paid pick-up, or meet them off the bus.
The free hour at Long Stay 2
Long Stay 2 is free for the first 60 minutes, then charges £1 a minute. Collect a token at the entry barrier.
Long Stay 2 closes over winter along with the other Long Stay and JetParks car parks. Check before relying on it. More on our East Midlands park and ride page.
Blue Badge drop-offs and pick-ups
Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free at Short Stay 1. Display your badge clearly on the dashboard.
For a passenger who needs help into the terminal, the airport's official meet and greet suits Blue Badge holders, with a 1 to 2-minute walk after handover. Contact the airport in advance for assistance inside the terminal.
Dropping off or parking for the trip
For a passenger flying alone, a drop-off costs £5. For your own trip, pre-booked parking avoids two drop-off journeys.
A lift to the airport and a pick-up on return means four journeys for the driver, plus the charges. Pre-booked parking for your own car can work out simpler, especially on longer trips.
| Operator | Car park | Type | Transfer | 8-day price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Official EMA Jet Park 1 On-Airport · Official |
Park & Ride | Free shuttle, about 12–15 min | £43.39 £5.42/day |
 |
Midlands Parking M&G (non-flex) Independent · Off-airport storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover at Short Stay 1 | £49.69 £6.21/day |
 |
Official EMA Short Stay 3 On-Airport · Official |
Park & Walk | Walk 1–5 min | £65.79 £8.22/day |
*Sample 8-day prices with our code, for 7–14 November 2026. Prices are subject to availability; search your dates above for live rates.
See every option on our East Midlands Airport parking hub.
Drop-off and pick-up in winter
Long Stay 2 closes over winter, so its free hour is not available for part of the year. Rapid Drop-Off and Short Stay 1 carry on as normal.
In the winter season, plan pick-ups around Short Stay 1. Its £6 charge covers up to 30 minutes, which is usually enough once your passenger is through arrivals. Track the flight and leave home later rather than arriving early and paying to wait.
Drop-offs work the same all year. Keep the stop under 15 minutes and pay the £5 the same day.
The rules in one place
Drop off at Rapid Drop-Off, pick up at Short Stay 1 or Long Stay 2, and never stop on the approach roads.
Rapid Drop-Off. £5 up to 15 minutes, then £1 a minute, 30 minutes maximum.
Short Stay 1, £6 up to 30 minutes, or Long Stay 2, free for the first hour.
30 minutes free at Short Stay 1.
No stopping on the approach roads at any time.
Pay Rapid Drop-Off by midnight the next day.
£100, cut to £60 when paid within 14 days.
What a drop-off really costs
A quick drop-off under 15 minutes costs £5. A slow one can cost £20 before the 30-minute limit, and overstaying brings a £100 charge.
| Time at Rapid Drop-Off | Charge |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | £5 |
| 15 minutes | £5 |
| 20 minutes | £10 |
| 25 minutes | £15 |
| 30 minutes | £20 |
| Over 30 minutes | £100 parking charge |
The per-minute charge after 15 minutes adds up quickly. Say your goodbyes in the car, unload fast, and drive off. For a longer farewell, Short Stay 1 at £6 for up to 30 minutes costs less than 20 minutes at Rapid Drop-Off.
Finding the drop-off zone
Leave the M1 at junction 24 from the north or 23A from the south, follow the A453 and the terminal signs, then the Rapid Drop-Off signs. Do not stop on the approach roads, which are red routes.
Rapid Drop-Off sits close to the terminal entrance. Drop your passengers, help with bags, and leave within 15 minutes to pay the minimum £5. The clock starts when the camera reads your plate on the way in.
Then the A453.
The terminal postcode.
No stopping on the approach roads.
How to pay the charge
Pay online or by phone by midnight the day after your visit. There are no barriers, no pay machines and no cash option at Rapid Drop-Off.
- Note the time. Cameras record when you enter and leave.
- Pay the same day. Use the airport's online payment or phone line, with your number plate.
- Keep the confirmation. It is your proof of payment if a notice is issued in error.
Missing the deadline is the most common reason for a fine at East Midlands. A reminder on your phone before you leave the airport avoids it.
Tips for a stress-free pick-up
Wait for free at Long Stay 2, track the flight, and move when your passenger has their bags.
Arrival times shift. Check before you set off.
Long Stay 2 is free for the first 60 minutes.
Short Stay 1 or the bus stop, decided in advance.
Long Stay 2 closes over winter.
In winter, when Long Stay 2 is closed, Short Stay 1 is the pick-up option. Its £6 covers up to 30 minutes, enough for most collections once the passenger is through arrivals.
More questions about drop-off and pick-up at East Midlands
Rapid Drop-Off costs £5 for up to 15 minutes, then £1 a minute, up to a 30-minute limit.
Online or by phone, by midnight the day after your visit. There are no barriers and no pay machines at Rapid Drop-Off.
A £100 parking charge is issued, reduced to £60 when paid within 14 days.
Rapid Drop-Off is for drop-offs only. Use Short Stay 1, at £6 for up to 30 minutes, or the free first hour at Long Stay 2.
Long Stay 2 gives the first 60 minutes free, then charges £1 a minute. It is a 15 to 20-minute walk or a free bus ride from the terminal.
No. Rapid Drop-Off is for drop-offs only. Use Short Stay 1 or the free hour at Long Stay 2 for pick-ups.
The charge starts at £5 for the first 15 minutes. We have not found a free grace period at Rapid Drop-Off.
Parking for your own trip instead? Search your dates above for live East Midlands prices, with our code already in the form.