Shuttle parking at Berlin Brandenburg Airport: procedure and planning
Published on · updated on
No car parks can be booked through Friend-Park at Berlin Airport yet.
As soon as a partner is activated, you will find their offers with real prices on the airport page.
Shuttle parking is the first choice for many holidaymakers at BER: you leave your car on a provider's site in the surrounding area and are driven to the terminal. This is usually cheaper than valet parking or a multi-storey car park directly at the terminal. The price for this is a little time. To ensure that this time does not become a problem, the right planning is essential – especially at an airport where Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have their own forecourts.
Key facts at a glance
- You park yourself at the provider and take its shuttle to the terminal.
- Enter the car park's address in your satnav, not “BER Airport”.
- Count check-in, waiting time and the journey as a fixed block of time.
- State your terminal when booking.
How it works on the day of departure
You drive to the address in the booking confirmation. Shuttle car parks are located outside the terminal area, often in business parks around Schönefeld. There you check in, park the car and get into the shuttle with your luggage. It takes you to your terminal. Some providers assign a parking space, others move the vehicles themselves and keep the key for this purpose – this is stated in the offer description.
Estimating the transfer time realistically
The shuttle's actual journey time is only part of it. Added to this are check-in, parking the car and waiting time until the next departure. If you arrive exactly at departure time you may hardly wait – if you just miss it, you wait longer. So plan a fixed block and read your provider's information on frequency. You will find general answers in the frequently asked questions about the shuttle procedure.
Sample calculation for a midday flight
Your flight departs at 13:40 from Terminal 1, and the airline recommends arriving two hours beforehand. So you want to be in the terminal at 11:40. For the shuttle including check-in and waiting time you allow 45 minutes – arrival at the car park 10:55. If you are coming from the north of Berlin and need around 50 minutes via the city motorway and the A113, plus 30 minutes' reserve, you set off at 9:35. The figures are examples – what matters is your starting point, the traffic situation and your provider's information.
Luggage and fellow travellers
In the shuttle you share the space with other travellers. Register bulky luggage such as bicycles, surfboards or pushchairs when booking. For groups: check whether the provider limits the number of people per booking or charges a surcharge. Information on this in the frequently asked questions about the number of passengers in the shuttle.
The return
After landing, you collect your luggage and go to the shuttle pick-up point described in the confirmation. Some providers would like you to call as soon as you are ready. The shuttle takes you to the car park and you drive home in your car. Late in the evening the service may be less frequent – get in touch in good time. More on this in the guide Late arrival at BER.
Shuttle or valet instead?
Shuttle parking is particularly worthwhile for longer trips with many parking days – see Long-term parking at BER. If you are short of time, have a lot of luggage or children with you, valet may be the better choice. More in the guide Valet or shuttle at BER.
The location of the shuttle car park around Schönefeld
Shuttle car parks at BER are usually located in the business parks of the municipalities around the airport. For your journey, what matters is how easily the car park can be reached from your direction. If you are coming from central Berlin via the A113, a car park near the motorway exit is an advantage. If you are travelling from Brandenburg via the Berlin ring road, you should check whether you can get from the Schönefeld interchange to the car park without detours. Look at the address on the map before booking and plan the route.
Shuttle parking on peak days
At the start of the summer holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg, a particularly large number of people fly out at the same time. Many customers then arrive at the car parks almost simultaneously, and shuttles can be full. That is why the transfer block in your schedule should be larger on such days. If time gets tight, speak to the staff on site and point out your departure time. Many providers organise the trips according to departure times.
With a bike, skis or a surfboard
From BER, travellers set off with bicycles on cycling holidays, with skis to the Alps or with surfboards to the coasts of southern Europe. Sports equipment needs space in the shuttle and must be checked in at the bulky baggage counter in the terminal. Register it when booking the car park and allow a little more time for loading and unloading. On your return, you collect bulky luggage from a separate counter – look out for the signs in the terminal.
Shuttle or train from Berlin?
Many Berliners wonder whether the car is worth it at all when BER Airport station is directly beneath Terminal 1. For travellers with light luggage from the city centre, the train is often a good choice. Shuttle parking comes into its own if you come from the surrounding region, travel with family or a lot of luggage, or fly at times when fewer trains run. Compare the effort and costs for your specific trip.
What is different on the return
On the day of departure, the shuttle transfer is usually no problem – you are rested and have a plan. On your return it is different: you are tired, the luggage is heavier and it may be late. So clarify when booking how the return trip is organised. Does the shuttle run at fixed intervals or on call? Where exactly is the pick-up point at your arrival terminal? Until what time does the last shuttle run? If you have clarified these questions beforehand, you will not be standing in front of the terminal at a loss after landing.
Shuttle parking as a group
If several people are travelling together, it is worth looking at the passenger rules. Some providers charge per vehicle, others per person above a certain number of people. For large groups it can therefore make sense to compare the final prices for different combinations – one car with many people or two cars with fewer people. In any case, state the correct number of people so that enough space is planned in the shuttle.
Conclusion on the shuttle at BER
Shuttle parking at BER is a good choice for anyone who wants to save on longer trips and has a little time for the transfer. With the right address in your satnav, a realistic schedule and clear arrangements for the return, it works reliably.
Finding your parking space again
With some shuttle providers you park the car yourself on a large site. Note down or photograph the space number or area so that you can find the car quickly on your return – especially in the evening and after a long trip, this is a small but helpful preparation. If the provider keeps the key and parks the car itself, it will usually take you directly to your car or have it ready.
One last tip for the return trip: keep your phone charged and to hand after landing. Many providers organise the way back by phone or message, and a quick connection saves you waiting time at the terminal.
If you have also entered your flight number in the booking, you give the provider the chance to plan for delays early – this makes the last stage of the journey from BER home much more relaxed.
This way, the inexpensive car park also becomes a relaxed solution for the whole holiday.
Quick checklist
- Car park address saved in the satnav
- Terminal known and stated when booking
- Transfer time plus buffer planned
- Bulky luggage registered
- Provider's telephone number to hand
Which shuttle offers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport can be booked via Friend-Park can be seen on the page Parking at Berlin Airport.
