Your flight is delayed, or worse, cancelled , what happens to the car park you booked? The reassuring news is that your car is parked and safe regardless. The details that matter are whether you get charged extra, and what happens to the booking itself. Here is how it works.

If your return flight is delayed

This is the common one, and it is usually fine. Most car parks and meet and greet operators build in a buffer and do not charge for a genuine flight delay , they track flights, and the return time on your booking is guidance, not a hard cut-off. Your car is waiting whenever you land. The main exception is meet and greet: if you arrive back much earlier or later than booked, a few operators charge a small fee for a second handover, so it is worth knowing your operator's late-return policy.

If your outbound flight is cancelled

Here the question is about the booking, not the car. Whether you can move or refund your parking depends entirely on the tier you booked:

  • Non-flexible , the cheapest, but you usually cannot amend or refund it. A cancelled flight can mean a lost booking.
  • Flexible , you can normally amend or cancel up to a set time before arrival (often 24 to 48 hours, or as little as 2 hours at some airports).
  • Fully flexible / all-inclusive , free cancellation right up to arrival, the safety net if your plans are at risk.

How to protect yourself

  1. Book flexible if your trip is at any risk , the small premium buys the right to move or cancel.
  2. Keep the operator's contact details to hand, so you can call if plans change.
  3. Tell the operator about a big delay if you can , most will already know, but it does no harm.

FAQ

Will I be charged extra if my flight is delayed?

Usually not , most car parks track flights and do not charge for genuine delays. Meet and greet can be the exception, so check the late-return policy.

Can I get a refund if my flight is cancelled?

Only if you booked a flexible or fully flexible tier. Non-flexible bookings generally cannot be refunded, which is the trade-off for the lower price.

For the full picture on changing a booking, see our guide to airport parking cancellation and refund rules.