Parking

Plane ticket? Check. Parking spot? Oops…

Parking

I’m a terrible liar; so I don’t often try it. I can’t even get away with fibbing very often.

But after getting turned away from several near-the-airport parking lots one Christmas holiday I figured out the answer to “Do you have a reservation?” was “Of course!”

Even though the thought of making a parking lot reservation hadn’t ever crossed my mind.

So I’m glad that the folks at AirportParking are making an extra effort this holiday season to remind us that it’s a good idea to check prices, get directions, and make a reservation for a parking spot before you head to the airport. Their site helps: it’s got links, distance, and price information about parking lots near more than 100 airports. I checked the information for my city and was reminded by another users’ note about the discount coupons that put a valet lot in my price range. Thanks!

Shuttle-bus yoga coming to airport parking lots

Parking, Transportation

Everyone seems intent on helping travelers stay cool and calm this Thanksgiving season.

Some airports are rolling out entertainment programs. In others, travelers will be able to take advantage of free massages, snacks and other services. Now an off-site parking company is getting in on the stress-relief action.

On Nov 25th and 26th, travelers parking at many FastPark & Relax (or Airport Fast Park) locations will find yoga instructors on duty in the shuttle buses to the airport. Depending on the day, shuttle-bus yoga instruction will be available from 9 am to 11 am in Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Houston; Miami; Milwaukee; Orlando; Raleigh, N.C. and Tucson, Ariz.

Airport parking deals at Nashville Int’l Airport. Will other airports do the same?

Parking

Airports earn a big chunk (and in some cases a majority) of their non-aeronautical income from on-site parking fees, which offer convenience in exchange for rates which are often a few bucks more per day than off-site lots.

In general, there are plenty of parkers to go around. But with folks cutting back on travel – and trying to squeeze more out of their travel budgets – there are more open empty stalls at airport parking lots than ever before.

Maybe that’s why Nashville International Airport (BNA) is offering to accept off-site competitor’s parking coupons until November 15.

According to the airport’s press release:

“Valid coupons from any competing parking service will be honored and applied toward parking fees accrued when customers utilize any of BNA’s parking lots. Off-airport parking companies in the immediate vicinity of BNA are considered competitors…. Competitors’ coupons can be applied toward parking fees accrued in the valet, short-term, long-term and economy parking lots…”

Once the holidays are over, I predict we’ll see more matching offers like this at other airport parking lots. And then, it’s anyone bet when airports will adopt the grocery store idea of offering “double coupons” days. I’m all for it.

Self-parking airplanes at the airport?

Parking

Lexus has those self-parking cars, so why not self-parking airplanes?

According to this article from the Star Telegram.com, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has equipped about 90 gates with an auto-docking system that allows some American Airlines planes to park at the gates without the aid of ramp workers standing there waving orange sticks.

For now, it seems, the laser-based Safedock guidance system will be used when thunderstorms, lightening, and other conditions make it unsafe for people to be out there guiding planes to the gate.

The system seems to be common in other countries, but still unique in the U.S. But with airlines and airports trying to cut costs any way they can, I wouldn’t be surprised if the self-parking airplane system takes off and the orange wand-people disappear.

That will be too bad. In a world where ticketing has become automated, flight attendants have become sandwich salespeople, and airplane pilots stay locked in their cabins, at least we could pretend that those ramp workers waving at the plane were actually welcoming us to town.