• Inspiração

5 Car Parking Tips For Melbourne Airport Travelers

15 de julho de 2024

With your holiday plans all sorted, you’re looking forward to a much needed break! Don’t forget to make arrangements for car parking if you propose to drive yourself to the airport and back. This is something that most of us forget to factor in when we are chalking out travel plans. But it is something that can make or break your entire vacation. This goes for business travel and other jaunts too. 

Unless you find adequate parking space you could end up wasting a whole lot of time circling the airport parking lot, and even run the risk of missing your flight. You may have to settle for parking space outside the airport premises, and that may not be safe, affordable, convenient or well maintained. When you return from your journey you may find your car vandalized, dented or scratched, or broken into. Some travelers have found their cars moved to street side parking, causing unnecessary stress and anxiety. 

Why Is It Difficult To Find Parking In Airports?

One of the issues is limited ground side capacity. Airports started off as functional spaces, meant only for transiting passengers who were usually dropped off at the airport, or used public transport to get there. Today, they are busy hubs, with a variety of facilities including dining, shopping, waiting lounges and more. 

This has led to complaints of noise, traffic congestion and pollution from people living in the neighborhood of busy airports. At all times of the day and night, traffic congestion is a major issue here. 

Airport parking is also expensive compared to off-site parking. This is because most airports draw a significant part of their revenue from parking fees. They have to cover land and infrastructure costs, as well as provide utilities, maintenance and security. 

This leads to immense frustration for both travelers and airport employees who also need to find parking space and get to work on time.  

Many travelers have reported the lack of security for themselves and their vehicles in airport parking areas. Apart from theft and accidental damage to the vehicle, people feel unsafe in poorly lit and badly maintained parking lots. 

Recently, a major issue at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport is the road construction project that proposes to connect the Tullamarine Freeway to the airport terminals. As a result of this project, more than 2000 parking bays will become unusable. Passenger drop-off and pick up for terminals 1 2 and 3 have been moved to the multi-storey car park. If you haven’t kept yourself updated on this information, you could end up wasting time circling the parking lot, looking for your space. For more information visit  https://www.unitedairportparking.com.au/

5 Tips To Ace Parking At Melbourne Airport

1. Plan, Plan, Plan: Book your parking well in advance of travel so that you are assured of a designated parking space. Online booking is convenient and swift. You can pay via credit card and avoid hunting for cash at the last moment. Pre-planning ensures that you have real time information on traffic congestion and occupancy. You can stay updated on peak congestion times such as school holidays, weekends, festive and vacation seasons. This helps you to arrive a little earlier so that you can beat the rush at the entrance to the parking areas. Give yourself enough time at the check-in/out counters. Planning ahead gives you a price advantage too. You can comparison shop at leisure, discover the best deals, discounts, offers and coupons.
2. Stay Safe: Always opt for covered parking. This keeps your vehicle out of the sun, hail and rain, and also ensures that things like leaves, bird droppings, tree-sap, branches or construction debris don’t fall on your vehicle. If you plan to be away for a long time, covered parking is the better option because it protects your vehicle from harmful UV rays that can fade paint and upholstery. Covered parking areas usually provide facilities such as CCTV and regular patrolling by security staff. 
3. Valuables: Don’t leave any valuables in your car. You may think locking the car is enough, but clever thieves can spot expensive items such as GPS or Android Auto systems inside the vehicle. Don’t leave your keys in the glove compartment. Unplug your phone charger before you leave the car, so that it doesn’t drain out your car battery while you’re gone. 
4. Know The Location: Ensure that the parking area that you select is conveniently situated apropos your terminal. You may find cheaper options that are located further away, but if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, senior citizens and toddlers, it is worth paying a little more for a parking space located closer to your departure terminal. Shuttle services are available, but this could be a challenge when you have to move a lot of stuff and people. Look at the map of the airport carefully and locate your terminal and find the distance between it and your parking area. This helps you to figure out the best option. 
5. Check For Extras: If you book your parking space through a parking website or other third party service, you could find great deals bundled with your parking fee. Some sites provide extras such as help with loading or unloading, car-wash, free cancellation, lounge access and more. Many travelers have found great deals such as fast track security check in, loyalty programs for frequent fliers and other super offers. Some smart travelers have saved on airport parking fees by checking into a hotel the night before and using the hotel’s parking space for a cheaper rate. There are different categories of parking such as Long or Short Term, Meet n Greet, Valet Parking, Park n Ride, Park n Walk and more. Select the one that suits you best. 

Foto de John Matychuk na Unsplash.