Aberdeen Airport Short Stay Parking

Short stay at Aberdeen

Short stay at Aberdeen means the multi-storey beside the terminal, with Priority across the road for the closest spaces.

Short Stay is the airport's best-selling car park: more than 500 spaces, mostly undercover, a couple of minutes from check-in. Priority adds larger bays and fast-track security for a higher price.

Short stay prices

Short Stay costs a little more than Long Stay; Priority is priced live.

Sample eight-day prices. Search at the top for your dates.

Priority is not on our sample sheet; search your dates above for its live price.

Walk times and access

Short Stay is about two minutes from the terminal; Priority is under 100 steps.

Both are open 24 hours. Number plate recognition opens the barriers, and you keep your keys. Motorcycles have a covered area near the exits of the multi-storey.

Height limits

The multi-storey has a 2.2 metre height limit.

For a taller vehicle, the airport's Long Stay is the official alternative. Check with the airport for anything unusual.

EV charging

Four charging units sit at the entrance to Short Stay, and two in Priority.

They are rated 7–22kW and charged at 55p per kWh. Bring your own cable, and have a plan B, because the airport cannot promise a free charging space.

Blue Badge holders

Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free in Short Stay.

Take the ticket and badge to the customer service office in Short Stay before you exit, and it will be validated for free exit. It is also the airport's recommended option instead of the Express Drop-off.

Turn-up or pre-book

Turn-up stays in Short Stay run from £8 to £60 per entry, per the airport.

For a few hours, turning up is fine. For a trip, pre-booking with our code costs far less; the airport says booking ahead saves up to 60%.

Meeting a flight

Short Stay is the practical place to park when collecting someone.

You can walk into arrivals and help with bags. For a free option, the airport lets you leave the car in Long Stay for up to an hour and use the bus. Our Aberdeen drop-off and pick-up guide has the full picture.

When Priority is worth it

Priority adds Priority Security and larger bays.

For an early business trip, or a family flying at the start of the holidays, getting through security quickly can save more time than the walk. See the Priority guide.

Security

The airport says its car parks hold the Police Scotland Safe Car Park Award, with CCTV and regular patrols.

The barriers read your plate, and the multi-storey is covered by CCTV.

Our view

Short Stay for most short trips; Priority when time is tight.

Short Stay gives a two-minute walk, cover from the weather and EV charging for a small premium over Long Stay. Priority is the step up for travellers who value a fast track through security. Both let you keep your keys.

Short trips and day returns

Short Stay is ideal for day returns and one or two nights away.

Aberdeen's links to London, Manchester, Birmingham and the Scottish islands make day returns common, especially for business. A pre-booked day in Short Stay costs far less than the turn-up rate, and the walk to check-in is short.

Arriving at Short Stay

Follow the signs for Short Stay; the barrier reads your registration.

Park on any level, note the level and bay, and walk to the terminal. Motorcyclists use the covered area near the exits.

Coming home

Walk back to the multi-storey from arrivals.

The barrier reads your plate on the way out. Pay any extra time by card; the airport does not take cash at its car parks.

Families

For a family, Short Stay balances price and convenience.

The walk is short, most spaces are under cover, and there is no bus to manage with children and cases. It costs only a little more than Long Stay for a week.

Business travellers

A two-minute walk makes Short Stay the default for business trips.

For a very early flight or a tight connection, Priority's fast track is worth pricing; for most trips, Short Stay is enough.

Charging in practice

Plan charging as a bonus, not a certainty.

The units are at the entrance, so you can check for a free one as you arrive. Pre-book at least two hours ahead, or pay the barrier rate. When every unit is taken, park as normal and charge on the way home.

Short Stay against Long Stay

The difference between the two is mostly the walk.

Long Stay costs a little less and adds a short bus; Short Stay costs a little more and puts you a couple of minutes from check-in, mostly under cover. On a wet or frosty day with luggage, many travellers find the extra is well spent. On a dry day travelling light, Long Stay's saving is easy to take.

Both let you keep your keys, both are run by the airport and both take 30% off with our code.

Booking Short Stay

Book ahead through the search at the top.

The airport says pre-booking saves up to 60% against turning up, and our code takes 30% off the booked price. Bookings made with us can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival. Make sure the registration is right, because the barrier reads your plate.

Finding your car

Note the level and bay before you walk away.

Multi-storeys look alike after a week. A photo of the level sign and bay number on your phone saves a search on the way home. The motorcycle area is near the exits.

About Dyce and the airport

Aberdeen International Airport sits at Dyce, about seven miles north-west of the city centre.

It is the main airport for the North East of Scotland and one of the busiest helicopter bases in the world, thanks to the North Sea energy industry. That mix of offshore crews, business travellers and holidaymakers shapes short stay demand: Monday mornings are busy, and demand is steadier through the year than at most holiday airports.

The airport is reached from the A96 and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, and Dyce railway station is a short ride away.

Security in the multi-storey

The airport says Short Stay is monitored by CCTV with regular patrols and 24-hour security.

It also holds the Police Scotland award. Keep valuables out of sight, and lock the car even for a short stay.

Planning your timings

Allow ten minutes from the barrier to check-in.

Parking, the walk and the lift down take only a few minutes, but queues on Monday mornings can add more. Priority Security, included with Priority, is the way to save time at the security search.

On return, the walk back is short and the barrier reads your plate.

Changing a booking

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 amend the dates before you travel when plans change.

Short stay at Aberdeen: your questions