There are many things to consider when planning a trip, and where you will park your car pending your return is one of them.
It is less stressful driving your own car to the airport. You can transport your luggage to and from the airport with ease, and will not have to spend unnecessary time waiting for your airport pick-up. But parking and storing your car in or around the airport for the duration of your trip can be a bother, especially as you will surely want to come back and meet your vehicle in one piece.
Thankfully, with a few tips and tricks, some of which are covered in this article, you will be able to enjoy a seamless and hassle-free airport parking.
- Book ahead of time
Getting a good deal on airport parking will help you save money that can be useful on your holiday or business trip, and one of the ways to get great deals on airport parking is to book ahead of time.
Airport parking just like flight ticket varies between products and periods; therefore, if you book as early as possible, you will likely find great prices, prices that will eventually go up as more bookings are made. Where possible, try to book months in advance of your trip, but remember to use the cancellable option in case your journey is cancelled for any reason.
You can also book ahead during the week for a weekend flight, so that you avoid paying high weekend rates.
- Avoid deals that seem too good to be true
Everyone knows that finding parking at the airport can be a challenge and even expensive, especially i big cities, but that does not mean you should jump at the first offer you come across.
Admittedly, airport parking horror stories are few and far between, but with millions of cars parked at airports all over the country, problems are bound to occur. These problems tend to occur more in agencies and companies that offer astonishing deals for shoddy services. If you book your airport parking with a reputable company, you can be sure of returning to meet your car in safe and sound condition. But if a deal seems too good to be true, chances are it is.
- Know warning signs
When it comes to doing business with a company for the first time, it is best to always keep an eye out for red flags. Red flags are the caveat emptor that will warn you against transacting with certain businesses because they don’t meet a particular standard for reliability.
For example, any business that does not have a traceable physical address, lack independent reviews, and has a phone contact that is always unreachable, or a poor and shoddy website design is a mistake waiting to happen. Before making a booking with an airport car parking service, be sure to check for these details. Also make sure to confirm the location where your car will be parked. Even if an airport parking service is offering really cheap prices, don’t leave your car there unless you know the provisions they have in place for when something goes wrong.
- Read reviews
Independent online reviews are your best bet for getting correct details about the airport car parking service you are considering. These reviews were dropped by past customers and will definitely carry mostly unbiased views of their services.
If the service you are planning to use has no independent reviews, it could be a sign that they are not a reliable company.
You should also be wary of companies that have 100% positive reviews because no matter how great a business is, they will always have a few unsatisfied customers. So when you come across a company with 100% reviews, chances are they paid for those reviews to be written. Always look for companies with a mix of good and bad reviews, and then find a way to strike the right balance.
- Confirm your transfer time
One of the reasons why it is a good idea to drive your own car to the airport when travelling is so that you can enjoy the convenience, but this should not be at the expense of your flight time.
If you have booked airport parking, make sure to confirm the transfer time to the airport terminal and factor it into your drive from home. It is always best to arrive departure at least 20 minutes before boarding, therefore if it will take another 5 minutes to get to the terminal from where you park your car, be sure to leave your house early enough so that you will have enough time to spare.