Aberdeen Airport Long Stay Parking

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.

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 guide.

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.

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 guide 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, use our code and avoid turn-up rates.

The airport says pre-booking saves up to 60% on turn-up prices. Our code takes 30% off every product 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 and the code takes 30% off.

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 up to 72 hours before arrival. Late returns are charged at the car park's overstay rate, so update the booking as soon as a return date changes.

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.

Long stay at Aberdeen: your questions