Valet parking at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): how it works
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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.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport “Willy Brandt” is located in Schönefeld, south-east of the capital. If you come by car from Berlin, Potsdam, Lusatia or the Spreewald, you drive via the A113 or the Berlin ring road directly to the airport. But at the end of the journey the question arises: where to put the car? Valet parking is the most convenient answer: a driver takes over your vehicle near the terminal and makes it available to you again after your trip. Here you will learn how this works at BER.
Key facts at a glance
- With valet, you hand over your car and key at an agreed meeting point at BER.
- Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have separate forecourts – check your terminal in advance.
- The provider's confirmation states the meeting point, telephone number and procedure.
- On your return, the car is ready again at the agreed time.
Why valet is popular at BER
BER is a large airport with extensive parking areas. If you park yourself, you have to find a space and then walk to the terminal with your luggage or wait for a bus. With valet parking, both are eliminated. You drive to the meeting point, unload your luggage and go straight to check-in. Especially for early departures, with children or on business trips, this noticeably saves time and nerves.
Terminal 1 or Terminal 2
At BER, passengers are handled in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 2 lies north of Terminal 1 and is connected to it via Pier North. Both have their own forecourts. The former Terminal 5 – the former Schönefeld Airport – is closed. So if you still have the old routes in your head, you should rethink. Which terminal applies to your flight is stated in your documents or your airline's app. An overview can be found in the guide Terminals at BER.
The procedure in five steps
- Check the confirmation: meeting point, time, telephone number.
- Get in touch in advance: many providers ask for a call shortly before arrival – see frequently asked questions about calling the provider.
- Getting there: the A113 takes you directly to the airport; follow the signs to your terminal and then the provider's instructions.
- Handover: record the condition together, hand over the key, take the receipt.
- Check-in: from the meeting point you walk into the terminal.
What you should do beforehand
Remove valuables and documents, take your house key off your car key and take a few photos of the vehicle – outside, inside, mileage. When booking, enter your number plate and any special notes correctly, for example if your car has a tow bar or roof box. How to document the handover is explained in the guide Vehicle handover at BER.
The return
After landing, you collect your luggage; if you are coming from outside the Schengen area, you go through passport control first. Then you contact the provider as stated in the confirmation. The car is brought to the meeting point, you check it briefly and drive home. In the event of delays, the flight number in the booking helps – as does a short message to the provider. More in the guide Returning: collecting your car at BER.
Who valet at BER is worthwhile for
- Travellers with a lot of luggage or children
- Business travellers with a tight schedule – see Business trip from BER
- Early flyers who need every minute – see Early flight from BER
- Anyone who does not want to wait for a shuttle after landing
If, on the other hand, you are travelling for a long time and have time for a transfer, shuttle parking is often cheaper. The direct comparison is shown in the guide Valet or shuttle at BER.
Recognising good valet providers
A clearly described meeting point, opening hours that suit your flights, information about the parking location, transparent prices and a telephone number that can be reached – these are the minimum requirements. More criteria in the guide Choosing a parking service at BER.
Valet at BER: the procedure from the driver's perspective
It helps to understand how a valet service is organised. The provider schedules its drivers according to the booked handover times. If a customer arrives on time, a driver is ready at the meeting point; if several customers arrive at the same time, it may take a moment. After the handover, the driver takes the car to the provider's site, which at BER is typically located in a business park around Schönefeld. There the car is parked, the key is kept safe and the return is prepared. With this knowledge it becomes clear why arriving on time, a quick call in advance and the flight number in the booking are so important: they help the provider allocate its drivers correctly.
If you arrive too early or too late
If you arrive much earlier than booked, call the provider – perhaps a driver is already free. If you arrive later, for example because of traffic jams on the A100 or at the Schönefeld interchange, inform them as early as possible. They can then reschedule, and you avoid unnecessary waiting time at the meeting point. Especially on holiday days, when many people from Berlin and Brandenburg fly out at the same time, this communication pays off.
Valet with an electric car
Berlin has a growing number of electric cars. If you drive to BER in an electric car, you should state when booking that it is an electric vehicle and photograph the battery level at handover. Some providers offer charging as an additional service – this is then stated in the offer description. If not, plan the range so that you can get home safely after your return. Bear in mind that the battery loses some charge in the cold and over weeks of standing. Briefly explain the particularities of your car to the driver, for example how it is started or how the parking brake works.
What valet cannot do
Valet parking saves you looking for a parking space and the transfer, but not the time in the terminal. You still need to plan for check-in, bag drop and the security check. Even the best valet service cannot prevent traffic jams on the way to the airport. So always allow enough buffer for the journey – the time saved with valet only begins at the meeting point.
Valet for commuters and frequent flyers
If you fly regularly from BER, for example every week to a client or project, you benefit from fixed routines. A regular provider whose meeting point you know and a well-practised routine save time and nerves. Many frequent flyers book their parking directly with the flight and always enter the flight number. That way the provider knows about delays on the return flight too. It also helps to know the typical journey time at different times of day – in the morning via the A100 takes a different time than in the evening via the ring road.
Valet in bad weather
In rain, storms or snow, valet shows another advantage: you don't walk across an open car park with your luggage or wait at a shuttle stop; instead you hand over the car at the meeting point and go into the terminal. On your return, the car is brought to you. For families with children or older travellers, this is a real gain in comfort, especially in winter.
In brief
Valet at BER means: a meeting point near the terminal, handover with a report, return by arrangement. If you know your terminal, are on time, inform the provider of delays and document the handover, you will enjoy a smooth start and a relaxed return.
Valet and luggage: what to watch out for at the meeting point
At the meeting point, you unload your luggage before the driver takes over the car. Check that you have everything – hand luggage, jackets, charging cables, travel documents. A look in the glove compartment and under the seats is worthwhile. Whatever stays in the car stays there until your return; access during the trip is not provided for by most providers.
If you take this into account, you will set off on your trip from BER without detours and find everything as you handed it over on your return. Valet parking is therefore above all one thing: a piece of predictable calm at the beginning and end of every trip from Berlin.
Valet at BER via Friend-Park
Friend-Park is a comparison and booking portal; the service is provided by the respective provider. You can see whether affiliated valet providers can already be booked at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on the page Parking at Berlin Airport. Offers, handover locations and final prices appear there automatically as soon as a partner is activated.
