How to Save Money Airport Parking [11 Ways]

Pre-booking is one sure way to save money on parking at any of the UK’s many airports. In this article we will share 11 ways how to save money airport parking along with some additional tips to make the whole process easier.

Gatwick Airport, our nearest airport, charges £30 for the first day and £25 for subsequent days for roll ups. Long-term parking at Gatwick Airport, however, is cheaper when pre-booked.

Other airports in different locations throughout the UK such as East Midlands Airport for example, premium parking near the terminal (1 to 2 minute walk) costs £65p/d (based on eight days self-parking) when pre booked.

Their cheapest airport parking option is to pre book with JetParks which is a 12-15 minute transfer away for only £41.99 for the same period.

In comparison, Manchester airport parking costs only £58 per day when pre-booked. Whether you spend $25, $30, or a staggering £65 per day on airport parking, your family can quickly rack up hundreds of pounds in parking fees. This is before your holiday even starts.

We recommend Meet and Greet Manchester Airport Parking for a hassle free experience whether you’re booking meet and greet or park and ride, it’s a simple and smooth transition from start to finish.

UK Airport Parking

If you are looking for specific UK airport parking costs and other useful information, click on the relevant link below to be taken to the appropriate page:

So, How Much Does it Cost to Leave Your Car at the Airport UK

The cost of parking your car at one of the UK’s major airports varies greatly. We have found deals from as little as £2.84 a day at Edinburgh Airport (15-minute transfer away) to £65 per day at East Midlands Airport.

What is Considered Long-term Parking at the Airport?

Most UK airports consider a week or more as long-stay parking and it is calculated in periods of 24 hours, unlike short-stay parking, which is calculated hourly.

Long stay airport parking is ideal for those travelling on one or two weeks holidays, business, or even for those who are just flying away for an extended weekend break.

When it comes to deciding where to leave your car when you fly, you have many options, and many of them cost much less than you might think. Here is a rundown of our 10 ways on how to save money airport parking.

1. Have a Friend or Family Member Drop You Off at the Airport

The easiest and most effective way to save money on airport parking is to have a friend or family member drop you off at the airport.

It is impossible to overstate the value of being dropped off curb side at the airport if you are flying with young children. By using this method, you will not only save money over paying for airport parking, but you will also save time and hassle. This is because you will eliminate shuttle buses, hauling around car seats and luggage, and possibly hurting your kids’ tiny toes before you even reach the airport.

We are frequent flyers so we don’t bother family members with rides to the airport every time we fly. On longer trips, however, we often share chauffeur hats with my parents or brother, dropping off one another at the airport.

2. Compare Prices with Uber, Taxis, and Public Transportation Options

I promise we will discuss some options for saving money on airport parking. You should, however, check out the costs of using Uber, Lyft, a taxi, or a car sharing service before you decide on that course of action.

Depending on how far you live from the airport and how long you plan to be away, one of these services may be more affordable than parking at the airport. If there are no cost savings, not having to factor in parking time may be less stressful. It may be easier to get dropped off at the curb, especially when traveling with children.

If you live in a city with reliable public transportation to the airport, that will likely be the cheapest way to avoid airport parking. This is short of having a family member drop you off at the terminal.

Allow an hour from central London if you take the tube to Heathrow. For Gatwick, trains regularly leave from London Bridge Station. After peak hours the fare is very reasonable and the easiest way to get to the airport in my experience.

3. Search on Google for Airport Parking Deals and Coupons

Coupons are almost always available at most airports for certain off-airport and economy parking areas. This is especially true if you are parking over the weekend or for a few days. I recommend starting with a Google search for “discount parking coupons at Gatwick Airport” and substituting your specific airport name. There are usually several airport parking discounts and coupons available on Groupon, so be sure to check there for your specific location.

4. Is it Cheaper to Book Airport Parking in Advance?

You bet it is! Pre-booking your airport parking will save you a bunch

 . In addition, should your plans change, you can cancel up to an hour before.

In addition to searching for discounted airport parking options on a generic search engine, visit the airport’s website directly to see if they offer any discounts. At Gatwick, you can save significantly on long-stay parking with a coupon available on the website. Your official airport parking price drops to £10.16 per day as a result.

5. Book an Extended Parking Hotel Stay at the Airport

The hotel’s shuttle may be able to take you to the airport for less than the cost of parking at the terminal. This is if you are considering a hotel stay near the airport either at the start or end of your trip. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can park your car for free. Many hotel packages include some sort of ‘park and fly’ option that costs more than the cheapest hotel room. In spite of this, the added fee is usually not very high.

As an example, at the Holiday Inn Long Stay Parking at Gatwick Airport their park, stay, and fly package is only £13 more than the basic cost of a hotel night for the entire time you are away. That can work out to almost pennies on the pound per day on a 14 day trip.

You will need to drive to the Holiday Inn car park, which is next to the hotel, park and then give your keys to reception.

To get to the airport, you can catch the hotel shuttle bus, which is a 5 to 10 minute bus ride to both terminals.

You may be best served by checking with the various airport hotels directly, but you can also use a site such as Holiday Extras to not only find some park, sleep, and fly deals, but to also view offers to park at airport hotels without actually staying there.

