What is valet parking — and is it worth it?

If you've seen the word valet while booking airport parking and wondered what it actually means — here's the short version.

How valet parking works

1. You drive directly to a designated drop-off point at the terminal. 2. A uniformed driver meets you and takes your keys. 3. The driver parks your car at a nearby lot — you don't see where, but the lot is fenced and CCTV-monitored. 4. When you fly back, you call the company from baggage claim and the driver brings your car back to the terminal.

When valet is worth it

• You're travelling with young children or lots of luggage and don't want to manage a shuttle.
• You're on a tight schedule — valet typically saves 15–20 minutes vs shuttle.
• You have a premium vehicle and prefer it stays in one supervised spot.

When it isn't

• For longer trips or budget travellers, the price premium (often 50–80% over shuttle parking) doesn't always pay off.