Valet Parking at BER: The Convenient Way to Park at Berlin Airport

Have you ever wondered what exactly valet parking is? Often seen in movies, this service offers a convenient solution for parking your car in high-traffic areas such as airports. Specifically, valet parking at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) takes the parking experience to a new level.

Customers can conveniently leave their vehicle at the departure terminal while a professional employee takes care of secure parking - an ideal solution for travellers with a lot of luggage, business people or people with limited mobility. At least that's the theory, we have investigated exactly what it looks like in practice.

Car parking and return

Your car will be parked securely in car park P3. On your return, you will collect your car yourself from car park P3. To obtain your key, please report to the parking control centre in multi-storey car park P3 and identify yourself. After successful identification, you will receive the key to your vehicle and an exit ticket with which you can start your journey home.

Advantages:

Time saving: The biggest advantage of valet parking at Berlin Airport is that you save valuable time - of course only if the person collecting your car is already waiting for you.

Disadvantages:

Cost: The higher cost is a factor that needs to be considered.
No direct terminal return: A disadvantage that somewhat limits the convenience on return.
Limited availability: With service times from 08:00 to 19:30, you can only use the service if you arrive within this time frame. However, many holiday trips start early in the morning or end well after 19:30.

How it works

The automated valet parking system from Stanley Robotics at Lyon Airport uses autonomous, robot-controlled vehicles to park customers' vehicles. The process begins when the customer parks their vehicle in a special handover box. From here, a fully automated robot, known as "Stan", takes over the vehicle without human intervention. Stan carefully lifts the vehicle by the wheels and transports it to an allocated parking space. This method enables more efficient use of available parking space, as vehicles can be parked closer together without having to leave space between them for drivers to get in and out. When the customer returns, the system ensures that the vehicle is back in the drop-off box at the agreed time.

Advantages of robots

Optimised parking space utilisation: The precise and close positioning of the vehicles means that more cars can be parked in the same space, which is particularly beneficial in places where space is limited, such as airports.
Time saving for the customer: The customer saves valuable time as there is no need to search for a parking space or park the car itself. The system ensures that the vehicle is immediately available when the customer returns.
Reduction of CO2 emissions: As vehicles are parked more efficiently and the need to drive around looking for a parking space is eliminated, the system helps to reduce CO2 emissions.
Increased safety: Without the need for people to walk between parked cars, the risk of accidents and theft is reduced.

Disadvantages of robots

High initial investment for car park operators: Implementing a fully automated valet parking system requires significant initial investment in technology, infrastructure and adaptation of existing car parks. These costs can act as a deterrent for some operators.
Technical disruption: As with any complex technological solution, there is a risk of technical faults or failures that could affect operations. Such incidents can lead to delays and negatively impact the customer experience.
Customer acceptance: Despite the obvious benefits, some customers may be reluctant to entrust their vehicle to a fully automated system. Concerns about the safety of their car or the desire for personal contact may cause reservations among some users.