With the family and lots of luggage to Stuttgart Airport: parking without stress

For families, the holiday does not begin on the beach but in the hallway: suitcases, pushchair, car seats, backpacks with toys and snacks, plus children who are excited and tired at the same time. At Stuttgart Airport there are also typical peak times – the first day of the Whitsun holidays, the start of the long summer holidays, the autumn holidays around All Saints' Day. With the right parking option and a little preparation, the chaotic start becomes a relaxed beginning to the trip. This guide collects what families from the Stuttgart region should know.

Valet or shuttle with children?

With toddlers, every change is exhausting. With valet you drive to a meeting point near the terminal, get out, load the luggage onto a trolley and go in. The car stays with the driver, complete with child seats and toys. With shuttle parking you leave the car on the provider's site, load everything into the bus and unload it again at the terminal. For a two-week holiday, the cheaper shuttle may be worthwhile if there is enough time. For an early flight with a baby or twins, the extra cost of valet is often money well spent. A comparison is provided in the guide Valet or shuttle at Stuttgart Airport.

Whitsun holidays and summer holidays

Unlike many other federal states, Baden-Württemberg has two weeks of Whitsun holidays. For many families they are the first big travel period of the year, and on the first day of the holidays the terminals, security and parking areas are correspondingly busy. The summer holidays start comparatively late in the south-west, often at the end of July. If you are flying on one of these start days, book your parking right after your flight and allow more time at the airport. Some families deliberately switch to the second or third day of the holidays if flight prices allow.

Packing systematically

Before you leave, think about what really has to come along. Some things can be borrowed or bought at your destination – beach toys, sun cream, nappies. You only need the baby seat or child seat if you are hiring a car at your destination; otherwise they stay in the car while it is parked. Many airlines allow pushchairs to be taken right up to the aircraft, where they are loaded. Find out beforehand which rules apply to buggies, baby seats and child seats with your airline. Each child carries a small backpack with their own toys and a water bottle – this takes some of the load off the parents.

Sharing the work at the meeting point

The critical moment is arriving at the car park or meeting point. A clear division of roles, agreed at home beforehand, helps here: one parent stays with the children, the other takes care of the handover, photos and luggage. In parking areas, cars manoeuvre, shuttles arrive and depart and drivers bring vehicles back for return – children should be held by the hand here. Explain to older children beforehand that they must not run between parked cars. In the dark, light-coloured clothing or reflective tags increase visibility.

Luggage trolleys and routes in the terminal

Luggage trolleys are available at the multi-storey car parks, forecourts and in the terminal. With a pushchair and luggage trolley, use the lifts instead of the escalators. The terminals in Stuttgart are side by side, and the distances are manageable. Still, know beforehand in which terminal area your airline checks in – the information is in your booking. More: Terminals at Stuttgart Airport.

Security with children

At security, pushchairs usually have to be folded and X-rayed; baby food and drinks for the child are generally allowed in reasonable quantities but may be checked separately. Allow time for this and pack these items so that they are quick to reach. Small children sometimes find security frightening; explain to them beforehand what will happen. With a little preparation, this step is quickly done too.

Grandparents and large groups

If three generations are travelling together, one car is often not enough. Then two cars drive – or one person takes the grandparents and luggage to the terminal while the other parks. With valet this is easy, because everyone gets out at the meeting point. With a shuttle, check the rules on passengers: frequently asked questions about the number of passengers in the shuttle. For grandparents with reduced mobility, assistance at the airport can be arranged through the airline.

Keeping children happy

Waiting times are hard for children to bear. Small games, books, colouring books or a tablet with downloaded films help. At Stuttgart Airport there are areas with a view of the apron, and many children love watching planes take off and land. On the shuttle bus, a guessing game is popular: what colour will the next plane be? Important: every child knows the family's meeting point in case you get separated and has a note with the parents' mobile number in their pocket.

Returning with tired children

After the holiday, the mood is sometimes tense, the luggage heavier and the children almost asleep. Split up again: one person collects the suitcases, the other stays with the children. Only contact the provider once everything is there. At the car, buckle the children in first, then load up. For the drive home to the Black Forest, the Alb or the Hohenlohe area, plan a short break. More: Returning: collecting your car at Stuttgart Airport.

If a suitcase is missing

If an item of luggage is missing from the belt, report it at the baggage desk before you leave the secure area. This can take a while. Let the parking provider know that it will take longer so that they don't wait in vain. A change of clothes for the children in your hand luggage helps if the suitcase only arrives the next day.

Babies and toddlers

With a baby, nappies, wet wipes, spare clothes, food and a spare dummy belong in your hand luggage. There are baby-changing rooms in the terminal; you can find their location on the airport's website. Plan breastfeeding and changing breaks into your schedule, both on the journey and at the airport. If you travel with a baby, you value every minute saved – another reason to consider valet.

Travelling with pets

If the family dog or cat is coming along, the airline's rules on carriers, weight and registration apply. Animals are often registered at a special desk; allow time for this. In the shuttle, the animal belongs in its carrier – ask the provider beforehand whether animals are allowed to ride along.

An example from Böblingen

A family with two children aged three and six is flying to Mallorca for a week during the Whitsun holidays. Departure at 07:45. The family allows two hours' lead time, 15 minutes for the valet handover and 30 minutes' drive via the A81 and the A8, plus 20 minutes' reserve for holiday traffic: departure at 04:55. The children sleep in their travel clothes until departure, and the luggage was put in the boot the evening before. At the meeting point, the mother looks after the children and the father the handover. At 05:50 the family is in the queue for baggage drop-off. The times are an example; your figures may differ.

Seats and pushchairs on the plane

With small children, it is worth reserving seats in advance so that the family sits together. Ask your airline how far the pushchair can be taken and where you get it back after landing – sometimes right at the aircraft, sometimes at the bulky baggage reclaim. This affects how much time you need to allow after landing before you contact the parking provider.

With these tips, the family's start on the Filder plateau becomes the first lovely moment of the holiday.

Conclusion for families

With good preparation, driving to Stuttgart Airport with children is no great effort: book early, reduce luggage, share tasks and allow time reserves. Whether offers for Stuttgart can be booked via Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Stuttgart Airport.