One of those travel expenses you can get caught out by is airport parking. You make your bookings, pick your hotel and decide what to do when you get there – only for you to discover you need a place to park your car for a week.
At London Luton Airport, parking right next to the terminal is certainly convenient. Sometimes convenience is expensive, though, and if you just turn up at the car park, you may find yourself paying for it.
The great thing about it is that you don’t need to park right next to the terminal. There are a number of places to stay away from Luton that can be less expensive, particularly if booked early.
The good news is that you don’t have to park next to the terminal at all. There are several off-site car parks around Luton that work out cheaper, especially if you book early, and rather than checking each provider’s site one by one, you can compare them side by side on Ezybook, which lists both Park and Ride and Meet and Greet options for Luton in one place.
So, why park away from Luton airport?
If you want to be near the terminal then you can use the official car park at Luton Airport. For instance, Terminal Car Park 2 is about 5 minutes from the terminal, and there is a free shuttle to and from the official Long Stay car park (which takes approximately 10 minutes).
Without booking however, it can cost you to turn up. The official prices for Terminal Car Park 2 currently are £75 for 9 to 24 hours parking, with parking on a further day or part day also being £75.
This is where off-site parking becomes an option to explore.
You don’t need to pay for the shortest possible walk to get to this location, you can instead park in a parking lot close by and take a shuttle bus or terminal collection service. If you have a longer holiday, you can save a lot.
Park and Ride: Cheap and Easy Money Saver
When you’re only interested in the price, Park and Ride is typically the first place to look for cheap Luton Airport parking.
The concept is simple. You drive to a car park away from the terminal, leave your vehicle there and take a shuttle bus to Luton Airport. You ride the shuttle back on your return and get your car.
The extra minutes to get to the terminal are worth it for a trip of 7, 10 or 14 days.
There are some off site providers whose services are within 10-15 minutes’ drive from Luton Airport. Off-airport Park and Ride parking locations have been proved to be cheaper than the same-class official parking through independent comparisons.
This can be handy for families on holiday. Most people won’t mind an extra 5 or 10 minutes when it saves money across a 14-day trip.
Meet and Greet: Most Convenient Among All
Not all people desire to travel with bags and suitcases in the shuttle.
Meet and Greet parking steps in here. You drive towards the airport, follow their directions and await the arrival of a driver at a pre-arranged meeting point. They drive the car to the carpark, while you enter the terminal.
On the way home, your car is brought back for collection.
Meet and Greet is typically more expensive than Park and Ride, but may be less expensive than some official terminal services. Great for families, those with heavy suitcases and early morning flyers.
All you need to do is find out the exact location of the handover before booking. Not all providers mean the same thing by “Meet and Greet”.
Luton Airport Parking Before You Book is a comparison service that allows you to find the best prices for Luton airport parking.
Comparing is one of the simplest ways to avoid overpaying, rather than booking the first car park you find
Compare Parking Prices can be helpful in this regard. You don’t have to look at all the providers of parking facilities at Luton Airport separately as you can compare them all in one place: Park and Ride and Meet and Greet parking are available. There are currently a number of different Luton Meet and Greet listings available at various prices so it is worth comparing prices before making your decision.
However, the lowest price is not necessarily the best.
Consider the overall cost, transfer duration, cancellation conditions, and customer reviews and refund policy. If the car park is only £5 less expensive, but the shuttle takes 40 minutes to arrive after you’ve landed, then it’s probably not worth it.
What to Look for Before Booking?
Ahead of paying for off-site parking in Luton there are a few things to check.
First make sure the transfer time and frequency of the shuttle are confirmed. If you are travelling by flight at 6am you want to know that the transfer service will be available.
Then verify if the package has transfers. Some parking offers will cover all costs; others may have extra fees.
Additionally, make sure to ask if you store your car keys. At official Luton Airport car parks you keep your keys. Some off-site providers, especially Meet and Greet operators, require you to hand them over.
Last but not least, check out the most recent customer reviews. Check for feedback regarding the reliability of the shuttle, handling of the vehicles, parking process and the access to the vehicle park.
Should I use Off-Site Parking?
For longer travel it is definitely worth comparing for the most part.
If you are travelling only once a day, it may be worth paying to park near the terminal. However, if you’re leaving your car for a week or more the distinction between parking in the terminal and a nearby Park and Ride service can be much more significant.
It’s not essential to find the most costly parking space. You only need one that provides a nice balance of price, convenience and reliability.
Check the parking options at Luton Airport before your next travel, check transfer information and book in advance if possible. A few minutes of comparing could leave you with more to spend on the holiday itself.
