Cheap Airport Parking
Get the best deals and save money on airport parking
Best Parking Deals
Cheap airport parking at Heathrow
Cheap airport parking at Gatwick
Cheap airport parking at Manchester
How to save money on airport parking
Make no mistake, airport parking can be pricey, especially if you're away for a weeks at a time. And with so many parking companies out there offering a variety of services, it's somewhat of a minefield.
Whether you want to park as close to the airport terminal as possible or want a valet 'meet and greet' service, you can still save money.
The best advice we can give here is to book early. Much like flights, hotels and holidays, the further in advance you can book parking, the cheaper it is. You will get far better offers and we've seen prices a third of what they would be if you just turned up on the day.
Speaking of which, even if you leave it late or bag a last minute holiday, booking is still often cheaper. So even if it's a few weeks or even days before you fly, check the prices online and they are more often than not lower.
If you are booking well in advance, look out for voucher codes and deals on parking. Places like Groupon and VoucherCodes are a good place to start.
Airparks - Up to 30% off*
We've arranged a deal across Airparks for HonestJohn.co.uk readers. Use the links below and get up to 30 per cent off the standard price.
Make sure you use the code before 30 June 2020.
Up to 30% discount on Airport Parking
10% discount on Airport Hotels
10% discount of Airport Lounges
Purple Parking - Up to 30% off*
We've arranged a deal across Purple Parking for HonestJohn.co.uk readers. Use the links below and get up to 30 per cent off the standard price.
Make sure you use the code before 30 June 2020.
Up to 30% discount on Airport Parking (Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow only)
10% discount on Airport Hotels
10% discount of Airport Lounges
Holiday Extras - Up to 30% off*
We've arranged a deal across Holiday Extras for HonestJohn.co.uk readers. Use the links below and get up to 30 per cent off the standard price.
Make sure you use the code before 30 June 2020.
Up to 30% discount on Airport Parking
10% discount on Airport Hotels
10% discount of Airport Lounges
10% discount on Airport Transfers
10% discount on Car Hire
BCP - Up to 30% off*
We've arranged a deal across BCP for HonestJohn.co.uk readers. Use the links below and get up to 30 per cent off the standard price.
Make sure you use the code before 30 June 2020.
Up to 30% discount on Airport Parking (Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow only)
10% discount on Airport Hotels
10% discount of Airport Lounges
What different airport car parks are there?
On-site parking is what most people associate with airport car parks. Run by the airport operators, they are usually the most expensive choice but not always actually the closest to the terminal.
Off-site parking is offered by third party companies and is usually based on a site outside or on the outskirts of the airport. This makes them cheaper than on-site car parks but often further away. They have regular shuttle transfers to the airport terminal so it can often be just as quick as parking on-site.
Hotel parking can be found at hotels either within the airport or, increasingly, in the local area. It's often sold as a package if you are booking a room the night before an early flight.
Private local car parks are more commonly found close to regional airports. These tend to be areas of spare land or unused office car parks that are much cheaper than parking at the airport. However, they're also less secure and not regulated.
What is meet and greet parking?
Meet and greet parking is simply just another name for valet parking. You drive your car to the terminal where a driver is waiting to meet you. You hand over your keys and he then parks it for you. When you land, the driver is waiting for you with your car so you can just jump in and set off home.
Valet parking is usually more expensive but there are deals to be found if you book in advance. Many people like it for the convenience and the fact there's much less stress. The drop off points are usually right by the terminal so it's a short walk to check in.
When you land, you're usually asked to call the firm once you have your luggage. They will then bring your car to the terminal for you, saving the hassle of getting a shuttle bus to a car park.
Is meet and greet parking safe?
There are plenty of horror stories of cars being used and abused while in the care of parking companies - indeed, unscrupulous individuals have gone to prison for scamming customers.
These are extreme cases and for the many people, valet parking is a fuss-free and easy way of parking at an airport.
However, it's only natural to feel wary when giving your car keys to a complete stranger, particularly as you don't know where your car will be parked and how it will be treated.
There have been various undercover investigations by consumer magazines and programmes over the years. Many have found that the claims made on meet and greet websites don't match the reality with drivers speeding in cars or parking them in areas that don't match the car park shown online. It pays to be wary when choosing meet and greet parking.
Is you car insured when you use meet and greet?
The instant you hand your car over to another party, it comes under the laws of 'bailment'. You enter into a contract for them to store and look after your vehicle. They are then legally bound to take care over your property, this means they have to insure the vehicle while in their control.
If you park your vehicle yourself at a airport car park, it is on your own insurance. If you use the a meet and greet service, it is on their insurance. If you use an external company that collects and delivers your car. They also should have insurance in place, but you need to double check. If you're not sure then walk away.
How to avoid airport parking scams
We've all seen the newspaper headlines and heard stories of unscrupulous airport parking firms, with cars being left in muddy fields and parked in streets or being returned with parking tickets and several hundred miles on the clock. So how can you make sure your car will be safe and secure when you fly off?
Be on the look out for 'meet and greet' firms, which offer supposedly cheap and secure airport parking. While the price may be attractive, there's usually a reason they are so cheap.
First off, check that the company is a member of the British Parking Association or International Parking Community. Don't just trust a logo on the parking firm's website though, search on the relevant association's websiten- either the BPA or the IPC site.
All of the UK's major airports will list car park that are approved and safe to use. They may not be the cheapest around but they should be safe.
You can also check the reputation of a company through customer reviews. Again, don't just trust claims on the parking firm's website, fake testimonials are easy to create. Instead look at independent sites such as Trustpilot, HolidayExtras* or gosimply.com.
Cheap airport parking deals, vouchers and discount codes
If you don't already make use of it, Groupon is a useful money-saving site packed with deals, vouchers and discounts across a wide variety of services and products. Here are the best Groupon airport parking deals we've seen.
Purple Parking has three options - £2 for up to 25% off selected airport parking, £3 for up to 30% off selected airport parking or £4 for up to 35% off selected airport parking. Expires 31 Dec 2019. |
Trusted Travel has up to 35% off airport parking at 19 UK airports. Valid for meet and greet, park and ride and on airport parking. Expires 17 Feb 2020. |
Sky Parking Services gets you up to 25% off park and ride airport parking from Sky Parking Services at 25 airports for £2. Expires 31 Dec 2019. |
Holiday Experts gives you 36% off UK airport parking for £4. It includes airport parking, meet and greet, shuttle service plus park and ride at 20 airports. Expires 1 Sep 2019. |
The Parking Website gives you up to 35% off park and ride, meet and greet or long-term airport parking at 24 UK Airports for £4. Expires 30 June 2019.. |
Looking4Parking also has up to 35% off parking at 19 locations such as Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester. It also includes Southampton Cruise Port. Voucher must be redeemed by 31 Dec 2019. |
A2Z Airports Parking is offering 32% off airport parking services at a choice of twelve airports for £4. Pay £2 for 25% off airport parking services at a choice of three airports - Exeter, Leeds Bradford and London City. Expires 31 Dec 2019. |
SkyParkSecure offers up to 35% off airport parking for £4. The discount percentage may vary depending on the airport and chosen parking option. Expires 31 Aug 2019. |
BCP gives you up to 35% discount on selected airport parking at 28 locations for £4. There's no additional booking or credit card fees from BCP. It includes 28 locations including Heathrow and Gatwick. Expires 31 Dec 2019. |