East Midlands Airport Drop-Off and Pick-Up Explained
Written and maintained by the minicabit editorial team.
Last updated 7/10/2026.
At a glance
- East Midlands Airport’s Rapid Drop-Off costs £5 for up to 15 minutes, followed by £1 for every additional minute. The maximum stay is 30 minutes.
- The Rapid Drop-Off is directly outside the terminal and operates using a barrierless Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.
- You must pay the Rapid Drop-Off charge by midnight the next day after your visit. Payment can be made online or by automated phone, while regular users can set up AutoPay.
- If the charge is not paid by the deadline, East Midlands Airport states that a £100 Parking Charge is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
- For pick-ups, Short Stay 1 costs £6 for up to 30 minutes and is designed for passengers who want to meet someone at the terminal.
- Long Stay 2 provides up to 60 minutes of free parking for both pick-up and drop-off. It is around a 15-20 minute walk from the terminal, with a free shuttle operating seasonally from April to September according to the airport’s current accessibility guidance.
- When you pre-book a fixed-price East Midlands Airport minicab through minicabit, the Private Hire Operator handles the airport drop-off charge within the quoted fare.
Dropping off or picking someone up at East Midlands Airport is relatively straightforward once you know which area to use. The airport has three main options: Rapid Drop-Off for a quick terminal-side drop-off, Short Stay 1 when you need more time or are collecting a passenger, and Long Stay 2 for a free pick-up or drop-off of up to an hour.
The main difference to be aware of is how the Rapid Drop-Off works. It is barrierless, so there is no ticket to collect and no payment machine at the exit. Your registration is recorded automatically and the parking charge needs to be paid afterwards.
If you are travelling by pre-booked minicab, the process is simpler still. A minicabit booking can take you directly to the airport’s designated drop-off area, with the applicable airport drop-off charge handled by the Private Hire Operator within the fixed price displayed at booking.
How the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge works
The quickest place to drop off at East Midlands Airport is the Rapid Drop-Off area directly outside the terminal.
The current East Midlands Airport drop-off charge is £5 for the first 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the charge increases by £1 for every additional minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes.
Since May 2025, the Rapid Drop-Off has operated without entry or exit payment barriers. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras record the vehicle registration when it uses the area, allowing drivers to continue their journey without stopping to pay at the airport.
The important part comes afterwards: the Rapid Drop-Off charge must be paid by 23:59 on the next day after your visit.
East Midlands Airport drop-off and pick-up options compared
| Option | Current charge | Time allowed | Getting to the terminal | Best suited to |
| Rapid Drop-Off | £5 for up to 15 minutes, then £1 per minute | Maximum 30 minutes | Directly outside the terminal | Quick drop-offs |
| Short Stay 1 | £6 up to 30 minutes; £8 up to 1 hour; £12 up to 2 hours; £16 up to 3 hours | Based on parking tariff | Short walk to the terminal | Pick-ups, meeting passengers or longer goodbyes |
| Long Stay 2 | Free for up to 60 minutes, then £1 per minute | First 60 minutes free | Around 15-20 minutes on foot; seasonal free shuttle | Free drop-off or pick-up |
| Short Stay 1 for Blue Badge holders | First 30 minutes free | 30-minute free period | Short walk to the terminal | Accessible pick-up and drop-off |
Source: East Midlands Airport Pick Up & Drop Off and Accessible Transport guidance, checked 7 October 2026.
Where is the East Midlands Airport Rapid Drop-Off?
The Rapid Drop-Off area is located immediately outside the airport terminal, alongside the Short Stay car park. East Midlands Airport directs drivers towards Short Stay and advises them to use the right-hand lane for the Rapid Drop-Off area.
East Midlands Airport has one passenger terminal, so there is no need to choose between different terminal drop-off areas. The airport postcode is DE74 2SA.
The Rapid Drop-Off is intended for dropping passengers off rather than waiting for an arriving flight. If you are collecting someone and may need to wait while they come through Arrivals, Short Stay 1 or Long Stay 2 is more appropriate.
Can you drop off at East Midlands Airport for free?
Yes. East Midlands Airport provides a free drop-off and pick-up option at Long Stay 2.
You can use Long Stay 2 for up to 60 minutes without paying a parking charge. After the free hour, the airport currently charges £1 for every additional minute.
The trade-off is distance from the terminal. East Midlands Airport describes Long Stay 2 as around a 15-20 minute walk away. Its current Accessible Transport guidance also states that a free shuttle bus operates between April and September.
If you are using Long Stay 2 outside those months, it is therefore worth checking the airport’s current shuttle arrangements before travelling.
For passengers carrying several bags or wanting a more direct arrival at Departures, the Rapid Drop-Off puts the vehicle much closer to the terminal. A pre-booked minicabit journey can use the designated airport drop-off area without the passenger needing to organise a separate parking payment.
How do you pick someone up at East Midlands Airport?
For most passenger pick-ups, East Midlands Airport recommends Short Stay 1. It is close to the terminal and allows you to park, walk inside and meet the arriving passenger rather than trying to time a collection through the Rapid Drop-Off area.
The current Short Stay 1 pick-up charges are:
- Up to 30 minutes: £6
- Up to 1 hour: £8
- Up to 2 hours: £12
- Up to 3 hours: £16.
Long Stay 2 is another option for East Midlands Airport pick-up. The first 60 minutes are free, making it useful where the passenger and driver are happy to allow more time between the terminal and car park.
