Many airport car parks are not open all night. If you are coming back late, check three things before you book: the desk opening hours, the out-of-hours return procedure (key box, code, on-call staff) and any night surcharge. Then build in a margin, because your flight may land later than planned.
The risk is real. According to EUROCONTROL, in 2025, 76.1% of flights across the European network arrived on time, meaning no more than 15 minutes after the scheduled time. In summer 2025 (1 June to 15 September), the figure was 71.6%. In other words, roughly one flight in four arrives late. A return planned for 23:50 can turn into 00:40, and a car park that closes at midnight becomes a problem.
In short
Compare the landing time, plus getting off the plane and collecting bags, with the car park's closing time.
An out-of-hours return is often possible, but you need to know the procedure before you leave.
Night or out-of-hours fees should be in the total, not announced at the desk at 1 am.
If your flight is delayed, tell the car park as soon as possible, by phone or in writing.
On Comparkly, we check real opening hours on our visits, and we test late returns in our test bookings.
Why opening hours catch so many travellers out
Car parks with a shuttle or valet service run on a team: it welcomes customers, drives the shuttle and hands back keys. When the team goes home, the desk closes. Some car parks open very early for the first flights and close late in the evening. And the hours on a listing do not always tell you what really happens at 23:30, on an evening when flights land late.
The trap is looking at the landing time instead of the time you will actually reach the car park. Between touchdown and leaving the terminal, count taxiing, getting off the plane, possibly passport control and waiting for bags. Then add the shuttle wait and ride. Our article on shuttle airport parking covers how much time to allow.
Out-of-hours returns: how they work
The key box
With a valet service or a car park that keeps your keys, some operators leave the car ready and the keys in a box locked with a code. Ask in advance how you will get the code, where the box is and whether the car will be parked somewhere you can reach. On a site with a barrier, also ask how you will get out.
On-call staff
Other car parks keep someone reachable by phone for late returns, sometimes for a surcharge. Save the number in your phone and write it on paper too, in case your battery is flat when you land.
The car park with no plan
If the operator has no out-of-hours option, your car stays locked in until opening time. You then pay for a taxi or a hotel night, and sometimes an extra day of parking. This is the scenario to avoid, and you can spot it when you book.
How to read opening hours on Comparkly
When you search for a car park with your dates and times, we flag car parks that are closed at the arrival or return time you entered, with the label Closed at selected hours. Do not ignore it: read the car park's out-of-hours return terms before booking.
When a car park charges a night fee or an out-of-hours surcharge and we can work it out from your times, it is included in the total shown. That total also includes our service fee. Optional extras are still marked as optional.
So enter a realistic return time, not the landing time printed on your ticket. If in doubt, add a margin: a surcharge you know about in advance beats a surprise at midnight.
What we check before we list a car park
Hours on a listing are not enough. We only list car parks we trust, and opening hours are part of what we check. On our visits, we check the real opening hours and how you get in and out of the site. We talk with the owner or manager of the car park: who answers the phone at midnight, where the keys are after closing, how you get out when the barrier is down.
We also make test bookings, like any customer. We look at the car handover, the shuttle time, the return, including a late return, and how the car park reacts when we call. An out-of-hours return procedure has to work in real life, not only on paper. Visited car parks carry the Verified by Comparkly badge with the date of the visit.
Unsure about a specific case? Contact our support team before booking, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00: +32 2 320 96 38 in Belgium, +33 7 43 39 46 35 in France. A real person answers.
Your flight lands late: what to do
As soon as the delay is announced, tell the car park. A call or message with your booking number, your new arrival time and your flight number often leads to a solution: someone stays later, the key box is prepared, the car is parked elsewhere. Keep a written record of the exchange.
If the car park closes before you arrive and has no solution, ask when you can collect the car and what it will cost. If you booked on Comparkly and the car park does not answer, call our support team during its opening hours. Keep every receipt (taxi, hotel, extra parking day).
On the airline side, EU rules provide fixed compensation if you reach your destination at least three hours late: 250 euros for flights of 1,500 km or less, 400 euros for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and up to 600 euros beyond that, under the conditions set out by the French civil aviation authority (DGAC). The DGAC also states that this fixed amount does not prevent you from claiming for individual losses, which must then be assessed by the competent court. Extra parking costs fall into that category, but nothing is automatic.
Checklist before you book
Desk and shuttle hours on the days you leave and return.
The out-of-hours return procedure: key box, code, on-call staff, how to exit the site.
The amount of any night or out-of-hours fee, and whether it is already in the total.
The number to call if you are delayed, and the latest time to let them know.
Your cancellation terms in case your dates change. On Comparkly you get a refund up to 24 hours before arrival, minus the service fee. We explain the rules in our article on airport parking cancellation and changes.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I reach the car park after it closes?
It depends on the car park. Some offer a key box or on-call staff, sometimes for a surcharge. Others have no option, and the car stays on site until opening time. Check the procedure before you book.
How much margin should I allow for a late-night return?
Start from the landing time and add getting off the plane, any passport control, bags and the shuttle. Then add a margin for delays: in 2025, roughly one European flight in four arrived more than 15 minutes late, according to EUROCONTROL.
Are night fees included in the price on Comparkly?
When a car park charges a night fee or an out-of-hours surcharge and we can work it out from your times, it is included in the total shown. So enter realistic times when you search.
Will the airline pay my extra parking costs after a delay?
Not automatically. EU rules provide fixed compensation from a three-hour arrival delay. According to the DGAC, additional individual losses can be claimed, but they are assessed by a court. Keep your receipts.
How does Comparkly check a car park's opening hours?
On our visits, we check the real opening hours and site access, and we discuss them with the owner or manager. We also make test bookings to see how the return and a late return actually go. Visited car parks show the Verified by Comparkly badge with the date of the visit.
What if my flight is cancelled and I come back another day?
Tell the car park as soon as possible to extend your stay, and ask the price of the extra days. If you cannot reach the car park, contact our support team during its opening hours or read our FAQ.
Coming back late? Enter your real return time on Comparkly: you see which car parks will be open, the total including night fees when we can work them out, and the Verified by Comparkly badge on the car parks we have visited. Compare, for example, car parks near Geneva Airport, or choose your airport.
