Your parking questions answered

Pay-by plate means we’re ticketless across our five car parks. We use Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) technology – as you enter one of our car parks, the camera will automatically read your vehicle’s licence plate and the time you entered, and it will do that again when you exit. So, your plate is your ticket, making paying for parking faster and more convenient.

When it’s time for you to exit, if you have pre-booked online you can drive straight to the exit and the barrier will rise to let you out. Otherwise, we offer a range of easy payment options, you can tap to pay at exit or pay by entering your licence plate at a payment machine. Paying via QR code is coming soon.

When exiting the car park, if you have any issues with the barrier arm not raising, then please push the HELP button for assistance.

Yes, you can change your licence plate number up to 6 hours before your booked entry time.  

To change your licence plate for a single entry, please visit Manage My Booking. You will need your email address and booking reference.  

To change your saved licence plate, please visit My Account where you will need your account email and password.  

To change your licence plate within 6 hours of your booked entry time, please email parking@christchurchairport.co.nz  

Bookings can be amended free of charge online, up to 6 hours before your car park entry time.  

To change your booking dates, entry or exit times or car park selection please visit Manage My Booking. You will need your email address and booking reference.  

Please note that when you amend a booking, your new parking options will be based on the price and availability for your arrival time. The car park you originally selected or deal you originally purchased may no longer be available.  

If you can't find your booking details, email parking@christchurchairport.co.nz  

Yes, bookings can be cancelled free of charge online, up to 6 hours before your car park entry time. To cancel please visit Manage My Booking. You will need your email address and booking reference.  

Cancellations cannot be made within 6 hours of your booked entry time.  

You cannot cancel or amend your booking within 6 hours of your entry time. See the terms and conditions on our website for more details.  

To get a copy of your booking confirmation, which is a GST receipt, visit Manage My Booking. You will need your email address and booking reference. 

Please check your booking email, as you should have received a receipt as part of your pre-booked parking confirmation. If you need to pay more due to exceeding the booked hours, you can request a receipt when you tap and pay at the car park exit or when you pay at a payment machine in Express, Short Stay or Long Stay. Alternatively, you will be emailed a receipt if paying via QR code. There are no transaction fees for paying using payWave or any payment method.

No, we do not charge a booking fee. 

In fact, there are no transaction fees for any of our electronic payment options, paying by payment machine, QR code, payWave or pre-booking.

If you do not have your booking confirmation, you are still able to enter and exit your booked car park by licence plate recognition. The barrier arm will automatically raise. 

You can also visit Manage My Booking where your booking will be displayed and you can print your confirmation.  

You can book up to 4 hours prior to arrival in Express Park, Short Stay, Long Stay, the Orchard Road car park and Park and Ride.   

To recover your password visit My Account and click on "Forgotten your password?". You will be able to reset your password.  

At the entry to the car park, the licence plate reader will recognise your licence plate and the barrier arm should automatically open. If it does not open, you will be directed to take a ticket or press the HELP button for assistance.

Pre-booked online:

Your booking confirmation email contains instructions for when you arrive at the car park. Online bookings can be changed or cancelled, free of charge, online – up to 6 hours before your car park entry time. Please visit Manage My Booking (hyperlink) Christchurch Airport.

If you have arrived at your selected car park using a car or have entered the wrong car park from what is selected in your pre-booking, then the system will not recognise your booking and will treat you as a drive-up customer.

When you go to exit the car park, a tariff will appear on the exit terminal screen. Please push the HELP button for assistance and our team will be able to match your booking with your new licence plate and let you out.

If you have entered the wrong car park or you have exceeded your original online booking period with a different vehicle to your pre-booking, then you will be asked to pay the tariff on the terminal screen and then request a refund via parking@christchurchairport.co.nz.

If the barrier arm doesn’t open when you arrive, do not take a parking ticket.  

Please check you are trying to enter the correct car park and that you are entering no more than one hour before your booked entry time.  

If you are at the correct car park at the correct time, then please press HELP and let us know your booking reference number.  

If you are unsure of what to do, press the HELP button and we will assist you.  

Note: If you press the button for a ticket you will be charged at the rates displayed at the entry to the car park and your online booking will not be utilised.  

If you have stayed longer than your booking allows you will be charged an extra fee when you exit the car park. Extra fees are calculated at the rates displayed at the entry to the car park, starting from the end of your booking.  

To pay the extra fee, you will be required to insert a credit or debit card or pay via PayWave at the exit. If you need assistance, press the HELP button.   

No. Once your vehicle has entered the car park you will be unable to change, cancel or extend your booking.  

1. The car you specified on your booking. Your licence plate number will be read at the car park entry and needs to match what you entered when you booked online.  

2. Your booking reference. This can be used to identify you at the car park entry in case the licence plate reader doesn’t recognise your licence plate.

You are welcome to choose any vacant space in the car park when you arrive. Please follow all signs and road markings relating to any parking restrictions within the car park as parking restrictions will be enforced.  

If parking in a mobility parking space, you must display a current mobility parking permit.  

If you are exiting within your booked times, all you need to do is drive up to the exit barrier. As your licence plate will be recognised, the barrier will lift automatically.

However, if you exceed the booked hours/days of your booking, you will be required to pay the difference using the same card used to make the booking, when you exit. Tap to pay at exit, pay by QR code or pay at the nearest payment machine. Please note, there are no payment machines located at Orchard Road or Park and Ride.

If this this doesn't work, please press HELP and let us know your booking reference number.

You can book up to 52 weeks in advance.   

If the barrier arm doesn’t open when you exit the car park and you are exiting earlier than your booked exit time, then please press HELP and let us know your booking reference number.

