Most hotel shuttles at ABZ pick up right outside T1
Hotel Shuttle Buses at Aberdeen International Airport run as courtesy minibuses from hotels within a short drive of Terminal 1, usually free for checked-in guests. You meet almost all of them on the forecourt directly outside the main T1 arrivals exit, near the standard taxi rank and car park access. These are private hotel vehicles, not part of the Stagecoach or First Bus public networks serving ABZ.
Most Aberdeen airport hotels using shuttles run them roughly from the first departures around 05:00 until late evening flights, often up to 22:00 or 23:00, but the exact timetable depends on each hotel. Some properties near Dyce station, about 2 km from T1, send a minibus only on request instead of a fixed schedule. If you land after 23:00, you may find only pre-booked shuttles operating rather than a continuous loop.
You have to arrange every Hotel Shuttle Bus directly with your property, usually via a phone call to reception or a note in your booking at least 24 hours before your flight into ABZ. Many hotels ask you to call again on landing from T1 arrivals so they can send the courtesy minibus once your bags are on belt 1, 2, or 3. Some chains cap capacity at around 8 passengers per run, which can matter on morning BA and easyJet waves.
Costs sit at £0 for most guests, but a few hotels around Aberdeen Airport Business Park, about 1–3 km from T1, charge a small fee per room, often £3–£5, or bundle the ride into certain room rates only. Tips for drivers are at your discretion, and there’s no separate ABZ fee like you’d see on metered taxis from the official rank. Families with 2–3 large suitcases may take up most of the luggage space on smaller minibuses.
Step-by-step from plane to hotel shuttle
- 1. Land at ABZ and follow signs to T1 baggage reclaim, which has three main belts.
- 2. While waiting for your bag, call your hotel’s front desk using the number in your booking or app.
- 3. Confirm your flight number, arrival time, and how many people and bags you have so they send the right minibus.
- 4. Exit through customs into the T1 arrivals hall, then walk straight out to the main forecourt doors next to the taxi rank signs.
- 5. Look for your hotel logo on a minibus in the pickup lane; most drivers hold a small sign with the hotel name during busy BA and Loganair arrival banks.
- 6. Load larger luggage into the rear compartment; compact Aberdeen-area minibuses usually fit 6–8 checked bags plus cabin bags.
- 7. Confirm with the driver whether the return shuttle back to ABZ T1 needs pre-booking and at what time before your next flight.
One practical tip: if your arrival into ABZ is on the last rotation of the day after 22:00, email your hotel at least a day ahead and get written confirmation that the courtesy minibus will meet your specific flight into Terminal 1.