Travel in 2025 is looking a little different. More and more people are booking closer to departure, mixing work with holidays, and keeping plans more flexible than before. That shift is showing up in the way people park and fly, too.

Flexible airport parking gives you more control over how you plan your trip. At Melbourne Airport, we’ve made it easy to find parking that fits your schedule—whether it’s for a quick drop off or a week away. You can book online, choose the airport car park that suits your needs, and adjust your entry time if anything changes along the way. It’s a simple shift that makes parking easier to plan around real-life travel.

Not every trip starts with a locked-in itinerary. And that’s a good thing. More people are making the most of short breaks, combining work and holidays, or booking trips as they go. And flexible parking fits right into that rhythm.

• Last-minute bookings: With more travellers arranging trips close to their departure dates, the ability to modify parking reservations becomes increasingly valuable.
• Blended travel experiences: Combining business with leisure, or 'bleisure' travel, often leads to unpredictable schedules, requiring adaptable parking solutions.
• Increased flight variability: As airlines adjust their schedules more frequently in response to shifting demand, travellers need parking that can accommodate sudden changes.

So, what does all this talk about flexible parking actually mean for you? Let’s unpack the benefits of having parking that can keep up with your plans.

Flexible parking is all about keeping things simple when your plans change—because sometimes they just do. Whether you're flying out for the weekend, extending a work trip, or just picking someone up, flexibility gives you options without the extra admin.

Here’s what that looks like when you book parking at Melbourne Airport:

• Flexible entry time and exit time. All online bookings come with a built-in grace period. If you’re staying for more than four hours, you’ll get two hours on either side of your booked entry and exit time. If it’s under four hours, you get one hour either way. That means arriving a little early or running late won’t cost you extra.
• Change or cancel your booking. Plans moved? No problem. You can change your entry and exit times or cancel your booking online up to two hours before your original arrival time. Already parked and need a little extra time? You can extend your booking online before your scheduled exit.
• Overstay Guarantee add-on for more flexibility. Want extra peace of mind? For unexpected delays, the Overstay Guarantee add-on covers extra parking charges if your return flight is cancelled or moved. Just select it when booking online.
• Match your car park to your plans. There are short-term parking and long-term parking options for every kind of trip, quick drop off at the Terminal Car Park, budget-friendly longer stays at the Value Car Park, and Premium Self-Park and Premium Valet options for convenience or business travel. You can choose what works best based on how long you're away, what terminal you're flying from, and how close you want to be.
• Only pay for the time you need. Except for the Value Car Park (which is best for long stays), most parking options offer daily and hourly rates. So whether you’re parking for half a day or picking someone up, you’re not paying more than you need to.

At Melbourne Airport, flexibility isn’t an add-on. It’s part of how our parking is built. You can manage it online, make changes quickly, and park in a way that fits around your trip, not the other way around.

From short stays to longer getaways, there's a parking option at Melbourne Airport to match whatever your trip looks like. Plus, all car parks are located onsite, so you're always just a short walk or a shuttle ride from check-in. Here's a quick look at what's available:

Value Car Park + Value Express

Ideal for longer trips or travellers looking for a low-cost option, the Value Car Park is an outdoor car park with a free shuttle bus to all terminals. Shuttle service runs every 15 minutes, 24/7.

Booking online means you get better rates than drive-up rates, starting from just $12 per day. During holidays and peak travel periods, you can also upgrade to Value Express. This lets you leave your keys with our valet team, where staff will park it for you. It’s available online or as an add-on when you arrive.

Terminal Car Parks

Located right next to the terminals, the Terminal Car Park is a good fit for shorter trips, weekend flights, or quick drop-offs. Available at two locations, the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park connects you to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via a covered link bridge, while the T4 Terminal Car Park is just 1-2 minutes to Terminal 4.

Parking here is free for the first 15 minutes, or you can head to the Wait Zone on Mercer Drive for up to an hour of free parking if you’re arriving early for a pick-up.

Premium Self-Park

If you want the closest self-parking spaces to check-in, this is the one to book. Premium Self-Park is a fully undercover parking option located on Level 1 of both the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park and the T4 Terminal Car Park. These multi-level car parks are popular with families, travellers with lots of luggage, or anyone wanting faster access to the terminals without catching a shuttle bus.

Premium Valet

Want to skip parking your car yourself? Drive up, hand over your keys, and head straight inside. Premium Valet is designed for travellers who want the fastest route to check-in. It’s especially handy for business trips, family travel, or early flights where time matters. Located on Level 1 of the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park.

Qantas Valet 

Flying with Qantas? Qantas Valet is the closest valet option to the Qantas domestic terminal. It’s located on Level 1 of the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park, closest to Terminal 1. Just drive up, hand over your keys, and walk straight to the check-in counter. This valet parking service is also available for travellers flying with other airlines, and car cleaning can be added if you’d like your vehicle cleaned while you’re away.

Height restrictions vary by car park and are listed online before you book. But if you're driving a taller vehicle, the Value Car Park has the highest clearance and is suited for vans or vehicles with roof racks.

If you’re riding in on two wheels, you’ll find motorcycle parking bays on the ground floor of the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park, just near the exit gates. Standard car parking rates apply.

Need accessible parking? Accessible parking bays are available in every car park close to terminal access points, lift areas or shuttle stops, and marked for vehicles with a valid Disability Parking Permit. The free shuttle from the Value Car Park is wheelchair accessible, too.

If you book now, that means better parking rates and more choices. Here's how it works when you pre-book parking online at Melbourne Airport:

Step 1: Compare and choose your airport car park. Use the online booking system to see what’s available. You can compare car parks by location, price, and how close they are to your domestic or international terminal.

Step 2: Enter your flight dates and details. Set your entry and exit date and time. You’ll also be able to choose any extras, like the Overstay Guarantee or Value Express.

Step 3: Pay online. Pay with your debit or credit card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay—whatever suits you best.

Step 4: Get your confirmation. Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a booking confirmation email or SMS with your booking reference number and QR code.

Step 5: Arrive and scan. Use your QR code to enter and exit your selected car park. No need to take a ticket. If you encounter issues, just press the Help button, and our team can assist.

Step 6: Walk or take the shuttle. Most car parks are just a few minutes walk to the check-in counters. If you’re in the Value Car Park, free shuttle buses run 24/7 and drop you right near your terminal.

Need to update your booking? You can change your entry time or exit date, or cancel the booking entirely via the Manage My Booking section. You’ll also find answers to common questions in the FAQs if you need more info along the way.

Travel plans aren’t always fixed, and parking doesn’t have to be either. Flexible airport parking makes it easier to adjust your booking, match your car park to your trip, and keep things simple from the moment you arrive. At Melbourne Airport, every parking option is built to give you more control, more convenience, and less to think about on the day you fly.

Want the best deals sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to the Melbourne Airport Parking Deals newsletter and stay up to date on offers, updates and more.