When you’re traveling, you don’t want to spend more than you have to. It is even more of a challenge when it comes to airport parking. Parking in the airport is a pain. It’s expensive, it’s inconvenient, and it’s often impossible to find a spot. But it doesn’t have to be. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve had to pay for airport parking once or twice. Well, you shouldn’t have to struggle anymore. Here are a few proven ways to save costs on airport parking.
Understand the Kind of Options Available
The first step in saving money on airport parking is understanding what options are available to you. Most airports offer different kinds of parking options:
- long-term,
- short-term,
- valet, and
- self-parking.
Each one has its own rules and regulations, so make sure you know exactly what type of option will work best for your trip before jumping into anything else.
CHECK OUT AIRPORT PARKING IN ADVANCE
The best way to save on airport parking is to book your space ahead of time. That way, when you get there on the day of your flight, there won’t be any surprises waiting for you (like an empty lot).
GET AN APP TO HELP YOU
Use an app that alerts you to specials at nearby parking lots. Various apps allow users to search for parking at Heathrow airport options based on price and location, allowing them to book their spot from within the app; no more comparing prices at various spots. If nothing else, this can help you avoid getting stuck in traffic around airports during rush hour times.
BUY YOUR AIRPORT PARKING PASSES IN BULK
You can always buy your passes in bulk if you stay for more than a day. Most airport parking lots offer discounts for people who purchase multiple days of parking at once. This is especially true if you’re going to be arriving and leaving on different days; the more consecutive days you park with them, the cheaper each day gets.
BOOK AIRPORT PARKING IN LARGE LOTS
When looking for an airport parking space, try using the “large” option instead of the “small” one; you’ll usually find that the larger lots offer better daily prices than smaller ones. That can add up quickly if you’re traveling with multiple people in one vehicle (or two or three).
LOOK FOR A DISCOUNT CODE
If you’re feeling a little strapped for cash, you might not want to shell out for an expensive parking spot. Luckily, plenty of discount codes are out there for you to use. If you search “airport parking” using your search engines, a few will likely pop up. Just make sure they’re legitimate before using them.
KNOW THE RULES
Airport parking rules can vary from airport to airport, so make sure you know what’s allowed before you park. For example, some airports only allow one-way trips, and others don’t allow overnight stays. It’s also important to know what kind of payment options are available. This is because some parking lots will only accept cash or certain credit cards, while others may allow automatic app payments.
AVOID PEAK TRAVEL TIMES WHEN POSSIBLE
You’ll find that airport parking lots are almost always more expensive during peak hours because there’s more demand than supply. If you can avoid those hours (say, by flying in late or leaving early), your costs will be lower than they would otherwise be.
Conclusion
It’s easy to forget airport parking costs when you’re focused on getting your vacation started. However, if you take a few minutes to research and plan ahead, you can save hundreds of dollars on airport parking expenses.
