Shuttle parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport: procedure, time needed, tips

Shuttle parking is the classic choice for holidaymakers who want to leave their car affordably near the airport. At Cologne Bonn Airport there is an additional special feature: the airport operates around the clock, and many flights depart very early or land late. The shuttle frequency then determines whether the transfer is relaxed or tight. Here you will find out how to plan properly.

The procedure

You drive to the address in your confirmation, check in and park the car – in an assigned space or by handing over the key, depending on the provider. Then the shuttle takes you and your luggage to the airport. On your return, you go to the agreed pick-up point and ride back to the car park. General information: frequently asked questions about the shuttle procedure.

Transfer time and off-peak times

Add up check-in, loading, waiting time and the ride. During the day, shuttles often run at regular intervals. Early in the morning and late in the evening, the frequency may be different or the service may run on request. If you have a flight at 06:00, you should know exactly when the first shuttle leaves. More: Early flight from Cologne/Bonn and Night flights and parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

An example from Bonn

Departure at 11:50 from Terminal 2, two hours' lead time: in the terminal at 09:50. For the shuttle including check-in you allow 40 minutes – arrival at the car park 09:10. The drive from Bonn city centre takes around 25 minutes in the morning, plus a 20-minute buffer: departure 08:25. Your figures depend on your starting point, traffic and provider.

Luggage and fellow travellers

State bulky luggage – pushchair, golf bag, ski bag – when booking. For groups, pay attention to passenger limits or surcharges; see frequently asked questions about the number of passengers in the shuttle.

Stating the terminal

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are close together. Nevertheless, it helps to state the terminal when booking so that the shuttle stops in the right place. More: Terminals at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

When a shuttle suits – and when it doesn't

Shuttle parking is worthwhile for longer trips – see Long-term parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport – and when you have enough time. With very tight schedules, small children or landings deep in the night, valet may be the better choice: Valet or shuttle at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

The ride back after landing

After baggage reclaim, contact the provider if the confirmation says so, and go to the pick-up point. In the event of delays, the flight number in the booking helps – as does a short message. More: Returning: collecting your car at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Shuttle car parks around the Wahner Heide

Cologne Bonn Airport lies on the edge of the Wahner Heide, a large nature reserve. There is therefore little space directly around the airport for large private parking sites. Shuttle car parks are usually located in industrial estates in the neighbouring districts and municipalities. As a result, the shuttle ride does not always take just a few minutes; look at the address on the map before booking and consider whether it fits well with the direction you are coming from. Someone from the north of Cologne or the Bergisches Land has different preferences from someone from Bonn or the Siebengebirge.

The first shuttle for early flights

Many holiday flights from Cologne/Bonn depart in the early hours of the morning. For shuttle customers, the deciding question is when the first shuttle leaves and how often it runs at that time. Plan so that you are not dependent on the last possible bus. Some providers run on request at night; then you call shortly before arriving so that the driver is ready. What applies to your provider is stated in the description or the confirmation.

Back to the car park at night

If you land late or in the middle of the night, the ride back matters. Before booking, clarify how the shuttle is organised at night: does it run at fixed intervals, on request or not at all? Where is the pick-up point at your arrival terminal? If you know this, you won't be standing helplessly in front of the terminal after landing, but will call and be on board a few minutes later.

Sports equipment and holiday flights

With a golf bag, diving equipment or a bike case, the shuttle needs more space. Register the luggage when booking and expect a little more time for loading and unloading. In the terminal, you check in bulky baggage at the designated counter; on your return, you collect it from the bulky baggage reclaim.

Groups and families

For larger groups, it is worth looking at the provider's rules on passengers. Some charge per vehicle, others per person above a certain number. Compare the final prices for your group and state all fellow travellers so that enough space is planned in the shuttle.

In brief

Shuttle parking at Cologne Bonn Airport works well if you keep an eye on the location, frequency – also at night – and the number of passengers. For longer trips it is often the most economical choice.

The shuttle compared with the train

Cologne/Bonn has its own long-distance station beneath the terminal, served by ICE, regional trains and the S-Bahn. For some travellers, the train is therefore a real alternative to the car. But if you are travelling with family, lots of luggage or from a place without good connections – for example from the Bergisches Land, the Eifel or the Westerwald – getting to the airport by car is often easier. Shuttle parking combines both: you drive comfortably to the car park and only cover the last stretch in the provider's bus. Especially with early departures, when the first trains are not yet running, the car plays to its strengths.

What a good pick-up point looks like

After landing, you look for the meeting point that the provider describes in the confirmation. Good providers name a clear location – for example a numbered exit or a specific bay – and sometimes provide a photo. Unclear phrases such as "in front of the airport" are a reason to ask before booking. At Cologne Bonn Airport the exits of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are close together; nevertheless, a precise description saves time and nerves after a long flight.

Allowing realistically for waiting time

Not every shuttle is waiting when you come out of the terminal. Depending on the frequency and demand, you will wait a few minutes. On the outward journey, factor in this time as a fixed component and don't be misled by the pure travel time. At the start of the holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, when many families park at the same time, the car park can get busier than on a normal Tuesday. If you have ten minutes more in reserve, you will board the bus relaxed.

Your car in the car park

Whether you choose a space yourself or hand over the key depends on the provider. With key handover, staff often park the cars closer together to make good use of the space. In both cases: take photos of the condition, take valuables with you and don't leave any documents in the glove compartment. On longer trips in summer, a sunshade on the windscreen protects the interior; in winter a cover helps against iced-up windows.

After your return: the last few metres

Back at the car park, walk around the car once, compare it with your photos and check that everything is in order. If you notice anything, raise it immediately on the spot and have it documented. Later on, clarification is much more difficult.

That way, shuttle parking at Cologne Bonn Airport remains a predictable, relaxed part of the trip from departure to homecoming.

Have a good trip from Cologne/Bonn!

Checklist

• Car park address in the satnav
• Terminal stated
• Shuttle frequency checked against your flight times
• Bulky luggage registered
• Provider's number saved

Whether shuttle offers at Cologne Bonn Airport can be booked via Friend-Park is shown on the page Parking at Cologne/Bonn Airport.