Going on a trip, but there is no one to give you a ride to the airport? Maybe it’s time you stop relying on others and take your own car to make your journey to and from the airport hassle-free. It’s not only much more convenient, but it can also save you some money if you know where to look and when to book. Read on to get 5 simple and useful tips to save on airport parking.
How to save money on airport parking
Let’s all agree on this – overpaying for airport parking sucks big time! While people spend hours on the internet looking for cheap flights and hotel deals while planning a trip, they often forget or overlook that they can also save money on airport parking.
Are you guilty of this? Worry not, we’re here to help!
Here are some simple, but useful, ways to get a good price on airport parking:
Always pre-Book – Do not leave it for the last minute
Just like hotel and flight bookings, you should reserve also reserve a parking space at the airport as early as possible to make sure you get a good price.
While you will get a parking place even without pre-booking, you may end up paying 60% more than you would otherwise pay. The rates for last-minute booking are very high at airports because the parking operators know that you won’t look for other parking options because of the shortage of time and the fear of missing your flight. So, they take advantage of it and make you pay a high price for leaving your car in the airport parking.
To cut costs on your travel and to get the chance to choose from multiple parking options, make sure to book airport parking when you book the hotel and flight.
Use airport parking Websites
Finding a good deal on airport parking requires time and effort. You have to locate multiple service providers in your city and then compare different packages to find the one that best suits your needs and budget.
While you can do this on your own, a smarter way is to find a few good comparison websites and let them do the work for you. Another benefit of using comparison websites is that you are likely to get better rates than direct booking. The reason why such websites offer cheaper rates and discounts is that they buy parking spaces in bulk from multiple service providers and they transfer the discounts they get on bulk buying to people who book from them. For instance, onsite Denver Airport parking costs $17/day while offsite parking near Denver Airport is available for $5/day on Way.com.
When booking through an airport parking website, make sure you go for one that has an independent review system. This will allow you to get a clear picture of their system and quality of service, allowing you to know what to expect.
Search for discount codes or membership incentives
Since there are many comparison websites out there, there is high competition. Because of this, every website tries to come up with something that makes it stand out from others. Knowing that there is no better way to attract more people than to offer discounts, many comparison websites share promo codes. Type [the name of the website + promo code] on the search engine to find out if there is any promo code available.
There are many websites and airports that offer exclusive incentives or rewards to their members. Do check with the airport you are going to park your car at and/or the website to make sure you do not miss any such opportunity.
Choose an off-Site or long-stay parking lot
This is common knowledge – the closer a parking lot is to the terminal building, the higher is its costs. If you don’t mind taking a shuttle to the main building, opt for the long-stay parking lot or an off-site location to cut the cost.
Do not skip the fine print
Always, always read the fine print whenever you book airport parking to make sure there are no hidden charges or taxes. Most people skip the fine print and then end up paying a lot more than the stated price.
Final Word
A large number of people do not consider parking their vehicles at airports because of the preconceived notion that airport parking is very expensive. However, this is not always the case; you can find good deals on airport parking if you know the little tips and tricks. Remember the tips discussed in the post the next time you travel and save yourself the hassle of taking a taxi or requesting someone to help you with the transport.
Here’s more information on how to find parking at some of the busiest airports in the country
1. ATL parking
2. LAX parking
3. ORD parking
Reserve your airport parking space in advance with Way online or via the iOS and Android apps!
Renee is your go-to travel guru! With 15 years of wanderlust-fueled writing, she’s your go-to guide for all things travel and driving-related. When she’s not behind the wheel or jet-setting across the country, you’ll find her binge-watching movies/series or listening to true crime podcasts.
