Luton Airparks Drop & Go

Airparks Luton Drop & Go is an off-airport park-and-ride where Airparks parks the car for you before a free, 14-minute shuttle to the terminal. Drive through the vehicle-scanning booth, stop in an arrivals lane and leave your tagged key in the appropriate drop box. Your car is then moved to a parking space while you take the bus to the airport.

This is a practical choice if you want competitive off-airport parking without having to find a space or remember where you left the car. Transfers operate regularly around the clock, but you should allow around 40 minutes to check in and reach the terminal.

Why choose Airparks Drop & Go?

• Car parked for you: leave the vehicle in an arrivals lane rather than searching for a space.
• 14-minute transfer: free shuttle buses run regularly, 24 hours a day.
• Vehicle scan: cameras record the car’s condition as you enter.
• Secure parking: CCTV, barriers, perimeter fencing, floodlighting and regular patrols protect the site.
• Useful facilities: toilets, flight-information screens, baggage scales, vending machines, water refill facilities and free Wi-Fi are available.
• Accessible transfers: the buses have ramps and wheelchair spaces.

How does Drop & Go compare with Airparks Self Park?

Both use the Airparks site and provide a shuttle taking around 14 minutes. With Drop & Go, you leave your key and Airparks parks the vehicle. With Self Park, you find your own bay and keep your keys.

Choose Drop & Go if you would rather leave the parking to the staff. Choose Self Park if keeping your keys and knowing exactly where the car remains are more important.

How does Drop & Go compare with Vauxhall Way Drop & Go?

Both are off-airport services where you leave your keys and the operator parks the car. Vauxhall Way is closer, with a transfer of roughly five minutes, compared with around 14 minutes from Airparks.

Choose Vauxhall Way when the shorter bus journey justifies any difference in price. Airparks is worth comparing when price is the priority or you value its vehicle-scanning system and extensive on-site facilities.

How does Drop & Go compare with Airparks Meet & Greet?

Both involve handing over your keys, but the arrival points are very different. Drop & Go requires a shuttle from the Airparks site, while Meet & Greet lets you leave the car at the airport and walk approximately four minutes to the terminal.

Choose Drop & Go for the more economical option. Meet & Greet is better suited to passengers prepared to pay more to avoid the shuttle.

Important things to know

Standard vehicles must be under 2 metres wide, 2.1 metres high and 5 metres long. High-sided vehicles, minibuses, motorhomes, lorries, caravans and trailers are not accepted. Shuttle buses cannot carry large sporting equipment, so this should be dropped at the terminal first. Keep the check-in ticket safe because you will need it for the return bus and automated key collection.

Directions

Increasing problems with congestion are being reported at Luton airport, and the airport is advising passengers to make sure they arrive with ample time to spare before their flight to avoid the risk of missing it. The official recommendation is to arrive three hours before a long-haul flight, two hours before a European flight and 90 minutes before a domestic flight.

We strongly recommend that you don't use a sat nav to find Airparks Luton, as we've found that with some sat navs, customers have had trouble finding Airparks with just the postcode. There are also two Grove Roads, one in Slip End and the other in Luton town centre. We recommend that you follow the directions below, but if you do still wish to use a sat nav, you should enter Grove Road and the postcode, or Slip End and the postcode.

From the M1 (north and south):
Leave the M1 at junction 10. At the roundabout which goes over the motorway, take the exit signposted Luton and the airport (A1081). At the next roundabout (junction 10A), take the third exit onto the A1081 for Harpenden/St Albans. Take the first right onto Newlands Road, following the sign to Airparks. Take the next left signposted Slip End and Markyate (B4540). At the traffic lights in Slip End, turn right into Grove Road. Take the first left into the service road and Airparks is 100 metres on the right.

From the A1 (M):
Follow the A505 into Luton. At the airport roundabout, follow signs for 'Other routes, Parkway and the A505'. At the next roundabout, go straight on and follow signs for the M1 and St Albans (A1081). At the next roundabout at junction 10A of the M1, take the first exit for Harpenden / St Albans (A1081). Take the first right onto Newlands Road and follow the signs to Airparks. Take the next left signposted Slip End and Markyate (B4540). At the traffic lights in Slip End, turn right into Grove Road. Take the first left into the service road and Airparks is 100 metres on the right.

There are currently roadworks on the M1 between junctions 6a and 12. We recommend that you check the Highways Agency website before you travel, and that you allow extra time for your journey in case there are traffic jams because of the roadworks.

