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Save hundreds of pounds by booking cheaper airport parking even an hour before arrival
Booking 1-3 hours before arrival can save you £272 per week, on average, Which? Travel finds
Booking airport parking just a few hours before you arrive at the airport will save you hundreds of pounds, new research from Which? Travel has found.
‘Turn-up prices’ for airport parking are notoriously expensive. A week’s parking at London Heathrow short stay car park costs an eye-watering £616 if you don’t book in advance, Gatwick’s premium short stay is £525 per week and Birmingham airport’s Car Park 1 is £448.
Travellers can bag the best parking spots and save hundreds of pounds by booking in advance at ‘online-only’ prices. But advance booking at most major UK airports remains open until 1-3 hours before arrival.
We looked at five of the UK’s biggest airports (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester) and found huge savings, including a £335 saving at Gatwick’s premium short stay – booked just one hour ahead of arrival.
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How much can I save on airport parking?
The savings we found booking 1-3 hours in advance ranged from £160 at Edinburgh’s mid-stay car park, to £360 at London Heathrow’s short stay car park.
On average, those booking 1-3 hours in advance will pay £272 per week less for airport parking than those who turn up without prebooking.
10 biggest airport parking savings we found
| Airport: Car Park | Turn-up price | Online price 1-3hrs in advance | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow: Short stay | £616 | £256 | £360 |
| Birmingham: Car park 2&3 | £448 | £89 | £359 |
| Birmingham: Car park 1 | £448 | £90 | £358 |
| Gatwick: Premium short stay south | £525 | £190 | £335 |
| Gatwick: Short stay south | £420 | £104 | £316 |
| Birmingham: Car park 4 | £387 | £73 | £314 |
| Gatwick: Premium short stay north | £525 | £214 | £311 |
Prices are for seven days parking, gathered on 11 December 2024. Booking for Gatwick and Manchester airports was available 1-2hrs ahead of arrival. Booking for Birmingham, Edinburgh and Heathrow airports was only available 2-3 hrs ahead of arrival.
See our latest survey results for the best airport parking options at your local airport
How far in advance do I need to book for cheap airport parking?
The earlier you book your airport parking, the cheaper it will be. Late bookers often find that the cheapest options are sold out, especially at peak times.
That said, the savings for booking months in advance are not as high as you might think. Earlier this year we looked at the price of booking Heathrow’s short stay car park a month in advance and it cost £223 for a week’s parking. That’s considerably less than the £616 turn-up price, but only £33 less than the price of booking two hours before (£256).
The key thing is to book online and in advance, and never leave it until you arrive at the airport.
We found that Belfast International, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports allow you to book parking as late as 1-2 hours ahead of arrival.
For other airports, including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Luton the cut off is 2-3 hours ahead. At Bristol airport, the entry time must be at least three hours after booking.
How to save on airport parking?
Apart from booking early, check prices of recommended off-site airport parking providers as these can be cheaper than on-site. The following companies are all Which? Recommended Providers:
- Sentinel Car Park – Park and Ride at Leeds Bradford Airport
- APH – Park and Ride/Meet and Greet at Gatwick and Manchester airports
- Cophall Park & Ride – Park and Ride at Gatwick
- I Love Meet and Greet – Park and Ride/Meet and Greet at Birmingham, Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted
You can also easily compare prices of parking options at different airports via Holiday Extras
