Valet parking at Stuttgart Airport: handover, return and trade fair days
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No car parks can be booked through Friend-Park at Stuttgart Airport yet.
As soon as a partner is activated, you will find their offers with real prices on the airport page.
Stuttgart Airport lies on the Filder plateau between Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Filderstadt, right on the A8 and next door to the Stuttgart trade fair centre. For travellers from the state capital, from the Esslingen, Böblingen and Ludwigsburg districts, from the Swabian Alb or from the Black Forest, it is quick to reach – and on some days surprisingly busy. Valet parking takes care of the last, often most hectic part of the journey: you hand your car over to a driver near the terminal and go straight to check-in. This guide explains how this works on the Filder plateau and what Swabians, Badeners and everyone else should look out for.
Key facts at a glance
- Handover of car and key at an agreed meeting point near the terminals.
- Terminals 1 to 4 form a connected complex – clarify your check-in area beforehand.
- Allow more time on trade fair days and at the start of the Baden-Württemberg holidays.
- Compare the return times with your landing time and enter your flight number in the booking.
How valet works on the Filder plateau
With valet parking, you don't drive to a car park on the outskirts but to a meeting point near the terminal. A driver from the provider is waiting there. You look at the car together, you hand over the key and receive a receipt. The driver then takes the car to the provider's site while you go to check-in with your luggage. On your return it works the other way round: you get in touch after landing, the driver brings the car to the meeting point, and you drive home. No searching in the multi-storey car park, no shuttle transfer, no dragging suitcases over long distances.
How this model differs from shuttle parking and when which option is better is described in the guide Valet or shuttle at Stuttgart Airport.
Terminals 1 to 4: one complex, several sections
Stuttgart Airport has four terminals, which lie side by side as a connected complex. For pedestrians the distances between them are short. For handing over your car, however, it matters in which section your airline checks in, because the meeting point may depend on it. You can find the terminal area in your booking confirmation, in the airline's app or in the departures overview on stuttgart-airport.com. More on orientation is provided in the guide Terminals at Stuttgart Airport.
The procedure on the day of departure
- Open the confirmation: have the meeting point, time and provider's phone number to hand.
- Getting there: via the A8 to the Stuttgart-Flughafen/Messe junction or from the city via the B27. The address from the confirmation goes into the satnav, not just "airport".
- Get in touch: many providers would like a short call before you arrive – see frequently asked questions about calling the provider.
- Handover: walk around the car, photos, key and receipt.
- Check-in: walk into the terminal and on to security.
Trade fair days: when the Filder plateau is full
The Stuttgart trade fair centre lies directly opposite the airport, separated only by the A8. During major events – such as the CMT holiday fair in January – tens of thousands of visitors flock to the Filder plateau. Access roads, roundabouts and parking areas around the airport and trade fair centre are then much busier than on normal days. For valet customers this means: the last few kilometres to the meeting point may take longer. Check the trade fair calendar on the Stuttgart trade fair website before your trip and plan generously on such days. Everything else on this is in the guide Parking at Stuttgart Airport during trade fairs.
The start of the holidays in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg has its own holiday rhythm with Whitsun holidays and comparatively late summer holidays. On the first day of the holidays, a particularly large number of families depart at the same time. Longer queues form at check-in and security, and the valet providers' meeting points are busier too. If you fly on such days, get to the meeting point a little earlier and still take the time for a careful handover. A provider that has adjusted its procedures to these peaks is all the more reliable on normal days.
Preparation at home
- Remove valuables, documents and the garage door opener from the car.
- Separate your house keys from the car key.
- Take photos: all round, wheel rims, interior, mileage, fuel or battery gauge.
- Note special features: electric car, tow bar, roof box, unusual start procedure.
More on this in the guide Vehicle handover at Stuttgart Airport.
Where your car is parked during the trip
Space is tight around the airport: to the north lies the trade fair centre, to the south and east stretch fields where the well-known Filder cabbage grows, and in between are the villages of Echterdingen, Bernhausen and Plieningen. Private providers' parking areas are therefore usually located in industrial estates in the surrounding municipalities. Reputable providers describe whether the site is fenced, lit or under video surveillance and whether the cars are parked outdoors or in a hall. This information helps you assess the offer. Your car is normally only moved for the journey to the parking site, for the return and for rearranging on the site.
Return after landing
After disembarking, collect your luggage, after passport control for flights from outside the Schengen area. Then contact the provider as described in the confirmation. The driver brings the car to the meeting point. Walk once around the car, compare with your photos, check the mileage and drive off. Stuttgart has night flight rules that severely restrict flight operations during the night; nevertheless, some flights land late in the evening, especially after delays. So check until when your provider returns cars. More in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Stuttgart Airport.
Who valet in Stuttgart particularly suits
- early risers departing at dawn – see Early flight from Stuttgart,
- families with children, a pushchair and lots of luggage – see with the family to Stuttgart Airport,
- business travellers from the industrial and supplier region – see Business trip from Stuttgart,
- travellers who land in the evening and don't want to wait for a shuttle.
Electric cars and modern technology
Many electric and hybrid vehicles are on the road in the Greater Stuttgart area. Briefly instruct the driver at handover if your car requires special operation: electric parking brake, keyless go, a particular start procedure. Photograph the battery level. If a provider offers charging as an additional service, this is stated in their description. If you use a car app, you may see the location during the trip – this is harmless as long as it matches the described parking site.
Recognising good providers
A precisely described meeting point, opening hours that match your flights, information about the parking site, a transparent final price and a reachable phone number – these are the most important features. Further criteria and warning signs are listed in the guide Choosing a parking service at Stuttgart Airport.
A morning with valet from Stuttgart
An example from Ludwigsburg: the flight to Palma departs at 06:20, and the airline recommends two hours' lead time. So you want to be in the terminal at 04:20, and the meeting point is agreed for 04:05. The drive via the A81, the Stuttgart interchange and the A8 up onto the Filder plateau takes about 30 minutes at this time of day; roadworks set up at night can lengthen it. With a 20-minute reserve, you set off at 03:15. If you call the provider shortly before arriving as requested, the driver will be ready when you turn in. The figures are an example and depend on traffic and the provider.
What the driver should know
At handover, mention everything that is important for handling your car: a sensitive front apron that scrapes when driving over high kerbs, a tow bar that gets in the way when manoeuvring, or a bike rack. Also say if there are items in the boot that should stay there. The clearer the agreement, the smoother the return. Good drivers ask of their own accord – if not, simply mention it.
Valet via Friend-Park
Friend-Park is a comparison and booking portal; the parking service is provided by the respective provider. Whether valet providers at Stuttgart Airport have already joined is shown on the page Parking at Stuttgart Airport – with meeting point and final price as soon as a partner has been activated.
