Shuttle, valet or walking distance: which airport parking suits you
Three ways to park at an airport: what each one asks of you and which trips they suit.
There are three ways to park at an airport. You park within walking distance of the terminal, you park further out and take a shuttle, or you hand over your car and have it parked for you. The difference is the last stretch: how you get from your car to departures, and how you get back to your car after your trip.
Parking with a shuttle
You drive to the provider’s car park, outside the airport. You leave your car there and a shuttle bus takes you to the terminal. When you return, the shuttle takes you back to the car park.
The ride and the wait for the bus take time. Count them in when you work out when to leave home, and again for the way back. How long the ride takes and how often the shuttle runs differs from provider to provider.
Valet parking
You drive to the airport and hand over your car at the agreed spot by the terminal. The provider parks it for you. When you get back, your car is waiting for you.
So you walk straight from your car into departures, with no bus and no hunting for a space. That helps most if you are travelling with children, have a lot of luggage or find walking difficult.
The provider plans the handover around the times you give. Enter your arrival and return times as precisely as you can. You hand over your key, so take valuables out of the car.
Parking within walking distance
You park close to the terminal and walk the last stretch yourself. You depend on no one: there is no bus and no handover.
Do check how far the walk really is. Walking distance is not a fixed measure, and with suitcases or in the rain a walk takes longer than you expect. On ParkingKong a car park shows its distance to the terminal as a walking time or a shuttle time.
The three side by side
| Type | Where your car is | How you reach the terminal | Handy when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle | At the provider’s car park, outside the airport | By shuttle bus | some extra travel time is no problem |
| Valet | The provider parks it for you | You hand over the car by the terminal | you travel with children or a lot of luggage |
| Walking distance | Close to the terminal | On foot | you would rather not wait for a bus or a handover |
Which one suits your trip
- Early flight or little slack: valet or walking distance. You do not have to wait for a bus.
- Children, a lot of luggage or difficulty walking: valet. You get out at the terminal.
- Plenty of time and happy to park yourself: shuttle.
The price depends on the provider and on your dates, not just on the type. So compare the total for your stay first and look at the type after that. Each provider’s listing shows which option it offers.