It can cost you 8p every minute to short-stay park at Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport appeared on the list of parking woes with researchers finding it costs £4.70 to park for up to 60 minutes – meaning an 8p per minute charge.

Their research also found that drivers risk paying six times more per minute to park than it costs to make a mobile phone call home while abroad.

Luton Airport is the most expensive in the country for pick-ups, with short-stay parking costing a minimum of £7 for 40 minutes.

It is also the most expensive per minute for drivers opting to wait in their car, with charges of £3 for 10 minutes and £1 per minute thereon. Stansted Airport's terminal costs £4.50 for 30 minutes.

Drivers can also be hit by penalties for overstaying the minimum time period in drop-off zones. A penalty of £50 is levied to those who exceed the 10-minute time allowance at London Stansted, the RAC found.

Despite the high prices at many airports, six of the country's busiest airports still offer some free parking options.

Pete Williams, the RAC's head of external affairs, said drivers should check parking fees before they set out.

He said: "While it is true that many airports provide a range of different parking options for drivers depending on how long they expect to stay, motorists need to be aware of the sky-high charges levied by some for parking close to the terminal.

"Drivers are running the risk of incurring some hefty charges if they drive to a pick-up zone to collect somebody whose flight is delayed, or who has to wait a long time at baggage reclaim. In these cases, they are much better finding another, more affordable airport car park.

"Unfortunately, from our research there will be a trade-off in that other car parks tend to be considerably less convenient and a lot further from the arrivals hall." A spokesman for the Airport Operators' Association said that airports provide information on parking options.

He said: "UK airports operate in a highly-competitive environment, across all facets of their business.

"Non-aeronautical income, such as income from parking, allows airports to keep charges to airlines low, benefiting travellers through lower airfares and increased connectivity. It also supports the record investments airports are making in improved facilities and infrastructure to create the best possible experience for passengers.

"Airports provide information on getting to and from the airport in a clear an accessible manner, including on the different parking options people can choose from.

"As a result, travellers have a high level of awareness of the different ways they can choose to get to the airport, ranging from public transport to travelling by car."

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "Draconian parking charges only make sense if drivers have a wide range of public transport options to help them get to the airport.

"The reality is that most passengers catching early or late flights have no choice but to use a car. Airport operators know this and are just adding to the stress of travelling if their customers feel they are being ripped off. In the long term better rail links would help but more immediately charges need to be much more transparent and penalties set at a much fairer level."