Arriving early or late for your parking booking
Parking bookings are for set times, but plans slip. How much leeway car parks usually give, and what to do before you get there.
Last reviewed . Prices and car park rules change often — confirm the current details before you travel.
A parking booking is for a specific entry time and a specific exit time. Traffic, early starts and delayed flights mean real arrivals rarely match either exactly. Most car parks expect that — but "most" is not "all", and the edges are where extra charges come from.
Arriving early
Arriving a little ahead of your booked time is normally fine. Arriving a lot earlier is where problems appear:
- The barrier may not recognise you. Number-plate entry systems match your car to a booking window. Too early, and there may be no booking to match yet.
- You may be charged for the extra time, sometimes at the drive-up rate, which is the most expensive one.
- Off-airport and meet-and-greet operators run to schedules. A driver or a bus may simply not be there yet.
How much leeway you get is set by each operator, not by the airport, and it changes. If you know you will be noticeably early — an earlier flight, an overnight drive — contact the operator before you set off. Amending the booking is usually cheaper than an extra charge at the barrier; see amending a booking.
Arriving late
Turning up after your booked entry time is generally the easier case: you are using less time than you paid for. A booking does not normally lapse because you are late, but check the terms if you will be many hours late, and always tell a meet-and-greet operator, because someone is waiting for you.
Collecting the car late
This is the one that costs money. Leaving after your booked exit time is an overstay, and it is usually charged. If a delayed flight is the reason, many operators are pragmatic — read what happens to your parking when your flight is delayed and contact them as soon as you know, not at the barrier.
Collecting the car early
Coming home early is rarely a problem for self-park car parks. You will not normally get money back for unused days. With meet and greet, call ahead so the car can be brought back for your new time.
Before you travel
- Check the entry and exit times on the confirmation match your actual plans.
- Save the operator's phone number where you can reach it without data.
- If your flight time changes, amend the parking at the same time.
Common questions
Can I arrive early for my Gatwick parking booking?
Usually a little early is fine, but how early depends on the operator and the car park. Arriving well before your booked entry time can mean the barrier does not recognise the booking, or an extra charge for the extra time. Check your booking terms, and contact the operator if you will be more than slightly early.
What happens if I arrive late for my parking booking?
Arriving after your booked entry time is normally less of a problem than arriving early, because you are using less time than you paid for. The booking does not usually lapse just because you are late, but check the terms — and tell the operator if you are delayed by many hours.
What if I collect my car later than booked?
An overstay is normally charged, often at the drive-up rate. If the cause is a delayed flight, many operators are flexible — tell them as soon as you know.