When you’re picking someone up from Sydney Kingsford Smith, one of the cheapest options available is to use the Express Pick-up. There are two Express Pick-up Zones at Sydney Airport, intended for those collecting friends and family. One is within easy walking distance of the International Terminal and the other is close to the Domestic Terminals; making it straightforward for passengers to meet you by your vehicle. To learn more about Sydney Airport Express Pick-up, we’ve compiled a handy Flyparks guide, which will take you through the ins and outs, dos and don’ts, plus the costs of using these parking zones.
Note! The Sydney Airport Express Pick-Up Zones should not be confused with the green Priority Pick-up Zones, as different rates and payment methods apply.
The Express Pick-up Zones at Sydney Airport are dedicated areas for collecting passengers from the International and Domestic Terminals. Both Zones are only a few minutes walk from the Arrivals Halls, which make it easy for passengers to meet drivers by their vehicle. The rates charged at both Zones are the same, regardless of whether you’re waiting at the Domestic or International Zone.
The first 15 minutes are free of charge, however standard rates apply if you overstay this grace period. Drivers will be charged $9.70 for stays between 30 and 60 minutes, and then $19.40 for stays between one and two hours. If you’re planning on meeting family or friends at the Express Pick-up Zone, it helps to be well organised and contactable by phone.
It’s also important to note that this area cannot be used by rideshare vehicles or taxis - it’s only for private cars. If you’re planning on using a ridesharing service, you will have to wait at the Priority Pick-up Zone instead.
The Domestic Airport Express Pick-up is located close to Terminals 2 and 3. It’s approximately four minutes away on foot, and one of the most convenient pick up options for domestic passengers.
Arriving passengers should follow the yellow signage and lighting from the Arrivals Hall. Drivers on the other hand, should follow the yellow signage for Express Pick-up in the Domestic precinct.
The International Airport Express Pick-up is very close to Terminal 1; it takes close to five minutes to walk to the zone from the terminal building.
Arriving passengers should follow the yellow signage after exiting the Arrivals Hall. Drivers need to follow the yellow signage for the Express Pick-up after entering the International precinct.
The cost of parking at the Domestic and International Express Pick-up Car Parks is the same. But since they were designed for short term Sydney Airport parking, rates can be expensive. Prices start at $9.70 for just 30 minutes, $19.40 for an hour, and extend to $62.00 for 24 hours. You cannot pre-book this car park online, so make sure you have cash or a credit card on you the day that you travel.
It is possible to park for free at both zones however, provided that your stay is less than 15 minutes long. This can be quite hard to achieve, but it’s reportedly do-able if you organise your pick-up location with friends and family in advance. Read on to find out how >
| Duration | Domestic Express Pick-up | Intl. Express Pick-up |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 15 min | Free | Free |
| 15 - 30 min | $9.70 | $9.70 |
| 30 - 60 min | $19.40 | $19.40 |
| 1 - 2 hrs | $27.50 | $27.50 |
| 2 - 3 hrs | $37.00 | $37.00 |
| 3 - 24 hrs | $62.00 | $62.00 |
Only the first 15 minutes of your stay at the Express Pick-up Zone is free of charge. If you’re trying to score free Sydney Airport parking, timing plays a crucial role. The car park will charge you if you stay just a minute longer, so you need to coordinate plans with the person you plan to collect.
One trick that Sydney locals use is to first park at one of the restaurants on Ross Smith Avenue. There are several fast food outlets, including McDonald’s, KFC, and Krispy Creme, where you can purchase a coffee and wait in the car park. Parking is free for a limited time for customers, so it’s possible to wait there until the flight touches down in Sydney.
Make sure that the passenger calls you once they’re out of the terminal. You’ll need to let them know that they have to go through passport control and collect their luggage first. Then you can drive to one of the Express Pick-up Zones to meet them. Good luck!
At Flyparks, we simplify the process of booking private car parking near Sydney Airport. We collect relevant and up-to-date information about the many different airport car parks, making it easy for travellers to compare and book directly on our platform. We display exactly the same prices as the car parks themselves, and don’t add any reservation costs. It’s easy and convenient to book parking directly on our website.
To help you find the ideal short or long term car park with lowest possible rates, we have published extensive resources on our blog, about parking prices, security measures, opening hours, distance to the terminals, and anything else you might need to know. All of the off-site Sydney Airport parking facilities that we feature on our website are secure, affordable, and reliable, to ensure that you travel with peace of mind, knowing your car is exactly where you left it.
Please note that while we have made every attempt to report on Sydney Airport car parking rates accurately, prices do fluctuate over time. The rates mentioned in this article were valid in September 2019.
