East Midlands Airport Reviews 

I used the Rapid Drop-Off at East Midlands Airport on Saturday to quickly collect someone. No issues with the stop itself — but when I went to pay online two days later, I discovered the payment window had already expired. You only have until midnight the following day to pay, or you're hit with a £100 fine.

There are no barriers, no pay machines, no reminders. The ANPR cameras just capture your number plate, and if you don’t pay in time, they automatically issue a penalty charge.

This feels like a deliberate trap — targeting people who simply don’t know the rule or forget to pay within 24 hours. It’s not about managing traffic — it’s about making money from technicalities.

Absolutely unacceptable. A simple reminder system or 72-hour payment window would make a huge difference. Instead, it's designed to catch you out. Shameful.

Rapid drop off scam!! picked up on midmorning 4.6.25 tried to find a way to pay then realised you had to pay online. Had to leave within 15min otherwise charges increase. Was out all day and was trying to pay via phone but some fault re cookies and wouldn't let me pay via mobile. Now back home on the 6th and its refusing to let me pay! I have reasonably tried to pay several times so let see how Ombudsman think this is reasonable for the company to fine me when I have made reasonable attempts to pay as 24hrs over a weekend when you have no customer service staff to assist when issues with your web site!! Tried customer service first thing Monday morning and via live chat wont let me pay so have to wait for fine to appeal. This is unreasonable and this company need outing! I have asked for a formal investigation and shall take this further and hope others do to

After ordering an Uber taxi to pick us up at East Mids Airport ( our plane landed here from a holiday yesterday) I am astounded to learn that a taxi is not permitted to collect you without having to pay for a parking ticket.
We were stood waiting for the taxi. It would take literally 10 seconds to climb in but oh no our cab was not permitted to stop anywhere on site or in the surrounding area of the airport without incurring a charge or a fine.
East Mids Airport you are a greedy disgraceful business that does nothing to be user friendly to your customers.
Signage for using the public bus system is also very poor and leaves travellers unsure of where to wait for a bus.

Total scam on drop off charging. Dropped my son off at the airport a week ago and yes I saw the signs, but had to return to work and, missed the 24 hour deadline. Tried to pay on line, but no option over 24 hours... Now received the £100/£60 charge. How can they operate a system which has a 24 hour invoice, which then goes up 10 fold. No other organisation would get away with this. Complete rip off

Totally blown away I’ve received a parking fine for a 4 minute drive through the new rapid drop off area at EMA. Have used this many times always aware there was a cost but had no idea of the new rules.
Obviously because it is a ‘rapid’ drive through I missed the new signage completely which states I have to pay the charge before midnight the next day.
Just another rip off ordeal which makes my blood boil …..

Rapid drop off is a complete scam. Dropped someone off at east Midlands airport and was literally 30 seconds. No barriers so assumed rapid drop off was free. Got fined £100 and paid £60 when paid within 14 days.
I will never use EMA again out of principle. I will drive to an airport a thousand miles away before using this airport again. Totally miss led. Just a money making scam which I am sure the airport authorities are in on it.

The guy at security humiliated my son, who had dropped his fidget ring and told him to go back to the start of and walk around again! I explained he didn't cut the queue, he dropped a ring, he was so rude! I completely underststand people have a job to do, but that was pathetic and uncalled for. Maybe take a training course to recognise vulnerability is needed.
Really upsetting for my son!

I travel between Faro and East Midlands frequently. Arriving by Skylink I cannot comment on the 'drop-off' area, although I appreciate that is expensive. If you pick the right flight (time) then the departure lounge can be very quiet -which it was today (30/6/25) - and ordering food and drink is quite painless. Duty free was quick and boarding was straightforward and easy. Can't fault a thing.

Shocking at East Midlands
They change the Rapid drop off Rules and now it is impossible to pay at any machine onsite.
You have to be able to pay online only .
It is easy to forget particularly if you have other pressing matters like a family bereavement to deal with
Awful Customer service ,Awful company to deal with.
This is just Greed, pure greed !!

There is no way the airport can justify the new system charge for drop off or pick up.it is pure profiteering by the airport. Without meaning to break any rules we have just been fined £60 for less than a 3 minute pick up.
The new system is not fit for purpose, people lead busy lives and having to go home and remember to pay online or by phone is not always feasible.
Bring back the pay at the exit.

The drop off set up is nothing short of a scam. There's no way to pay there and then and if you forget to go on the website when you get home within 48 hours it's a min $60 fine. Just playing in people's confusion, or forgetfulness.
The airport itself is poorly laid out: who would plan to have crowds trying to get to a gate fighting their way through a queue of people waiting to board at another gate, right outside the ladies toilet, with people in wheelchairs also in the mix.
Good options are quite limited too.
The airport equivalent of Ryanair: unpleasant and greedy, but unavoidable in many cases.

Taking advantage of their customers by setting a predatory 2 day payment window on the parking, especially for people with ADHD or similar disabilities like me. Just tried to make a payment 4 days later instead of 2 and it's impossible to make the payment. There is nothing you can do about it.....

So several years ago I reviewed this airport and things have improved. It is easier to manage baggage checkin for departures as not everyone arrives at once. TUI checking was fine. I cannot comment on the problems with passenger drop off as we have always used Jet Parcs who appear to have ramped up their prices. Also return shuttle took some time, no doubt due to the early hours of the morning touch down. To get 5 stars, these two issues need resolving. Providing an area in departures for smokers/vapes is great. However, for ecig users, is can be pretty oppresive with all the cigarette smoke. Departure security has been improved with the 3D imaging. Previously, arrivals passport control was an also issue but Border Force have improved this service with all Egates working and four staff doing manual checks.

Flights are never on time and the dropping off system is a scam. They removed the pay barrier so they can scam people £60 for forgetting to pay on time. Worse airport I've ever been to.

Booked secuity fast track only to see the regular queue go through quicker than ours, absolute waste of money.

If I could give no stars I would. I have been trying for the last 3 hours to make a booking for Meet & Greet, I
Am a Blue Badge owner and get a 20 per cent discount, but cannot book on line as it does not give the option for the discount. I have claimed this discount for many years over the telephone, but everything has changed with booking this. That's if you can actually get through to anyone.n

Brilliant experience at East Midlands Airport. Staff were friendly and helpful. We are flying again from there in September. Definitely would recommend.

There where no signs regarding the new drop-off system, I didn't know, now had to pay £60.00 fine!!@
Won't fly from there anymore.

Will never book this airport again. Rapid Drop off fine for pulling up, daughter jumped out, got her case and went, I drove out. Fined. Not been to this airport for 10yrs. Manchester airport, bigger, free drop off, assumed free as not got out of the car or left it. 1 minute to pull up. You have to pre-book to drop off!! I tried to call to pay when home Im nearly 60yrs old, the automated system said my number plate was invalid! Paid to pick up before I went. How many people this much catch out their new rules. Will never use here again. 1.9 stars out of 5 says it all

Packed in like sardines. Jet 2 are brilliant, so helpful and efficient. The airport however is another matter. Built even more shops here in an already overcrowded box just to fleece you before your flight. Hardly any seats for passengers at peak times. And, £5 just to get dropped off which took about 2 minutes. To rub salt in the wound there was a poster saying ‘60 years of smooth travel’ 😂 Good joke.