Travel news · 6 min read · July 7, 2025

How to save hundreds by pre-booking airport essentials

• Holidaymakers from the UK spent over £60 million last year on unnecessary airport charges
• The volume of holidaymakers paying a premium for 'on the gate' airport parking doubled last year
• Holiday Extras saved its customers an average of £196 per trip in 2024 on airport parking alone

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UK holidaymakers could save up to £196 per trip by pre-booking airport essentials like parking, lounges, and drop-off services. Despite rising travel costs, many still pay premium prices by booking on the day. For instance, seven nights of parking at Heathrow Terminal 5 can cost £308.60 if paid on the day, but pre-booking through providers like Holiday Extras can reduce this by nearly £150. Additionally, airport lounges, available from £36, can offer better value than spending £144 on terminal treats. Drop-off charges have also increased, with some airports charging up to £7, but planning ahead can help avoid these fees. By organizing these services in advance, travelers can accumulate significant savings over multiple trips.

As holidaymakers scramble to bag their summer getaways, analysis has revealed they could lose up to £196[1] by not pre-booking airport parking.

Data[2] from Holiday Extras, the UK's leading provider of holiday extras including airport parking, airport hotels, and airport lounges, uncovered the pre-departure holiday spending habits of UK travellers and found that most could save a pretty penny by simply getting organised.

With sun-seekers planning three trips[3] each on average in 2025, the savings could accumulate to £651 per person over the course of a year, more than a fifth of the average £3,020 per person spent on trips in 2024. But a little bit of planning can eliminate the costs, leaving them more money to spend on the most important thing – their holiday.

Airport parking

Despite holidaymakers becoming more aware of the rising cost of holidays in 2024, analysis[2] from Holiday Extras found that the number of us booking airport parking on the day had doubled from 2023 to 2024, rising from 3% to 7%.

Purchasing airport parking at the gate on the day of departure comes at a premium, and often sees holidaymakers shell out much more than they would when booking in advance.

Comparing the price of booking airport parking in advance to gate rates revealed enormous savings. Seven nights' parking at Heathrow Terminal 5 in mid-August sets travellers back a whopping £308.60 if paid on the day. But customers could save almost £150 just by pre-booking Meet and Greet parking with Holiday Extras for the same dates.

Furthermore, any early-morning flyers can save their bleary eyes and skip the dreaded early-hours wake-up by booking an airport hotel for one night and eight nights of airport parking for as little as £150.

Airport lounges

Once you've parked up, checked in and made your way through security, a quick loop around departures is enough to bust the budget before you even board. Holiday Extras' research[2] reveals Brits are spending more at the airport as they wait to board than they ever have, with the average family shelling out £144 on pre-flight treats.

On average, travellers from the UK said they now spend £36 each while waiting for their plane – over a third (37%) more than they did in 2022, and two-thirds (71%) higher than they did in 2020.

It's not just food and drink that holidaymakers are forking out on. Impulse buys in duty-free and airport wifi charges account for more of our spending than they have in previous years.

Airport lounges are available from £36 this August, which not only includes what holidaymakers would normally buy in the terminal, but also provides the space and comfort to relax ahead of a holiday.

The research suggests that holidaymakers could benefit from a more streamlined airport experience, away from the bustle of departures, for the same amount of money they're currently spending.

Airport drop-off

Even if you're saving money by getting dropped off at the airport, hidden costs that hit holidaymakers before they've even entered the terminal building also add to the price of jetting off.

Holiday Extras' analysis of airport drop-off charges highlights a trend that sees sun-seekers paying a steep price to say goodbye to their loved ones before getting off, with substantial increases at seven of the top ten UK airports over the last couple of years. Stansted Airport charges the most (£7) for the privilege, with 200% and 66% increases at Belfast and Birmingham airports respectively.

With the cost of dropping off your loved ones at the terminal rising, it has never been more important to plan ahead. To help holidaymakers keep their drop-off fee-free, Holiday Extras has shared top tips on how to avoid them in 2025, with an average saving of £5.27.

Elizabeth Hogg, Chief Operating Officer at Holiday Extras, said:

"The savings that have been highlighted through our analysis are all achievable through a bit of forward planning. Thinking about the things you'll need around the holiday itself is important, and booking early – as soon as you have booked your trip – is the best way to avoid higher costs closer to, or on the day of, your departure.

"We have long campaigned for people to understand the benefits of booking early, and it's surprising to see that holidaymakers continue to miss this essential step in holiday planning. We really encourage holidaymakers to think ahead, as every time they do that's more money they can spend on flights, meals, treats, and seeing the sights while they're away."

[1] Based on the possible savings associated with airport parking and airport lounges, on the number of trips holidaymakers plan on taking in 2025.

[2]Airport parking data calculated from 1st January to 16th December 2024. Airport lounge data based on a survey of 1,000 UK holidaymakers, completed in June 2024.

[3] Research with 1000 holidaymakers, completed on 18th December 2024.

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