Getting your booking details right for parking at Stuttgart Airport
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If you have booked airport parking in the US or the UK, you may be used to a simple form: arrival date, departure date, done. A German parking booking for Stuttgart Airport asks for a bit more. Flight numbers, passenger counts, licence plate, vehicle size and phone number all help the provider plan drivers, buses and space on the Filder plain. Get them right and everything runs smoothly. Get them wrong and you may wait, pay extra or, in the worst case, find no space. This guide walks through the booking field by field, with examples from people who actually fly out of STR.
Key facts at a glance
- Start time = when you arrive at the provider, not when your flight leaves.
- Flights after midnight: parking starts the evening before.
- Enter the return flight number so the provider can track delays.
- Count every passenger, including children.
- Pick the size class that matches the car you will actually drive.
No car parks can be booked through Friend-Park at Stuttgart Airport yet.
As soon as a partner is activated, you will find their offers with real prices on the airport page.
Why the provider asks so much
Parking providers around Stuttgart Airport work with tight resources. Lots in Filderstadt or Leinfelden-Echterdingen have a fixed number of spaces, valet drivers are scheduled in shifts, and shuttle buses have a limited number of seats. Every detail you enter helps the provider plan: how many drivers are needed at 5 a.m., how many seats the 6:10 bus needs, whether a tall van fits on a covered space. The more accurate your data, the better the service.
Field 1: Arrival date and time
Enter the time you will actually arrive at the valet meeting point or the shuttle lot. For valet, that is typically two hours before a European flight and three hours before a long-haul flight. For shuttle, add another 15 to 30 minutes for the bus ride and possible waiting.
The midnight trap: a flight at 00:30 on Saturday means you arrive on Friday evening. Many travellers enter Saturday and turn up a day early – or worse, the provider expects them a day later. Read your date twice.
Field 2: Departure flight number
The flight number tells the provider which terminal you use and when you need to be there. If you have a connection, enter the first flight leaving Stuttgart. For military charters or rotator flights that do not leave from STR, this field is not relevant – but if you fly commercially from Stuttgart, fill it in.
Field 3: Return date, time and flight number
This is the field that matters most. With the return flight number, many providers can track your flight and adjust if it is delayed. Enter the scheduled landing time, not the time you think you will be outside. If you return via Frankfurt, Munich or Amsterdam, enter the flight that actually lands in Stuttgart.
Not sure about your return date yet? Book the most likely date and change it later. Up to 24 hours before the service starts you can also cancel free of charge.
Field 4: Number of passengers
For shuttle parking, every person in the car rides the bus. Children count, babies in a carrier count, the friend you are giving a lift to counts. If the booking says two and five people get out, the bus may already be full. For valet parking the number matters less, but it still helps the provider. More under how many people can ride the shuttle.
Field 5: Licence plate
Enter it exactly as on the plate. German plates follow the pattern city code, letters, numbers – for example S for Stuttgart, BB for Böblingen, ES for Esslingen, LB for Ludwigsburg. US Forces plates in Germany look different; enter them exactly as shown. If you are not sure which car you will take, update the booking as soon as you know.
Field 6: Vehicle size class
Friend-Park uses four classes: standard, large/SUV, van and transporter. A compact car or estate is standard. A large SUV or full-size pickup is large/SUV. A seven-seat minivan is usually van. A nine-seater or high-roof van is transporter. Many US vehicles are longer and wider than typical European cars – a full-size pickup or a large American SUV may need a larger class. Check the dimensions shown for each class when booking. More in parking a large vehicle at Stuttgart.
Field 7: Phone number
Enter a number you can be reached on while travelling, with country code. If your US number does not work in Europe or you use a German prepaid SIM, enter the one you will actually carry. The provider may need to call you on the day.
Field 8: Notes
Use the notes field for anything that affects the provider's planning: ski bags, golf bags, a wheelchair, a child seat you need on the shuttle, a dog crate, or an especially late return. Keep it short and factual.
Four travellers, four bookings
The engineer from Sindelfingen
Priya works for an automotive supplier and flies to Chennai via Dubai. Her flight leaves at 21:40. She books valet, enters arrival at 18:45, the Stuttgart–Dubai flight number for departure and the Dubai–Stuttgart flight number for the return. In the notes: "Two large suitcases."
The US Army family from Vaihingen
The Johnsons fly commercially to Atlanta via Amsterdam with three kids. They drive their US-spec minivan, choose class van, enter five passengers and the KLM flight from Stuttgart. In the notes: "Car seat for toddler on shuttle if possible." Because the return lands at 23:50, they check the provider's regular operating hours and ask about late arrivals.
The researcher from Tübingen
Lukas, a postdoc from the Netherlands, is attending a conference in Lisbon. He drives down the B27, books shuttle parking in Filderstadt, enters one passenger and his Dutch plate exactly as shown.
The sales manager with a company car
Claire from Ludwigsburg flies to a client in Manchester for two days. Her fleet policy does not allow third parties to drive the car, so she books shuttle rather than valet. More in business travel parking at Stuttgart.
Common mistakes – and how to fix them
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong date for a flight after midnight | Provider expects you on a different day | Change the date as soon as you notice |
| Return flight number missing | No tracking of delays | Add it in the booking |
| Too few passengers | Not enough seats on the shuttle | Update the number |
| Wrong size class | Surcharge or no space | Change the class before travel |
| Typo in licence plate | Car hard to identify | Correct it in the booking |
Help with changes is in I entered wrong details and changing a booking.
The evening before
Open your confirmation, check every field once more, save the provider's number in your phone and write it down on paper. Check the route and traffic forecast. Then you are ready. Guidance on planning ahead is in reserving parking at Stuttgart.
Conclusion
A few extra minutes on the booking form save you a lot of trouble on travel day. Enter the time you arrive, watch the midnight trap, add the return flight number, count every passenger and choose the right size class. Then the provider can plan – and you can relax. All offers are on the page parking at Stuttgart Airport.
