BAA

Car parking frequently asked questions

BAA Advance offers a streamlined approach to your airport parking reservations, and below are some key areas that may assist you further.

Making a car park booking

How far ahead can I book?
It is possible to book up to 12 months ahead of your travel date and by pre-booking you are protected from any price changes. Should your plans change, you can amend or cancel without charge provided that you do so more than 24 hours before your arrival time at the car park.
*Please note that this does not apply to SuperSaver products, which offer larger discounts and cannot be cancelled or amended.
Can I make a booking today to park at the airport today?
It is not possible to book car parking on the day of travel.
What is a SuperSaver?
Some of our car parks offer SuperSaver deals with bigger discounts for customers who book a certain number of days in advance (as detailed on the website). Supersaver’s offer less flexibility that other parking rates. Once booked they cannot be cancelled, nor amendments of car park entry and exit dates and times.
What are the minimum stay periods for your car parks?
A number of our car parks have minimum stay periods. Please visit our car park minimum stay page for full details of car parks which have minimum stays.
How do I book disabled parking?
There are disabled bays in all car parks which are clearly marked and close to bus stops. If you need wheelchair access, nearly all buses are low-loading and have space to accommodate chairs. Information about disabled parking for individual car parks can be found by clicking on the car park name on the parking product options page on the website for further information.
How are parking charges calculated?
Car parks are priced per 24-hour period or part thereof. The number of 'days' (24-hour periods) charged for when you pre-book is calculated on the basis of the times you select when making your booking. However, if your actual entry and exit time changes and as a result your actual time in the car park runs into another 24-hour period (over and above that booked), you will be liable for an additional day's charge at the drive-up tariff. All prices shown are in pounds sterling and include VAT at the prevailing rate.
How often do car parking prices change?
Our car parking prices are constantly monitored to ensure that we offer the best price possible. Hence, our prices are subject to change, so please bear in mind that quotes are valid at the time of booking only.
Why is the drive-up price sometimes less than the BAA Advance price?
Some car parks have a minimum stay policy which therefore incurs a minimum charge payable for parking. This means that on occasions, if your stay is a short one, it may be cheaper in some car parks to drive up rather than pre-book.
What payment methods are accepted?
BAA Advance accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Visa Debit, Maestro, Visa Electron and Solo cards. Unfortunately we cannot accept cheques.
Is a booking fee applied to my order?
BAA Advance does not charge booking or credit card fees, or any other hidden charges - the price you see is what you pay.
How do I know my payment details are secure?
The BAA Advance site uses SSL encryption software, which is the industry standard. It encrypts all your personal information - including name, address and credit or debit card number. A padlock appears in the frame of your browser when you are within a secure area of the website, and you will be warned when leaving the secure area.
Why can’t I get a quote for the car park I’m looking for?
If you are unable to get a quote for a specific car park of your choice, it may be due to unavailable pre-booked allocation of spaces in that car park, not meeting minimum length of stay requirements or your entry and exit times may fall outside of the operating times for the car park in question.
What height restrictions are in place at your car parks?
Many of our car parks do not have a height restriction for entry to the car park, however some do due to building heights. Review the car park information table when viewing the available parking product options page on the website for further information.
How important is my car registration number when making a booking?
Your car registration number is an important piece of information as entry to some of our car parks is governed by number plate recognition. If we don’t have your correct car registration number, this can delay entry into the car park. For block parking and valet parking, the car registration number is important for the car park staff when identifying your car in preparation to meet you on the terminal forecourt or to have your car in the right position for collection when you return.

Manage my Booking

How do I know my booking has been placed?
Once you have completed the booking process, you will receive a confirmation email with a booking reference number. You should print out the confirmation and bring it with you to the airport. If you do not receive a confirmation email please email us at orders@baa.com.
Can I cancel a car parking booking if my travel plans change?
You can cancel a car parking booking up to 24 hours before your time of arrival to the car park using the online Manage my booking feature. You will qualify for a full refund, as long we receive notification of your cancellation in time. The only exception to this policy are SuperSaver products, which offer larger discounts and cannot be cancelled or amended.
Can I amend my car parking booking if my travel plans change?
You can amend a car parking booking at any time up to 24 hours before your time of entry to the car park using the online Manage my booking feature. The only exception to this policy are SuperSaver products, which offer larger discounts and cannot be cancelled or amended.
I need my booking confirmation email to be resent. How do I request this?
You can request that you booking confirmation email is resent by logging into the Manage my booking service. On the display booking page you will find a ‘resend my booking confirmation email’ button at the top of the page, which will resend the latest version of the confirmation email.
I’ve made a car parking booking, but can’t find my booking reference number?
Your booking reference number can be found at the top of the confirmation email. If experiencing difficulties, go to the Find my booking reference page, where you can enter your postcode and email address to submit a request for an email with your booking reference number.
What happens if I want to bring a different car from the one I told you about?
Log into the Manage my booking, and click ‘Amend booking’. Then click on ‘Amend’ next to the car registration box where you can update the details. [Back to top]

What to do on arrival at the carpark

What do I do when I get to the car park?
Entry procedures vary for each airport car park. The confirmation email will prompt you to retrieve the entry procedures directly from the website.
What happens when I return from my trip?
Exit procedures vary for each airport car park. The confirmation email will prompt you to retrieve the exit procedures directly from the website.

