Long stay at Aberdeen in brief
For a week or more, the airport's Long Stay is the cheapest option, with the Express car parks close behind.
Aberdeen is a compact airport, so even the long stay car parks are close. The airport's Long Stay has a short free bus; the APH and Airparks Express car parks on International Gate are a five-minute walk. Every option lets you keep your keys, except APH's Charge & Go.
Long stay prices compared
Four products cover most long trips from Aberdeen.
| Car park | Standard, 8 days | 8 days | Each day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Long Stay | £66.99 | £46.89 | £5.86 |
| APH Express | £74.09 | £51.86 | £6.48 |
| Airparks Express | £74.87 | £52.41 | £6.55 |
| Official Short Stay | £77.99 | £54.59 | £6.82 |
Sample eight-day prices. Search at the top for your dates.
The airport's Long Stay
Long Stay is the cheapest car park the airport runs, with a bus to the terminal of under five minutes.
The bus runs from 04:00 until the last arriving flight. You keep your keys, and the barrier reads your plate. The airport lists Park Mark and People's Parking accreditation for Long Stay, plus the Police Scotland Safe Car Park Award. See the Long Stay page.
The Express car parks
APH Express and Airparks Express are walk-in car parks in Dyce.
Both sit at the same address, about five minutes on foot from the terminal, and both are run by Airparks. You keep your keys and there is no bus. They cost a little more than Long Stay on our sample prices. See APH Aberdeen (Express and Charge & Go) and Airparks Express Aberdeen.
Bus or walk
The main difference between the cheapest options is how you reach the terminal.
| Product | Getting to the terminal | Keys | Run by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Long Stay | Bus, under 5 min | Yours | The airport |
| APH Express | Walk, about 5 min | Yours | Airparks for APH |
| Airparks Express | Walk, about 5 min | Yours | Airparks |
Long stay for offshore workers
Offshore workers can use Long Stay at a special daily rate, with no need to book.
The rate applies to workers flying from the Bristow, CHC, OHS and NHV heliport terminals, with validation on return. Our Aberdeen offshore parking page explains how it works.
Long stay in a North East winter
Aberdeen winters are long, so plan for frost and early darkness.
Keep a scraper and de-icer in the car, and a warm layer for the bus stop. Short Stay, mostly undercover, is the official alternative for anyone who would rather not clear a windscreen after a late flight.
Early and late flights
Check the bus hours against your flight.
The Long Stay bus starts at 04:00 and runs until the last arrival. The Express car parks are staffed 24 hours and need no bus at all, which suits very early departures.
Security while you are away
The airport says its car parks hold the Police Scotland Safe Car Park Award, with CCTV and regular patrols.
APH and Airparks describe CCTV, fencing, floodlighting and patrols at their Dyce site. We report operator claims as their own. Take valuables with you.
Long stay with an electric car
APH Express Charge & Go includes charging; the airport's chargers are in Short Stay and Priority.
Charge & Go costs more and means leaving your keys. The airport's own units charge by the kWh and a space cannot be promised, so for a long trip, arrive with enough range for the drive home.
Booking tips
Book early and avoid turn-up rates.
The airport says pre-booking saves up to 60% on turn-up prices. Our code takes up to 30% off selected products we sell; see the Aberdeen discount code page. Monday mornings, school holidays and the offshore crew-change days are the busiest times.
Our view
Long Stay for the lowest price, Express for no bus.
Both are excellent value at Aberdeen by UK standards, and the gap between them is small. Choose Long Stay if you do not mind a short bus; choose APH or Airparks Express to walk straight in. Either way, you keep your keys.
Who long stay suits
Long stay at Aberdeen suits holidays, business trips of several days and anyone flying from the main terminal for more than a couple of nights.
For a single night, Short Stay costs only a little more and saves the bus. For a week or a fortnight in the sun, Long Stay's low daily price adds up to a real saving over the terminal car parks, and the short bus barely adds to the journey.
Offshore crews flying from the heliports have their own rate, which is usually the simpler choice for a rotation.
Arriving at Long Stay
Follow the airport signs and then the Long Stay signs; the barrier reads your number plate.
Park in any free space, note the row, and walk to the bus stop in the car park. Buses run frequently throughout the day. With children or a lot of luggage, allow a few extra minutes to load and unload at each end.
Coming home
The return is the part of a trip where a short transfer matters most.
After a late landing, head for the Long Stay stop outside the terminal. The ride is short, and you drive straight out. At the Express car parks, you simply walk back along International Gate.
Long Stay against the terminal car parks
Long Stay costs less per day than Short Stay, and the gap grows with the length of the trip.
Over a fortnight, the saving is worth having; over a weekend, it is small. Choose by trip length first, then by how much you value walking straight to the car.
Larger vehicles
Long Stay is the official choice for vehicles too tall for the multi-storey.
The Express car parks accept only standard cars that fit a normal bay. For a campervan or tall van, check Long Stay first.
Changing your booking
Amend before you travel when your dates move.
Bookings made with us can be cancelled free within 24 hours of booking. Late returns are charged at the car park's overstay rate, so update the booking as soon as a return date changes. Our Aberdeen park and ride page shows the car parks we compare, with prices.
How long to allow
From the Long Stay barrier to the check-in desk takes around a quarter of an hour on a normal day.
That covers parking, a short wait and the ride. On Monday mornings, when offshore crews, business travellers and holidaymakers overlap, add a margin. The Express car parks take a similar time on foot, without the wait.
Three tips for long stay
Small habits make long stay easier.
Book early, especially for school holidays, when Long Stay fills first. Photograph your row number before you walk to the bus. And keep the booking confirmation on your phone, because the barrier reads your plate and the confirmation proves the booking if anything goes wrong. You can compare the choices on our Aberdeen meet and greet page.
Long stay at Aberdeen: your questions
The airport's own Long Stay, on our sample prices.
A few minutes, running from 04:00 until the last arriving flight, per the airport.
Yes. APH Express and Airparks Express on Dyce are a five-minute walk.
Yes. Long Stay carries the airport's offshore rate for heliport users.
Bookings made with us can be cancelled free within 24 hours of booking.
Ready to book? The search at the top compares every Aberdeen product we sell. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking. Pre-book now to pay up to 80% less than turning up on the day.