Arrival procedure

Please check your booking confirmation for details.

Checking your car in at Airparks Luton takes just seconds. The site was revamped in June 2011 and fitted with sophisticated new machines which take care of the whole process in the blink of an eye. All you'll need is a copy of your booking confirmation.

On arrival, please drive into the car park and the barrier will open automatically, then press the green button at the second barrier in order to enter the car park. As you enter they will record the condition of your vehicle for safety and security. Please park in one of the numbered arrivals lanes and make a note of the lane number. Then unload your luggage and make your way into the check-in building in front of you. Head to one of the machines and follow the instructions. You'll just need to scan the barcode on your booking confirmation, and if you gave them all your details when you booked, the whole process should take about a minute.

Airparks parks your car for you, so you leave your car key with them. The machine will give you a key tag, which you'll need to attach to your car key, as well as a ticket so you can collect your key when you come back. Once you've put the key tag on your key, you just need to drop it in the box to the right of the check-in building, in the slot for your lane number. You're then ready to board the transfer bus and head to the terminal. If there isn't a bus there, there's a big heated shelter with plenty of seats to the right of the check-in building.

Your car key is the only one you need to leave with Airparks, so it's a good idea to take all your other keys off your keyring before you leave home.

Departure procedure

Please check your booking confirmation for details.

The transfer bus will bring you back to the car park. You'll need to show the ticket you were given at check-in to the driver.

When you get back to the car park, make your way to the check-out building. Go up to one of the machines and scan the barcode on your key collection ticket. A map of the car park will come up, showing you where your car is, and you'll get your keys back. This should take a few seconds. Then you can collect your car and set off home. At the barrier, you'll need to scan the key tag attached to your car key to get out.

Again, if you have any problems, just press the assistance button and a member of staff will come and help you.

If you're going to come back early, please let Airparks know, if you can.

Security

Airparks Luton is protected by CCTV, entry and exit barriers, a fence, floodlighting, and is patrolled 24 hours a day. It holds the Park Mark award.

Insurance

Parking is always at the vehicle owner's own risk.

Disabled facilities

The transfer buses are wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Airparks Luton has free wifi on site and aboard the shuttle buses, well-lit heated bus shelters, flight information screens, toilets, baby changing facilities, vendings machines and free drinking water.

If you come back to a flat battery, the car park will be happy to jump start your car for free.

If you're worried that your bags might be over your luggage allowance, Airparks Luton now has luggage scales for its customers to use - they cost £1 for 60 seconds (subject to change).

They normally advise our customers to give themselves 50 minutes to park at Airparks and transfer to the airport - longer during the rush hour between 4am and 8am. However, there are currently roadworks on the M1 between junctions 6a and 12, so we advise you to leave extra time for your journey to Airparks too. More information is available on the Highways Agency website.

The shuttle buses can't accommodate large sporting equipment, so we'd recommend dropping any off with your passengers at the terminal first, then driving to Airparks.

If you're delayed coming back, you'll need to pay for the extra parking before you go. At the moment extra days cost £20 per day (subject to change). If you come back early, unfortunately we can't give you a refund for the time you've not used.

The car park cannot accept any high-sided vehicles, minibuses, mobile homes, lorries, caravans, trailers or vehicles larger than the above maximum dimensions. These dimensions are 2m width x 2.1 height x 5m length.

Vehicles with a taxi license plate can be parked on-site, but cannot use the Return Greet or Meet and Greet services offered by Airparks.

Airparks Luton with Electric Vehicle Charge

If you book this product, you will get your electric vehicle fully charged whilst you're away.

Please make sure you leave your charging cable in your vehicle so that the car park can charge it for you whilst you're away.

Airparks Luton Self Park

Unlike the Drop and Go option, the Airparks Self Park package allows you to park your own car and keep your keys.

On arrival, please drive up to the main barrier which will lift automatically, then keep to the left and drive into the car photo booth which will scan and photograph your car for reference. Then exit the tunnel, turn left following signs for Zone K and pick a space. Park and walk to reception to check-in. You will be able to keep hold of your keys while you're away.

On your return, take the shuttle back to the car park and walk to Zone K where your car will be waiting for you. Then scan your barcode at the exit barrier and it will lift automatically.

Airparks Self Park - Larger Vehicles

Perfect for those travelling in larger vehicles such as a Range Rover Sport, Mitsubishi Warrior or Volkswagen Transporter.