However, in many cases the car park will use number plate recognition or credit card recognition. This means that the barriers will recognise that you have pre-booked and allow you to enter and exit without you having to get out of your car. If your car park does not operate this equipment, you should present your booking reference number and car park entry ticket at the customer service office (located near the car park exit) prior to leaving so the car park staff can validate your ticket. You should not use the payment machines in the car park as they will not recognise your booking and will charge you again at the gate price.
How do I find out which bus stop I go to when I arrive back?
As you leave the airport terminal there will be clear signs pointing to the locations of the courtesy bus pick-up points.
Will there be a courtesy bus running early in the morning or late at night?
Most car parks operate a 24-hour transfer service to the terminals, though the frequency may vary depending upon time of day. To check the details of the transfer service for the car park you have booked, click on the individual car park name on the Parking product selection page.
Are there any restrictions on the kind of vehicle I can bring?
Some car parks, particularly multi-storey ones, are unable to accept high-sided vehicles or trailers. This information can be found by clicking on the individual car park name on the parking product selection page.
How does valet parking (or meet and greet) work?
Valet Parking (or known as meet and greet) offers the ultimate convenience, especially if you have children or heavy luggage. Simply arrive at the designated drop-off point at the pre-arranged time. Give your booking reference number and car keys to the valet parking staff, who will park your car and have it waiting for you upon your return.
What happens if my car won’t start at the car park?
Go to the nearest help phone. This will be answered by the duty manager of the car park and they will send someone to jump start your car or contact your motoring organisation. Often the car park will be able to jump start your vehicle for free, however you should check with the duty manager as to whether they are able to provide this service free or whether a third party will need to be called, in which case a charge may be payable.
What happens if my car gets damaged while it is parked in the airport car park?
In the unlikely event of this happening, you must go directly to the duty manager of the car park to whom you should report the incident. Do not leave the car park without reporting the incident.
What happens if my return flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed and you go over your car park exit time, you will be charged for an additional day at the drive-up price.
What happens if I need to leave the car park and then re-enter?
Before you exit the car park advise the attendant as to why you need to exit and return. They will give you instructions on the procedures to take when you re-enter.
What should I do if I need to return early from my trip due to unforeseen circumstances. Will I be refunded for the days parking I did not use?
BAA’s customer service team will consider all the facts and contact you within 48 hours of receiving your correspondence. You can use any of the following three options to contact us:
  • Email to orders@baa.com
  • Fax to 0121 410 5037
  • Write to BAA Advance, Teleperformance House, 1 Duchess Place, Hagley Road, Birmingham, B16 8NH, providing any supporting documentation which you feel is relevant
What if there are problems on the day, such as my flight being cancelled? Can I cancel or amend my booking?
It depends on the particular circumstances, but you should call BAA Advance on 0844 335 1000 and we’ll do everything we can to help.
What happens if I forget to bring my booking details to the airport with me?
Many of our car parks use number plate recognition, and the entry barrier will open automatically when you follow the correct entry procedure. Otherwise, take a ticket and, when you return, go to the customer service office at the car park where the staff will validate your ticket. You need to ensure you have the name and address of the person who made the original booking. NB, If you have pre-booked, DO NOT insert your credit card into the barrier as this will result in you being charged again.[Back to top]

General car parking information

What are the on the day prices for your car parks?
Please visit the relevant airport website to find out about pay-on-the-day car park prices. There are separate pages giving long stay and short stay parking prices. [Back to top]
If we have not answered your question please email us at orders@baa.com or call our customer service team on 0844 335 1000.

BAA Advance

What is BAA Advance?
BAA Advance is a trading name of BAA Enterprises Limited. BAA Advance handles internet and telephone bookings for car parks and airport lounges.
How do I make a complaint?
We are committed to the highest standards of customer care. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service you have received, please let us know. You can contact our customer service team by telephone on 0121 410 5123; by email (orders@baa.com); by fax on 0121 410 5037; or by post at BAA Advance, Teleperformance House, 1 Duchess Place, Hagley Road, Birmingham, B16 8NH. [Back to top]

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