What Is Airport Parking?

This is something we get asked a lot! Briefly it is a service provided by different car parks/companies that allows you to take your car to the airport when you are travelling out of the country.

There are two types of parking:

· Park and Ride

· Meet and Greet/Chauffeur Parking

Let’s explain in more detail, Park & Ride first!

On your departure day you travel directly to your chosen car park, usually off site, but occasionally on site at the airport, make sure you check the ‘More Info section’ before you book. On your arrival you will go to the reception and book your car in. It doesn’t matter too much if you arrive earlier or later than your stated arrival time for Park & Ride as the mini buses usually run on demand.

You book your car in at reception and then you are taken by the car park’s mini bus to your departure terminal. If you have booked a service where you can keep your keys you will have parked the car yourself.

You will usually be given a business card with a telephone number on it, keep this safe because when you arrive back into the country you are asked to collect your luggage and clear customs before ringing the car park to advise them you are ready for collection. They then bring the mini bus to the airport and transport you back to the car park to collect your car. Quite often the mini bus is already there waiting as someone else on your flight may have phoned them before you or they are there dropping off other customers.

I find this a brilliant service that beats taxi fares and waiting around unnecessarily!

Now for the Meet & Greet/Chauffeur parking:

This is a brilliant service and even more convenient than the Park & Ride one as you travel directly to the terminal you are flying from.

You will be met there by a chauffeur whom you will have telephoned 15 – 20 minutes prior to your arrival to confirm you are running on schedule or not as the case may be (check your arrival procedure notes on your booking voucher for the specific instructions for your booking).

Apart from confirming you are running on schedule or not as the case may be, this also gives the chauffeur a chance to confirm exactly where at the terminal he/she will meet you. With all the recent security scares this is a good opportunity to advise you if there have been any changes to the procedure.

The chauffeur will then check your car for damage and any found will be noted on a waiver form. (This is then done again on your return journey to make sure you are happy with the condition of your car.)

You will also be given a card or something similar with a number to contact the chauffeur on your return. When this has been done the chauffeur will help you with your luggage and then it’s just a case of handing your keys over and going into the terminal to check in and relax before your flight.

On your return again you are asked to collect your luggage and clear customs before ringing the number given to you on your departure so that your vehicle can be returned to you. You will be advised of a meet place where you will collect your car. You and the chauffeur will then check your vehicle again and you will be asked to sign the waiver to say you are happy with everything.

I have also used this service and of the two prefer the fact you haven’t got extra transfer time added to the journey.