If you have booked an airport pickup through minicabit, the service works differently. Airport pickups include Meet and Greet, with the driver waiting inside Arrivals with a name board. The driver tracks the passenger’s flight and, if it is delayed, arrives 30 minutes after the new landing time. Airport pickups also include 45 minutes of free waiting time.
How to pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge
The East Midlands Airport Rapid Drop-Off charge is not paid as you leave the drop-off area. Instead, the vehicle registration is recorded by ANPR and payment is made afterwards.
East Midlands Airport currently allows drivers to:
- Pay online through the airport’s Rapid Drop-Off payment portal.
- Pay using the automated telephone service on 03452 221517.
- Set up AutoPay in advance for future visits, so the relevant payment is automatically taken after each journey through Rapid Drop-Off.
You cannot pay the Rapid Drop-Off charge in cash or by cheque, and there are no payment barriers at the exit.
Most importantly, payment must be received by midnight on the next day after your visit.
East Midlands Airport also states that the charge cannot be paid in advance for an individual visit. You need to use the Rapid Drop-Off first and then pay for the recorded visit, unless you already have AutoPay set up.
What happens if you forget to pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
If you use the Rapid Drop-Off and do not pay by midnight the next day after your visit, East Midlands Airport states that a £100 Parking Charge will be issued to the registered vehicle holder.
That Parking Charge is reduced to £60 if it is paid within 14 days.
The airport’s Rapid Drop-Off terms also state that breaches can result in a Parking Charge of up to £100, with an additional debt-recovery fee of up to £70 potentially applying where an unpaid charge progresses to debt recovery.
For that reason, it makes sense to pay online soon after leaving East Midlands Airport rather than leaving it until the payment deadline.
Where the drop-off forms part of a pre-booked minicabit journey, the Private Hire Operator handles the airport drop-off charge within the fixed fare, so the passenger does not need to make a separate Rapid Drop-Off payment.
Blue Badge drop-off and pick-up at East Midlands Airport
Normal charges apply to Blue Badge holders using the Rapid Drop-Off area. Instead, East Midlands Airport provides dedicated concessions in Short Stay 1 and Long Stay 2.
Blue Badge holders can use Short Stay 1 free for up to 30 minutes. Clearly marked Blue Badge bays are available in the car park, and passengers can walk from Short Stay 1 to the terminal. Help points are available in the airport car parks if further assistance is required.
Long Stay 2 can also be used free for up to 60 minutes by Blue Badge holders, although that free hour is also available to other drivers using Long Stay 2 for pick-up or drop-off.
Passengers requiring additional assistance should check East Midlands Airport’s Assisted Travel information before arriving so the most appropriate drop-off or collection point can be planned.
Getting dropped off at East Midlands Airport with minicabit
Pre-booking a minicab can remove much of the car parking and drop-off administration from the airport journey.
With minicabit, passengers can instantly compare competitive, fixed quotes from 1,000+ licensed Private Hire Operators using the platform’s comparison technology. Standard, Executive and Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles are available as bookable vehicle tiers, and journeys can be pre-booked up to 12 months ahead.
For an East Midlands Airport drop-off, the Private Hire Operator handles the airport’s Rapid Drop-Off charge within the fixed fare displayed at booking. That means the passenger does not need to remember to visit the payment portal before midnight the following day. The live East Midlands Airport taxi page confirms this treatment of the charge.
Passengers flying from EMA can also use minicabit to compare and pre-book an East Midlands Airport taxi or arrange wider airport transfers across the UK.
Free cancellation through minicabit applies before the booking’s cancellation cut-off time, shown clearly on the booking confirmation email.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
The Rapid Drop-Off costs £5 for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the charge increases by £1 for every additional minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes.
Is there free drop-off at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. Long Stay 2 provides up to 60 minutes of free parking for pick-up or drop-off. It is around a 15-20 minute walk from the terminal, and the airport currently lists a free shuttle service operating from April to September.
Where is Rapid Drop-Off at East Midlands Airport?
Rapid Drop-Off is immediately outside the terminal alongside the Short Stay car park. Follow airport signs towards Short Stay and then the signs for Rapid Drop-Off.
How do I pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
You can pay online through East Midlands Airport’s payment portal or by automated telephone. Regular users can also set up AutoPay for future visits. Payment must be made by midnight the next day after using Rapid Drop-Off.
Can I pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge in advance?
No. East Midlands Airport states that individual Rapid Drop-Off visits can only be paid after the vehicle has used the area. AutoPay can, however, be set up in advance so future visits are charged automatically.
What happens if I forget to pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
East Midlands Airport states that failure to pay by the deadline (by midnight the following day), results in a £100 Parking Charge, reduced to £60 when paid within 14 days.
Where should I pick someone up at East Midlands Airport?
Short Stay 1 is designed for pick-up as well as drop-off and is suitable if you want to park and walk into the terminal to meet an arriving passenger. It currently costs £6 for up to 30 minutes. Long Stay 2 provides a free alternative for up to 60 minutes.
Do Blue Badge holders pay the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
Normal charges apply in Rapid Drop-Off. Blue Badge holders can instead use Short Stay 1 free for up to 30 minutes, while Long Stay 2 provides up to 60 minutes free.
Does a minicabit fare include the East Midlands Airport drop-off charge?
Yes. The Private Hire Operator handles the airport drop-off charge within the fixed fare for a pre-booked minicabit journey.
About minicabit
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Last updated 7/10/2026.
