Finding Affordable Airport Parking

Finding well-priced parking at an Airport is a nightmare. I've used my own experience of searching for suitable parking for my planned trip to Eurovision in Austria in May 2026 to illustrate the tools and techniques that I use to find value parking finding a balance between convenience and affordability.

TL:DR;

My standard process of booking through HolidayExtras with a code from MoneySavingExpert.com provided the best pricing.

Book early

Once I've booked the flights it's the next thing I do. I book a rate that can be cancelled and that acts as my banker and will allow for me to shop around as the trip gets closer and cancel my locked in rate if I find something better. That said - the further out you book the cheaper the parking tends to be.

My experience

There are loads of options - however I have found that HolidayExtras are a pretty good site to begin with. My initial quotes for my 3 night trip from 14/5 @ 09:00 to 17/5 @ 13:00 were;

I then found a code on MoneySavingExpert.com, and reran my search;

I had already decided as it was getting into summer time by then, and just the two of us were travelling with cabin bags that 'Park and Ride' with a saving of £35 over 'Meet & Greet' would suit us. As it came with free cancellation - I booked it - locking in the price.

Checking for Alternative Options

Book Direct

My booking with HolidayExtras was with PurpleParking, and although HolidayExtras owns PurpleParking, I also did a direct search with PurpleParking. Prices were the same.

Credit Card Cashback

Whilst I had a cashback offer of 5% on my Halifax Clarity Card - it required a click through - so I assumed this would mean that my MSE code would be dropped.

TopCashBack / Quidco

Cashback wouldn't work as the code from MSE wouldn't be approved by the Cashback sites - meaning the spend would be ineligible.

Other Parking Sites

I tried APH - more expensive, same with FHR & Skypark. Heathrow official parking was very expensive.

Check your times

I reviewed the flight times again. If you can shave off an hour or two, you might save paying for an additional day, and could de-risk by paying the £1.99 for Late Return Cover. It wouldn't work in my case as I was leaving @ 09:00 on my day of departure and returning @ 13:00 on my return, so would be stretching it.

At that point I decided to stop looking. I've assumed I got the best offer currently available.

A busy parking lot at Heathrow Airport with various vehicles

Weighing Convenience Against Cost

Selecting the right parking option often requires balancing convenience and cost. While off-site parking is generally more affordable, it requires additional time for shuttle rides, which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.

On the other hand, on-site parking saves time, as you can walk straight to the terminal. This could be crucial if you have a tight flight schedule. Calculating the value of your time helps you decide if the higher cost of on-site parking is worth it.

Finding Your Balance

In your quest for affordable airport parking, a combination of research and planning is key. By exploring off-site options, leveraging online comparison tools, and hunting for discounts, you can secure well-priced parking that suits your budget.

As you weigh your options, remember to consider the balance between convenience and cost. Sometimes paying a bit more for on-site parking can save you time and stress, especially with tight travel schedules.