Shuttle parking at Stuttgart Airport: procedure, transfer time and tips

For many travellers from Württemberg, shuttle parking is the obvious choice: the car is parked affordably on a site in the vicinity of the airport, and a bus takes you and your luggage to the terminal. At Stuttgart Airport there are two special features. First, it is right next to the trade fair centre, whose major events noticeably change traffic on the Filder plateau. Second, space around Echterdingen and Bernhausen is limited, which is why the providers' car parks are located at varying distances. If you plan for both, you will experience the transfer as a relaxed part of the trip.

The procedure step by step

You drive to the address in your booking confirmation. There you check in and park the car – depending on the provider, in an assigned space or by handing over the key if staff park the vehicles themselves. Then you load your luggage into the shuttle and head to the terminal. After your return, you go to the pick-up point described by the provider and ride the shuttle back to the car park. General answers about the procedure can be found under frequently asked questions about the shuttle procedure.

Where the car parks are located

On the Filder plateau, the airport is surrounded by the trade fair centre, motorway, fields and villages. There are hardly any large contiguous areas directly at the terminal for private providers. Their sites are usually located in industrial estates in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Filderstadt, Ostfildern or other municipalities. The distance to the terminal, and thus the shuttle's journey time, differs accordingly. Look at the address on the map before booking and consider whether it is on your way. A car park that is easy to reach from the B27 is often a better fit for travellers from Tübingen or Reutlingen than one at the other end of the Filder plateau.

Planning the transfer time realistically

Allow a fixed block for shuttle parking: check-in at the car park, possibly waiting for the next bus, loading the luggage and the ride itself. During the day, many shuttles run at regular intervals. Early in the morning and late in the evening, the frequency may be lower or the service may run on request. How this is arranged with your provider is stated in the description. Plan so that you are not dependent on the last possible bus – especially before an early flight, for which the guide Early flight from Stuttgart gives further tips.

A worked example from Esslingen

Departure at 10:40, the airline recommends two hours' lead time: you want to be in the terminal at 08:40. For check-in, waiting and the shuttle ride you allow 40 minutes – so arrival at the car park at 08:00. The drive from Esslingen via the B10, the B27 or through Ostfildern up onto the Filder plateau takes around 25 minutes in the morning, plus a 20-minute reserve for the region's roadworks: departure at 07:15. Your figures depend on your starting point, traffic and provider; the principle stays the same.

Trade fair days and the shuttle

During major trade fairs, the access roads to the airport are busier, and the shuttle buses are then also stuck in traffic. The transfer may take longer than usual. Check the Stuttgart trade fair events calendar before your trip and allow extra time on trade fair days. If you are flexible, schedule your departure for a day without a major event. More background: Parking at Stuttgart Airport during trade fairs.

Luggage, children and groups

A pushchair, golf bag, ski bag or bike case needs more space in the shuttle. State bulky luggage when booking so that the provider can plan. If you are travelling as a group, check the rules on passengers: some providers charge per vehicle, others per person above a certain number. Details can be found under frequently asked questions about the number of passengers in the shuttle. With shuttle parking, child seats usually stay in the car because you don't need them on the bus.

Stating the terminal

The four terminals are side by side. Nevertheless, it helps to state the check-in area when booking so that the shuttle stops as close as possible to your entrance. The information is in your flight documents. Orientation is provided in the guide Terminals at Stuttgart Airport.

The ride back to the car park

After landing, collect your luggage and contact the provider if the confirmation says so. Then go to the pick-up point. In the event of delays, the flight number in the booking helps – as does a short message. If you land late in the evening, clarify beforehand how long the shuttle runs. There is a separate guide for late returners: Late arrival at Stuttgart Airport.

When shuttle parking suits – and when it doesn't

For holidays of a week or longer, shuttle parking is often the most economical solution, because the transfer time hardly matters on a long trip. More on this in the guide Long-term parking at Stuttgart Airport. With very tight schedules, with small children or on day trips, valet may be the better choice. A comparison is provided by Valet or shuttle at Stuttgart Airport.

The car in the car park

Whether you park yourself or hand over the key: take photos of the condition, take valuables with you and don't leave any documents in the glove compartment. With key handover, staff often park the cars closer together to make good use of the space. This is normal. On longer trips in summer, a sunshade behind the windscreen protects the interior; in winter, a windscreen cover saves you scraping on your return.

Shuttle or light rail?

The airport is connected to the S-Bahn and light rail: the S2 and S3 S-Bahn lines stop at Flughafen/Messe station, and the U6 light rail line runs to the airport. For travellers from Stuttgart city centre with light luggage, this is a real alternative. If, on the other hand, you come from the Rems valley, the Schönbuch, the Alb or Hohenlohe, the car is often faster and more flexible – especially with family, suitcases and child seats. Shuttle parking combines both: a comfortable journey in your own car and a short transfer for the last stretch.

The pick-up point after landing

A good provider describes the pick-up point so precisely that you can find it straight away even after a long flight: at which terminal, at which exit, on which level, possibly with a photo. Read this description before the trip and save it on your phone. Unclear phrasing is a reason to ask before booking. At Stuttgart Airport the terminal exits are side by side; a precise description nevertheless saves unnecessary walking with the luggage trolley.

If the shuttle is late

If the shuttle is not ready at the stated time, call the provider. Often the bus has only been briefly held up in traffic, for example at a roundabout on the Filder plateau or in rush-hour traffic on the airport road. Stay at the pick-up point so that the driver can find you, and keep your phone to hand. If it takes unusually long, document the waiting time with the time of day. For Friend-Park bookings, you can inform support so that we can keep an eye on the providers' quality.

The shuttle in the cold season

In winter it is often colder and foggier on the Filder plateau than in the Stuttgart valley basin. Pack a warm jacket in your hand luggage for the return so that you don't freeze at the pick-up point and in the car park. Allow time to scrape the windows if your car was parked outdoors. And think of ski luggage: if you are flying to the mountains, register your ski bag and ski boot bag with the shuttle provider in advance.

Checklist

• Car park address saved in the satnav
• Terminal area stated when booking
• Shuttle frequency checked against your times
• Trade fair calendar and start of the holidays taken into account
• Bulky luggage and all fellow travellers registered
• Provider's phone number saved

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