Originally Posted by flatlander

I drive to Stansted weekly and park there, give or take.

The "Meet and Greet" service, very badly named, is an on-site parking option. They claim your car stays on site, but if you see the nose-to-tail parking setup, you'll see why they need to keep your keys to move the cars around. You drive to the car parking area by the terminal, park up and hand over your keys, and walk inside, according to the description. I've never used it.

The Valet service is actual valet: You drive up to the terminal door, sign over your car and give your keys to the staff, and they drive your car off somewhere (officially supposed to be one bay of the mid-stay car park). They bring it back to the terminal parking area and you arrive, walk down the ramps to the parking area next to short-stay and get your car back. I have used it a few times and all was fine. I have had some rants from taxi drivers taking me to Stansted on occasion who had a very dim view of the Valet service indeed, having said they watched the valet people drive other staff around in the valet parked cars to get them between areas of the airport and so on. I consider the valet service as either for the solo traveller of poor mobility or of inflated ego, it gives no great benefits.

Personally I use the short stay, it's usually actually faster to park up and walk in than faff around with the valet drop off paperwork and photos of your car and whatever. You can book online for a cheaper rate if you're parking more than 18 hours, if less it maybe cheaper to drive up. There are also discount codes for 10-15% off though they do render the booking no cancel/no refund (taking a lesson from BA, I'm sure). PM me if you want the latest.

I would reckon you could be out of your car and down in the station waiting for a train in 5 mins walk from most of the car parking spots in the short term car parks. 10 minutes from the furthest away corner of the orange car park if very slow.