Early flight from Hannover: how parking before sunrise works

The first aircraft of the day leave Hannover heading south while the street lamps are still on outside. Holiday flights to Spain, Greece, Turkey or Egypt are often scheduled for early departures so that the aircraft can manage several rotations a day. For you this means: getting up early and driving in the dark. This guide shows how to plan the morning so that you arrive relaxed at the right terminal – and what role the choice of parking option plays.

Why early mornings are busy

When several holiday flights depart within a short time, passengers gather at check-in and security at the same time. This is particularly noticeable at the start of the Lower Saxony summer holidays, in the Easter holidays and at weekends in high season. Because each terminal in Hannover has its own security check, the crowds are spread out somewhat, but individual terminals can still get crowded. Stick to your airline's lead time and plan parking before it.

What to take care of the evening before

Check in online and load the boarding passes onto your phone. Passports, wallet and parking confirmation go in a fixed place by the front door. If the car is safely in the garage, load the suitcases and child seats now. Check the fuel or charge level and save the provider's address in the satnav. Traffic reports show whether roadworks will be set up overnight on the A2, A7 or A352. Also write the provider's phone number down on paper.

Calculating the departure time

An example from Bielefeld: departure at 06:10 from Terminal C, two hours' lead time, so in the terminal at 04:10. With valet, you allow 15 minutes for the handover – arrival at the meeting point at 03:55. The drive via the A2 takes a good hour at night, plus a 20-minute reserve for overnight roadworks: departure at 02:35. Your figures depend on your starting point and provider.

Valet early in the morning

With valet, an early start is usually the most relaxed: the employee waits in front of your terminal, you hand over the key and go straight in. The prerequisite is that the service is operating at your time. Many ask for a short message shortly before arrival. More: Valet parking at Hannover Airport.

Shuttle early in the morning

With a shuttle, the first bus ride is decisive. Does the bus run at intervals from a fixed time or on request? If several families board at the same time at this hour, the first bus may be full. If you are at the site a little earlier, you are sure of a seat. More: Shuttle parking at Hannover Airport.

S-Bahn as an alternative

The S5 connects the airport with the main station. The timetable shows whether the first trains of the day fit your departure. For travellers from the surrounding area, there is often no rail connection available at this time – then the car remains the practical choice.

With children

Setting off in the middle of the night is a challenge with children. Let them sleep in comfortable clothes so that they can go straight to the car, and have pillows, a blanket and breakfast to hand. At the meeting point, one adult looks after the children, the other the car. More: With the family to Hannover Airport.

In winter

In Lower Saxony it is often cold and damp early in the morning in winter, occasionally icy. Allow time to scrape the windows or park the car in the garage overnight. Country roads in the surrounding area can be slippery while the motorways have been cleared. If you are flying to the sun, leave your winter jacket in the car if you can put it on again there on your return.

After the early start

Once you are through security, you will find time for breakfast at the gate. Save a photo of your parking receipt on your phone. If you fly early, you often come back in the evening: Late arrival at Hannover Airport.

Security in the morning peak

If several holiday flights depart in quick succession, queues form in front of a terminal's security lanes. With a little preparation it is quicker: liquids up to 100 millilitres in a transparent bag, laptop and tablet to hand, belt and jacket undone while still in the queue. With hand luggage and online check-in, you skip the desk. With a suitcase you need the full lead time – a punctual parking service is then particularly valuable.

Staying overnight near the airport?

If you are travelling a long way, for example from East Westphalia or the Harz, you may consider spending the night in a hotel near the airport for a six o'clock departure. That can make sense. Then check whether your parking provider allows a handover the evening before or whether you drive from the hotel to the meeting point in the morning. Some hotels offer their own parking packages; compare these with the parking services' offers.

Breakfast and coffee

In the first hours of operation, not all cafés in the terminal are open, and after security there is only what your terminal offers. A thermos of coffee for the drive and sandwiches for the children bridge the time. You can fill an empty water bottle after security.

Overslept?

If the alarm goes off too late, racing along the A2 won't help. Call the parking service on the way using the hands-free system and give your expected arrival time; some will bring the handover forward. At the airport, if time is very short, go to your airline's desk. A second alarm clock and a charged phone are the best precaution.

From the city to an early flight

If you live in Hannover itself, you can be in Langenhagen in a quarter of an hour at night. Nevertheless, a reserve is worthwhile: temporary traffic lights at roadworks, closed road sections or looking for the right turn-off cost minutes. If you are coming from Linden or the Südstadt, you drive through the city or via the Westschnellweg; from the east, the route via the A2 is a good option. Checking the route in the satnav once the evening before is enough.

After take-off

Once you are through security, you can breathe out and have breakfast. A photo of your parking receipt on your phone saves you searching your bag later. If you fly early, you often land in the evening – plan your return now.

In brief

An early flight from Hannover works with preparation the evening before, a suitable parking option, a reserve on the road and the right terminal.

Taking care of seats and luggage in advance

If you check in online the evening before, reserve seats and register your luggage in advance where the airline offers this, you save time in the morning. Some airlines have bag-drop machines in Hannover where you check in your suitcase yourself. Find out beforehand whether this is possible for your flight. Every minute saved counts when the queue at security is long.

Preparing the children

Tell the children the evening before that you will be setting off early and that they can carry on sleeping in the car. A familiar cuddly toy and a blanket on the back seat make the start easier.

Crowds on the first day of the holidays

On the first day of the Lower Saxony summer holidays, a particularly large number of families depart early in the morning. Allow a little more reserve on this day, both on the road and at the terminal. If you are flexible, choose a departure on the second or third day of the holidays, when things are usually quieter.

Thinking about the way back in the evening

If you fly early, you often come back late. So when booking, check not only from what time the parking service works in the morning but also until when it returns cars in the evening. That way the booking fits both ends of the trip.

Checklist

• Provider's opening hours checked against the handover time
• Online check-in done
• Luggage loaded the evening before
• Overnight roadworks on the A2, A7, A352 checked
• Terminal known

Which providers at Hannover Airport can be booked via Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Hannover Airport.