Just to warn people who might be using Stansted in the near future and haven't been there for a while. The passenger drop off arrangements have changed and you can no longer set down friends/relatives outside the terminal. There is now a combined 'express set-down/pick-up' located adjacent to the short term parking area. There is now a minimum £2 fee for dropping off passengers which allows just 10 mins., it's £3 for 15 mins. and a £50 penalty if you go over 15 mins. You must not leave your car unattended and if you do it will be clamped/towed.
Since this area is quite a lot further from the terminal, if you're dropping off someone who needs help with their bags you will be in trouble if you stray into this area. Anyone who turns up without cash and is tempted to drop their passenger(s) off in the access road just outside the various parking zones is liable to get fined as CCTV vehicles patrol the area for this purpose.
The new arrangements have been in operation since Nov. apparently but when I was there a few days ago it was clear that they are still causing lots of confusion to people, including me. Not expecting such a dramatic change, I found the signage very confusing and you can't just stop to take it all in.
If you need to drop off and escort passengers to the terminal you can use the short stay area at its usual rip-off prices of:
0-25 mins @ £2.80
25-50mins @ £5.50
50 mins- hours @ £10.00
Or use the Mid-Stay car park which is a short bus ride from the terminal so not ideal if you're in a hurry.
Here's a taste of the problem:
http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/c...cm24/stansted/