With children and lots of luggage to BER Airport: relaxed parking and departure

A family holiday from Berlin usually starts with a logistics problem: two adults, two children, four suitcases, a buggy, cuddly toys and provisions – everything has to get to BER and into the terminal. Depending on how you park, this is either relaxed or exhausting. This guide helps you choose the right parking option and plan the day of departure so that everyone arrives at the gate in a good mood.

Valet: the car goes, the family stays together

With valet parking you drive to the meeting point near the terminal. There you unload, hand over the car and go to check-in together. No waiting at a stop, no carrying suitcases twice. On your return the car is ready again, the tired children get in, done. More on the procedure: Valet parking at BER.

Shuttle: cheaper, quite manageable with some planning

Shuttle parking is also quite possible with children – it just takes more time. You park at the provider's site, load the luggage into the shuttle and ride to the terminal. When booking, state how many people are travelling and whether you have a pushchair with you. Some providers have limits or supplements for larger groups, see the frequently asked questions about the number of people in the shuttle. The procedure in detail: Shuttle parking at BER.

A division of tasks that works

A clear division of roles at the airport has proved its worth:

• Person A takes care of the car: handover, photos, key, receipt.
• Person B keeps the children together and keeps an eye on the luggage.
• Then go together to your airline's check-in or baggage drop-off.

How the handover is documented with photos is explained in the guide Vehicle handover at BER.

Start of the holidays in Berlin: set off earlier

On the first day of the holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg, the roads towards Schönefeld are busier, and in the terminal queues form at baggage drop-off and security. With children you need a buffer for unplanned breaks anyway. So plan generously. The route in detail: Driving to BER.

Which terminal?

At BER, passengers are handled in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; both have their own drop-off areas. Check the terminal in your documents before you set off – with children and luggage, a detour is particularly annoying. More in the guide Terminals at BER.

The children's backpack

• ID documents for all children (indispensable for trips abroad)
• A change of clothes and wet wipes
• Snacks and an empty bottle to fill after security
• Headphones, a colouring book or a favourite game
• Any medication needed

Child seats and buggy

Many airlines carry pushchairs up to the aircraft and child seats as luggage. The rules vary, so read your airline's conditions beforehand. If child seats stay in the car, record them in the handover photos.

Making good use of the day before departure

A relaxed family departure begins the day before. Pack the suitcases so that in the morning you only have to load them into the car. Lay out the children's travel clothes, charge all devices and pack the snacks for hand luggage. Check the ID documents of all children, because without valid documents you cannot continue on trips abroad. Open the parking confirmation and save the address in the sat nav. If you do all this in the evening, you start the morning without rush – and that rubs off on the children.

During the drive to BER

Depending on your starting point, the drive to BER is short or takes longer. Plan something to keep the children occupied and expect a short stop if you are travelling from Brandenburg or further afield. On the way, tell the children what will happen at the airport: the car will be parked by a driver, or you will ride to the terminal in a small bus. Children who know what is coming are much more relaxed.

At the meeting point: safety first

On holiday days, valet meeting points and shuttle car parks are busy. Do not let children run around between moving cars. First gather all the children and the luggage in a safe place, then one adult takes care of the handover. One child might be allowed to help take the photos – that makes the waiting time pass quickly and the little ones feel involved.

In the terminal: luggage first

At BER, head first to your airline's baggage drop-off. Depending on the airline, bulky luggage such as pushchairs or child seats is checked in at the counter or at an oversized baggage desk; some pushchairs may be taken up to the aircraft. Then go through security together. Allow some time here, because with children, baby food and jackets, security takes longer.

Travelling with a baby

With a baby, special rules apply to baby food in hand luggage and to taking pushchairs and infant carriers. Find out from your airline in advance. For parking, a baby above all means more time and as few changes as possible. Valet with a handover near the terminal saves reloading into a shuttle with an infant carrier and luggage.

Reducing luggage

Not everything has to come along. Check whether a cot, high chair or buggy can be borrowed at your holiday destination. Every item that stays at home does not have to be carried out of the car, through the terminal and back again at the destination.

When grandparents help

Many Berlin families are driven to the airport by their grandparents. This saves the parking fee, but for the grandparents it means two drives to Schönefeld and, on the return, perhaps a long wait if the flight is delayed. Especially with late return flights, your own car park booked in advance is often the more considerate solution.

Booking the right return time

Families often underestimate the time on the day of return. Between landing and setting off come getting off the plane, a toilet break, baggage claim and perhaps passport control. Book the return with a generous gap after the landing time and state the flight number. Better to state a slightly later time and call earlier than to book too tightly.

The drive home with tired children

After landing, everyone is exhausted. One adult collects the luggage, the other stays with the children. Only once everything is there do you contact the provider. At the car, first put the children in their seats, then load up. Pillows and blankets in the car help the children keep sleeping on the way home. On long drives into the surrounding area, plan a short break.

Involving the children

Children are more relaxed when they have tasks. An older child can carry their own backpack, look for the flight number on the display board or help photograph the car. Younger children are happy with their own snack bag and a small new toy for the waiting time. If you experience the journey as a shared adventure, you start your holiday in a good mood – and come back more relaxed too.

Checklist for families at BER

• ID documents for all children checked and packed
• Pushchair, infant carrier and child seats clarified with the airline
• Number of people and bulky luggage stated in the parking booking
• Terminal checked – Terminal 1 and 2 have separate drop-off areas
• Snacks, a change of clothes and things to do in hand luggage
• Return time booked with a generous gap after landing

With this preparation, the family holiday starts relaxed on the way to Schönefeld.

And if something does not go according to plan – a forgotten cuddly toy, spilled juice in the car, a longer queue at security – one thing helps above all: composure and a time buffer that absorbs such little things.

Family trips from BER are quite manageable with the right preparation. The parking option is an important building block, but not the only one.

Coming home

After landing, first collect the luggage, then contact the provider. On late return flights with sleeping children, valet is particularly pleasant. Tips in the guide Late arrival at BER.

Which family-friendly parking offers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport can be booked through Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Berlin Airport.