If you’ve stayed longer than your pre-booking allows, you will be required to pay an additional fee by inserting a credit or debit card or paying via PayWave at the exit.   

If you are unsure of what to do, press the HELP button and we will assist you.  

Our online parking rates are variable and change depending on how far in advance you book and the expected demand in the car parks for your booking dates.   

A booking confirmation page will be displayed once your booking has been accepted. You will also be sent a booking confirmation to your email address.  

If you need a new copy of your booking confirmation, go to Manage My Booking and enter your email address and booking reference.  

Our licence plate cameras are very reliable. Making sure your licence plate is readable and positioning your vehicle correctly at the barrier arm will help ensure they are able to read your licence plate.  

• Before you come to the car park  
  Ensure your licence plate is not bent or damaged. Bent, marked or dirty licence plates can be difficult for the cameras to read. If your front licence plate is heavily damaged, you may need to use your booking reference number to enter and exit the car park. Press the help button for assistance.
• When driving up to the barrier arm  
  Position your vehicle so you can reach the ticket machine. Don't park too far to the left as the camera may not be able to see the last digit on your licence plate. Don't drive hard up against the barrier arm, as it may block the camera's view of your licence plate.  

If the camera doesn't read your licence plate number, then please press HELP and let us know your booking reference number.  

All of our car parks are available to pre-book online, subject to availability.

No, you will need to choose where to park within your selected car park when you arrive. Please ensure you follow all signs and road markings relating to any parking restrictions within the car park.  

If you get to the car park you booked and there is a full sign at the entry, our Ground Transport team will find you an available space in one of our other car parks. Please press the HELP button and we will assist you. 

Yes, as long as each booking is made with the correct vehicle licence plate number.  

If you can’t make a booking online, email us at parking@christchurchairport.co.nz  

Please ensure you include as much information as possible about the fault you’re experiencing so our team can help fix the issue as quickly as possible.

No, your booking only allows you to enter and exit the car park once.  

You can enter the car park a maximum of one hour earlier than the time you booked. If you try to enter the car park earlier than this, you will be required to take a parking ticket at the car park entry and pay the rates displayed at the entry to the car park before you exit.

Christchurch Airport secures your credit card details to make your future parking bookings quick and easy. All credit card details are stored securely in accordance with PCI requirements.  

Our website is secured via SSL encryption and all our parking equipment is PCI compliant. We do not share your details with other companies.  

If you create an online account when making your online booking, your credit card details will be stored securely in accordance with PCI compliance.  

Please check your junk email folder, sometimes confirmation emails are incorrectly identified as spam.  

To confirm your booking, visit Manage My Booking where your booking will be displayed and you can print your confirmation if you didn’t receive one originally.  

If you cannot find your booking confirmation, email parking@christchurchairport.co.nz

Please include as much information as you can to help us locate your booking.  

We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.  

Email us at parking@christchurchairport.co.nz 

Being ticketless means we’re a pay-by plate car park. Entering the car park is seamless as your licence plate is your ticket – simply drive up to the barrier and licence plate recognition software will note your plate details.

When entering or exiting the car park, if you have any issues with the barrier arm not raising or reading your licence plate number, then please push the HELP button for assistance.

We have many easy ways to pay:

Tap to pay at exit

Use a credit/ debit card or mobile wallet to payWave at the exit barrier.

Pay at payment machine

Have your licence plate ready. Use Eftpos, credit/ debit card or mobile wallet to complete payment. Then drive to the exit barrier.

Pay by QR code - COMING SOON

Scan the QR code to pay quickly. Use your phone’s camera or QR scanner, and have your licence plate and payment card ready. Once paid, drive to the exit barrier.

Pre-booked online?

Drive to the barrier to exit.

Please note:

- There are no transaction fees.
- Eftpos is only available at payment machines at Express, Short Stay and Long Stay.
- All payment options can provide a GST receipt on request.

When exiting the car park, if you have any issues with the barrier arm not raising, then please push the HELP button for assistance.

Payment via QR code - COMING SOON

Say goodbye to payment queues, and hello to quick-and-easy electronic payments with our easy QR code payment option.

Scan the QR code and follow the instructions to pay quickly. Use your phone’s camera or QR scanner, and have your licence plate and payment card ready. Once paid, simply drive to the exit barrier and straight through, you’re good to go.

These are specially created 3D QR codes, made with security in mind. QR codes are located on signage at Express Park, Short Stay, Long Stay, Orchard Road car park, Park and Ride and within our Park and Ride bus.

To appeal any parking infringement issued by Christchurch Airport please visit frogparking.com to complete the online appeal form.  

You can pay your infringement in a number of ways:  

• Pay online with a credit card at frogparking.com  
• Pay by cash, in person at:  
  Airport Services, Ground Floor next to Air New Zealand check-in  
  Christchurch Airport   
  Mon-Fri, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Please make sure you quote the infringement number and licence plate as a reference number.  

If you feel there has been an error, please email parking@christchurchairport.co.nz

You will need to include the following information:  

• Time and date of parking  
• Licence plate number  
• Car park  
• Method of payment  
• Copies of any relevant receipts. 

You can request a copy of your receipt within one month of exiting our car parks. Email us parking@christchurchairport.co.nz 

If you exited more than one month prior to your request we will not be able to provide you a duplicate receipt.   

Please ensure you include your licence plate with your request.  

There are no transaction fees when paying for parking using payWave to tap and pay. In fact, there are no transaction fees for any of our electronic payment options, paying by payment machine, QR code, payWave or pre-booking.

The maximum height in the Express Park is 2.2m.  

 The maximum vehicle height in the pick-up and drop-off area is 3.5m.  

Items that have been lost and found at the airport are stored with our Airport Services team. They are open 9.30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Please submit a lost property form.