The official prices to park at Leeds-Bradford Airport are £32 – £87 per day, but park and fly websites display a price of just £70 at the Britannia Hotel to – £141 per day to park at the Premier Inn Leeds-Bradford Airport. Having stayed at that hotel years ago, I found it was a very pleasant and convenient place for airport guests. The coolest thing about it was, Lenny Henry wasn’t there!

6. Use a Parking App or Website to find Cheap Airport Parking

Discounted parking spots can be found on many mobile apps and websites, both at and away from the airport. You should probably check several different sites if you want to find the most affordable airport parking in your area since prices vary. You can also check out these free and subscription parking apps and websites in addition to the ones already mentioned:

Free2Move

Park for free at an airport, train station, sea port or city center with Free2Move. It now also has access to a parking in 65 countries with VTC booking, electric recharging anywhere in Europe and a connected fleet management tool for professionals. It provides comprehensive insurance and car sharing options.

Appy Parking

Appy Parking was initially developed to help Londoners find street parking, but now you can search for on-street parking spots, electric chargers, and more. Additionally, it offers real-time parking availability, parking rules, and price comparisons. You can navigate your way back to your vehicle using the built-in navigation system. Card payments or phone payments can be made through the app. Additionally, they have a fuel price comparison feature that can be used to find the closest and cheapest petrol stations. Is there any downside? Only London and 11 of the UK’s largest cities are covered, so it’s best suited to drivers who frequently park in these large cities.

Parkopedia

With real-time availability, pricing information, and navigation options, Parkopedia is one of the most popular parking apps. A wide range of parking options can be found in its search results, including commercial parking lots, roadside bays, and private rentals. In addition, you can report and review car parks and pre-book your parking space. To access all the features of the app, you must upgrade to the paid version.

ParkMe Parking

ParkMe also shows pricing and rules, but does not provide live parking availability. There is the option to log parking time and mark your location. Furthermore, this app doesn’t allow you to make payments.

NCP Parking

As the number one car park operator in the UK, this is a really useful app for finding a parking space quickly and easily. As well as showing you prices and availability, it will direct you to the nearest NCP car park. Once parked, you can get walking directions to and from your car by recording its location.

The AA

You’ll find pretty much everything you need in the AA app from the breakdown specialists. You can search for paid and free parking spaces, as well as live availability, opening hours, and prices. Park and ride locations are also displayed. Parking cannot be paid for within the app, which is a drawback compared to some of the other apps.

Just Park

JustPark is the parking equivalent to Airbnb, offering a range of privately rented spaces and garages. Car parks for commercial purposes are less common. JustPark doesn’t offer as many parking options as other apps, but it does provide something a tad different. In the app, you can book specific parking spots in advance and pay for them.

7. Get Paid to Leave Your Car with Karshare

Karshare is a smart option if you don’t want cheap airport parking, but you want free airport parking. If you rent your car through Karshare, you get paid for every mile it is driven while you are away. Along with complimentary parking and fast service at the airport terminal, you’ll also get a car valet before and after your rental.

There are lots of caveats to consider with this option, such as that your car must be less than 10 years old. It should be insured and have a full MOT, be UK registered, and of course you have to be okay with strangers driving it while you are away. Karshare provides full liability insurance against all eventualities. RAC roadside assistance for breakdown and recovery and in-car telematics software to monitor driving.

8. If You are a Frequent Flyer, Consider Monthly Airport Parking

A monthly parking membership makes sense if you are a frequent airport parking customer. Memberships are not available in all airport parking lots, but you won’t know unless you ask.

9. Can I Park at the Airport for Free?

There are still some smaller airports that offer free parking, and a few have scheduled passenger service, but it is virtually impossible to find it at major airports. Depending on the airport, you may be able to park for free for 20 or even 30 minutes. A full charge will be applied if you leave and return within an hour.

Flying on a chartered or private plane may allow you to park for free. However, the cost of parking might be affordable for private plane and chartered aircraft passengers.

10. Take Advantage of Cheap Airport Parking Promotions

Occasionally, major airports offer cheap airport parking deals or free parking through limited-time promotions, so follow your local airport on social media to stay up-to-date.

We recommend MAPS provide you with the best prices for meet and greet parking at Manchester Airport, combined with exceptional customers service.

11. Pay with a Credit Card that Rewards Airport Parking

Finally, make sure you maximise your airport parking expense if you have to pay for it. Look into parking programs that offer points or frequent flyer miles for parking, wherever you park. Pay the bill with a credit card that offers a bonus on parking charges when it comes time to make the payment.

Be Sure to Read the Fine Print

It’s never fun paying for parking at airports, but it doesn’t have to be too painful. Since you know how to find deals, discounts, and alternatives to paying through the nose for parking, you are able to save money.

However, whenever you book airport parking, always read the fine print to make sure there are no hidden fees or taxes. Many people neglect to read the fine print and then end up paying much more than they were expecting.

Here are some additional airports:

Luton

 

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The prices mentioned in this article are correct at the time of publication. However, these things change so please do your own due diligence before booking your airport parking in the UK.

How to Save Money Airport Parking