Valet and shuttle parking at Munich Airport: the hassles people report – and how to avoid every one
Published on
Munich draws people from all over the world – engineers at the car makers and tech firms, researchers at the universities, families who have made Bavaria home. Sooner or later, most of them drive to Munich Airport and try a private parking provider for the first time. The airport sits in the Erdinger Moos, about 30 kilometres north-east of the city, and most private car parks are in surrounding villages such as Hallbergmoos, Freising, Erding or Oberding. Almost every handover goes smoothly. When something does go wrong, it tends to be one of a handful of familiar situations. Here they are, in the order you'd meet them on travel day, with the simple habit that prevents each one.
Key facts at a glance
- Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 – at Munich this decides where you meet the driver.
- The A9 and A92 are busy in the morning rush and at the start of Bavarian school holidays.
- The time in your booking is when you arrive at the provider, not your departure.
- After landing, call once you have your luggage and say which terminal.
- Photos at drop-off and pick-up settle any argument about damage.
No car parks can be booked through Friend-Park at Munich Airport yet.
As soon as a partner is activated, you will find their offers with real prices on the airport page.
Before you leave: “I didn't know where I was going”
Many first-timers put “Munich Airport” into the sat nav and assume the rest will sort itself out. But valet providers meet you at a specific point – often a particular level of a car park by one terminal – and shuttle car parks are in villages you've probably never heard of. Reading the directions for the first time while driving at 6am is stressful.
The fix: open your confirmation the evening before, read the directions properly and save the exact address in your sat nav. Our guide parking at Munich Airport for the first time explains the basics.
On the road: “The A92 was at a standstill”
From the city, most people take the A9 towards Nuremberg and switch to the A92 at the Neufahrn interchange. From the east and south you may use the A94 and the Flughafentangente Ost. Between six and nine in the morning, these roads are busy; on Fridays and the first day of the Bavarian holidays, very busy. A single accident near Garching can double your journey time.
The fix: check traffic before you leave and allow an extra half-hour at peak times. Routes from around the region are in getting to Munich Airport from the region.
Twenty minutes out: “I forgot to call”
Valet providers need a little notice: the driver has to come from the car park to the terminal. Turn up unannounced and you may wait ten minutes at the meeting point. Even with shuttle parking, a call helps the operator hold the bus for you.
The fix: call 20 to 30 minutes before you arrive with your booking number and licence plate. The number is in your confirmation – save it as a contact the night before.
At the airport: “I was at the wrong terminal”
Munich has two large terminals with separate access roads. Lufthansa and most Star Alliance partners fly from Terminal 2; many other airlines and holiday carriers use Terminal 1 with its modules A to D. If you've booked valet and wait at the wrong terminal, the driver is on the other side.
The fix: check your airline booking, note the terminal and mention it in your parking booking or when you call. The layout is explained in finding your way around Munich Airport.
At the shuttle car park: “The bus had just left”
Shuttle operators run on a timetable or on demand. Arrive at the wrong moment and you wait. At the start of the Bavarian holidays buses fill up with families. And if five people turn up for a booking for two, there may simply not be enough seats.
The fix: allow time for check-in, waiting and the transfer, and book every passenger. How shuttle parking works at Munich is described in shuttle parking at Munich Airport.
At the handover: “I was in too much of a rush for photos”
Running late, you hand over the key and dash for check-in. The two minutes for photos are gone – and those are exactly the two minutes that matter if there's ever a dispute.
The fix: arrive five minutes earlier and photograph the car from all sides plus the odometer. More in handing over your car: keys and photos.
During the trip: “My return flight changed”
Airlines move flights, sometimes by hours. The provider only knows if you gave your return flight number or tell them. Otherwise they plan for the original time.
The fix: add the return flight number when booking and update the booking if plans change – see cancelling or changing parking at Munich.
After landing: “I called too early”
The plane touches down, the phone comes back on, the call goes out. Then comes taxiing, the walk, baggage reclaim and – on flights from outside Schengen – passport control. The valet driver waits, gets called to another customer, and fifteen minutes later you're standing there alone.
The fix: bags first, then call, and name your terminal. See collecting your car after your trip.
Late at night: “Nobody was there”
Many providers work set regular operating hours. Land just before midnight after a delay and you may be outside them. Some providers still hand over the car, often for a one-off surcharge; others are closed.
The fix: before booking, check the provider's regular operating hours and whether it works outside them. Tips for late arrivals are in arriving late at Munich Airport.
At pick-up: “I found a scratch”
It's rare, but it happens. What counts then is what you documented and how quickly you react. Discover the damage at home in Schwabing the next morning and you'll struggle to prove anything.
The fix: walk round the car before you drive off, raise anything immediately and photograph it. Next steps are in car security and damage at Munich Airport.
On the bill: “There was an extra charge”
Surcharges on the day almost always come from differences to the booking: more people on the shuttle, a larger vehicle, a handover outside regular operating hours. It feels unfair, but it's usually set out in the provider's terms.
The fix: book passengers and vehicle size accurately and update the booking if anything changes – see changing a booking. With a van or minibus, read parking a large vehicle at Munich.
Language: “The driver only spoke German”
Many drivers and dispatchers around Munich speak some English, but not all. Keep it simple: your name, booking number, licence plate and terminal are all they really need. If calling is awkward, a text message with those four details works well – written words are easier to understand than a call with traffic noise in the background.
Oktoberfest, trade fairs and winter
During Oktoberfest and big trade fairs such as bauma, the airport is packed: book early and allow more time in the terminal. In winter, snow and fog in the Erdinger Moos slow the roads, and de-icing can delay flights. Give yourself extra time and always add your return flight number.
If a problem can't be solved
Talk to the provider first – they can help fastest on the spot. Note the time and who you spoke to. If you can't reach a solution, write to Friend-Park via the contact form with your booking number and a short description. The rules on services and liability are in the terms and conditions, and answers on reaching providers in the FAQ.
Conclusion
At Munich Airport, most parking hassles come down to the terminal, the traffic on the A9 and A92, and calling at the wrong moment. Keep those three in mind, fill in your booking carefully and photograph your car, and the handover becomes what it should be: a few minutes at the edge of your trip. Find offers on parking at Munich Airport.
