We take a look at some of the common questions posed by motorists planning to leave their car at the airport.

Question
I am leaving my car at the airport soon and don’t want to spend my holiday worrying that it won’t start when I get back. What can I do to make sure this won’t happen?
Answer
The biggest enemy of airport parkers is battery failure. The RAC says that batteries are most likely to go flat when the car has been left parked for a long period of time and that this is a particular risk in cold weather. Batteries need to be replaced on average every three to five years, so if yours is on its last legs, perhaps replacing it before you set off for the airport is a good idea.

Question
My battery isn’t that old so I don’t want to replace it. Is there anything I can do to check that it is still in good condition?
Answer
You can have your battery professionally checked but if you want to cut costs there are a few things to look out for yourself.

– Check that there are no cracks in the casing
– Check that there are no white or rust-coloured deposits on the terminals or connectors as this indicates corrosion.
– Make sure there are no bulges in the casing.
– Finally, a good give-away of battery troubles is when the interior lights are dim or will not come on at all.

Question
Is there anything else that I should do to my battery to make sure it is in tip-top condition?
Answer
If your battery is not a sealed unit, you should check the electrolyte level and top up with distilled water. Also make sure that when you leave your car you switch off all lights, heated seats, etc, to avoid the battery draining in your absence. Read More

If you live a long way from your nearest airport or have a very early departure or late arrival, you might want to consider booking a room at a hotel near the airport. Not only will it guarantee an extra few hours in bed but it can also be an economical way of parking your car too. If you are not quite sure how it works, have a look at our handy guide, which answers some of the most commonly asked questions.

Do all hotels situated near the UK’s leading airports offer parking?

We can’t vouch for every single hotel near an airport but the vast majority offer parking, even the ones that are just a short stroll from the terminal building. There could be a number of different parking arrangements, so check the details if it is important to you:

• the parking could be at the hotel for the duration of the holiday
• it could be the case that the hotel reserves the right to move your car during your absence and so requires the car keys to be left
• the parking could be some way from the hotel right from the time you arrive

Is parking normally free to guests staying at an airport hotel?

There is normally a charge that is usually included in the hotel room rate but is often a real bargain. Transfers from the hotel to the airport are sometimes included in the room rate too but sometimes charged separately, with a typical adult price for Heathrow being £4 each way and at Birmingham £5 for a return fare. Read More

Over the years we have received a range of questions about motorcycle parking at UK’s airports. Here’s an outline of how it works.

Question:
I am on a tight budget and have recently sold my car and bought a motorbike. I am flying home soon to see my parents who live abroad, and since I won’t need much in the way of luggage I am wondering about the practicalities of taking my motorbike to the airport. Are the charges similar to parking a car at the airport?
Answer:
You will be glad to know that it is much cheaper and, indeed, often free to park your motorbike at some of the airports across the UK. If you don’t have much luggage then it is an ideal method of transport. Read More

Even though the definition varies slightly in various regions around the world, valet parking usually is a type of parking service that is provided by a commercial establishment (cinema, restaurant, club, airport etc.) that lets the car owner leave the vehicle at an entrance (or forecourt) to be parked and later retrieved on their behalf by the parking attendant (a valet).

This arrangement saves the customer some valuable time looking for a parking space, and then walking back / getting back to the main entrance. In airports this is a key factor to those travelling with more than just one compact piece of luggage.

There’s a slight confusion as to what valet parking means in the United Kingdom. Usually a term Meet and Greet is used in the UK for the service that is called valet parking in the USA. It is viewed as a premium service based on the fact the car is parked on behalf of its owner.

We receive a range of enquiries from our users asking whether valet parking available at UK airports includes car cleaning. To answer this you’d need to refer to specific parking provider information. For example, LTN Meet and Greet – Wash and Vac service at London Luton airport includes exterior wash and wax, interior vacuum, dashboard polish, door shuts cleaning, window cleaning in and out, plus tyre dressing service. Another Wash and Vac service, available at London Heathrow, includes exterior wash as well as leather and interior vacuum as an extra. Please note that not all Meet and Greet providers include car washing service.

To confuse matters further you may come across a term ‘Meet and Greet Valet Parking’ when looking up your options online. It may differ from one company to another, but usually this implies that the car cleaning service is added into the deal. Read More

QUESTION:

I haven’t left my car at an airport before and was wondering if there was anything I needed to do in order to prepare my car for airport parking? Thanks.

ANSWER:

Normally you shouldn’t need to do anything special to your vehicle before you leave it at the airport.

If you are parking your car yourself either at an on-site or off-site car park and retaining your car keys, you might want to consider the following:

– Write down the number of your parking space on the back of your airport parking confirmation.
– Ensure you closed all the windows, as there’s always a good chance of rain in the UK.
– Do not leave any valuables in your car.
– Don’t leave the interior light on (might seem obvious but it does happen!).
– Put the handbrake on, so it can’t roll away.

If your preferred airport parking involves handing over the car keys and letting the parking attendant park the vehicle for you, it’s worth bearing this in mind:

– Make a note of the mileage. Some of the car parks warn the car owners that they might need to shift the cars around or even move them to a different location while you are away, so you shouldn’t be worried that there’s some extra mileage upon your return. Read More