First 10 minutes at SCL’s Short-Term Parking are free
Short-Term Parking sits directly in front of T1 and T2, so you walk a few minutes from your car to check-in. It’s the airport’s official short-stay option, aimed at quick drop-offs, pick-ups, and meeting arriving passengers. Lanes are clearly signed for both terminals, so pick the side that matches your airline and cut down the curbside chaos.
Pricing runs in tight time bands, with charges by the hour rather than by the day, and costs ramp up fast after the first couple of hours. This makes sense for a 30–90 minute stop to walk someone in, grab a coffee, or wait out minor delays, but not for overnight or multi-day trips. If you expect to stay more than four hours, long-term parking on the same airport campus usually works out cheaper.
Access uses standard barrier tickets at entry and pay-on-exit machines near the pedestrian walkways. Machines accept Chilean pesos and most major cards, and receipts show entry and exit times to the minute. Keep your ticket dry; if it demagnetizes, you end up at the staffed booth explaining your stay while a line of cars builds behind you.
Lighting covers the main walkways and rows nearest the terminal doors, and cameras focus on the entrances and exits, so pick a spot under a light pole if you arrive late at night. The walk to T1 check-in is usually under 5 minutes from the closest rows and around 8–10 minutes from the back of the lot, depending on traffic and luggage.
Tip: Check your flight’s terminal (T1 vs T2) before entering and follow those signs; parking on the wrong side can add a 10–15 minute walk or a shuttle ride you didn’t plan for.