Stuttgart Airport (STR): pickup, drop-off and terminal guide
Stuttgart Airport has four passenger terminals — 1, 2, 3 and 4 — but they stand side by side in one connected building, so orientation is easier than the count suggests. Knowing the right level, and where your driver actually stands, still saves real time when you are tired or in a hurry. This guide covers both directions: dropping you for departure and meeting you on arrival.
For a pre-booked transfer the key difference from a taxi-rank ride is that you are met — your driver is already there with your booking reference, so there is no queue and no fare negotiation at the kerb.
Departures: which level for drop-off
For departures, your driver drops you on the departures level (Level 3), directly in front of the terminal building. The first digit of your check-in desk number is the terminal number — desk 125 is in Terminal 1, desk 436 in Terminal 4 — and the screens at the entrances show which desk your flight is using.
All levels are directly connected and every gate is reachable from every security checkpoint, so a wrong guess costs a short walk rather than a missed flight. Terminal 3 handles the most scheduled traffic. If you have an oversized-bag drop or need the assistance desk, tell us when you book and the driver will set the drop point accordingly.
Arrivals: where your driver meets you
On arrival, Standard and Van pickups meet on the arrivals level (Level 2), just past baggage reclaim — your driver is already in position in the arrivals area with a board showing your booking reference. Give us your flight number when you book: Stuttgart Airport has arrivals exits at more than one terminal, and that tells our dispatch which one to meet you at. Your booking confirmation also carries the driver’s number for direct coordination.
Premium (S-Class) bookings include an airside meet-and-greet: the driver waits inside the arrivals area with a name placard before customs, so you do not need a working phone or Wi-Fi to find each other.
Parking vs. being dropped off
If someone is driving you, the Kiss & Fly zone on the departures level (Level 3), directly in front of the terminal building, is free for a stop of up to eight minutes. Short-stay parking (P0/P1) is convenient but adds up quickly; long-stay (P14/P15, with terminal shuttle) is the economical self-park option for week-plus trips.
For most week-plus trips a round-trip fixed-price transfer removes the parking maths entirely — no daily parking fee, no fuel, no walk from the far garages with luggage. You simply book the return leg for your landing time.
Flight delays and waiting time
We do not auto-track flights, so the simplest reliable approach is to set your pickup at least 45 minutes after the scheduled landing — that covers taxi-in, passport control and baggage. Up to 60 minutes of waiting after the landing is included free.
If a flight lands very late or customs backs up beyond that, call dispatch — we accommodate where logistically possible and the fixed price holds.
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does Stuttgart Airport have?
Four — Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4. They stand side by side in one connected building, all levels are directly connected, and every gate is reachable from every security checkpoint, so a wrong guess costs a short walk. Terminal 3 handles the most scheduled traffic.
Where does the driver meet me when I arrive at STR?
Standard and Van: on the arrivals level (Level 2), just past baggage reclaim — the driver waits in the arrivals area with a board showing your booking reference. Premium: an airside meet-and-greet with a name placard before customs. Give your flight number at booking so dispatch knows which terminal to meet you at.
Which level is departures drop-off?
The departures level, Level 3, directly in front of the terminal building. The first digit of your check-in desk number is the terminal number — desk 125 is in Terminal 1, desk 436 in Terminal 4 — and screens at the entrances show which desk your flight is using.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Set the pickup 45 minutes after the scheduled landing; up to 60 minutes of waiting after landing is free. For longer delays, call dispatch — the fixed price still applies.
Is a fixed-price transfer cheaper than airport parking?
For week-plus trips, usually yes once you add parking fees, fuel and the time cost of the far garages — and you skip the luggage walk. For a quick same-day drop-off, parking or Kiss-and-Fly can be fine.
Book a fixed price