bmi diamond club - Park 1 (now 'Business Parking Plus') at LHR

As a regular LHR T1 user, I thought I'd share the rate I'm paying for my current trip.

2.5 days away from T1, and instead of the normal £26.50 for each 24 hour period (or part there of), I'm paying £38.50 for the entire trip.

The car park was barely 1/10th full on Monday lunchtime, explaining how I managed to get the pre-booked rate!

It's on expenses for me, but it might help some save cash (as long as you can find your way in ;))

I've also noticed the same : rates for pre-booking short-term parking for T1, including even the NCP 1 & 1A right by the terminal, have plummeted recently.

Even then, there's always plenty of free spaces. But I guess thats just a direct consequence of BA moving its short-haul flights out of T1 in favour of long-haul operators, whose passengers have less need for short term parking.

I fear this may cause Park 1 to have to cut back, which would be a great shame as their people are lovely and the service is superb.

T2 Short Stay is on chav rates if you book via the BAA site. I've paid £60 for 4 days, and of course it's just a shortish walk to the queues.

BAA were also doing double worldpoints until the end of Nov for all pre-booked parking booked via baa.com/advance. This worked out at 4% as I have managed to spend 3k or so on parking last year so qualified for the double points all this year (only 1k on parking this year though) which was then doubled again with the online booking bonus.

Not as attractive in theory as the bmi offer for airport parking but as they never post 4 points per pound is better than no points per pound.

That's a good rate for Park 1. I love P1 but I too am afraid for it's future, it's been dead for months. Talking to one of the drivers he was optimistic about the other airlines coming back to T1 but that was months ago. Rates show times must be tough will think about that again next week...

Whilst we're talking car parks, then I've noticed that Business Parking 1-3 seems less full (was turned away earlier this year and directed to P1 with two price matching vouchers - I think before the T5 split happened). Also T4 Business Parking has been half full for a while. As a tip for anyone considering T4BP don't bother with the Plus service now the car park is half empty - same bus, you can usually park near to the A stop and barrier in the "cheaper side" so not worth it.

I'll stop now before I rant over the T5 short stay...:td::td::td:

Park 1 is no more, has become BAA "Business Parking Plus".

A correspondent using the park early this morning reported that, shock horror, the minivan didn't drive around to do the car-side pickup, and only picked up from the bus-stop. :(

Possibly of no interest - but there has always been a cheap advanced rate for the T1A short stay park if booked via BAA. Haven't found a cheap rate on any other site. This brings the price down to around £46 for 3 days and seems great value to me considering no buses are involved.

Park 1 is no more, has become BAA "Business Parking Plus".

A correspondent using the park early this morning reported that, shock horror, the minivan didn't drive around to do the car-side pickup, and only picked up from the bus-stop. :(

I think your correspondent was the exception not the rule, I have always been picked up and dropped off at the car, never the bus stop.

The drivers were telling me this week that there are new signs and a name, but it will be the last car park to get new buses. They have also been told to major on customer service. This is something, in my experience, they don't need to improve. They have always been splendid.

There are times when it seems quite busy, but not like the old days when it was nearly bursting each week. The pre book prices are splendid though.

Best wishes.

20-Horse

I used to use the Business Car park (old Pink Elephant one) for t1-3. They had a great system that recognised your numberplate and the shuttle busses were very frequent. After that, I found www.parkatmyhouse.co.uk and park about 8 minutes away from the terminal one someones driveway and get a lift to the airport. Pretty efficient service actually from the guy I used and it was much cheaper than any other parking option.

Am driving to T1 next week (first time !) and have booked 'business parking plus' on BAA website. What is it actually, and is it worth the extra couple of quid that I'm paying over 'business parking' ;)

Am driving to T1 next week (first time !) and have booked 'business parking plus' on BAA website. What is it actually, and is it worth the extra couple of quid that I'm paying over 'business parking' ;)

"Business Parking Plus" is the new name for Park 1, and is well worth a couple of pounds extra. You are picked up as you get out of your car by a minivan, which then beetles straight over to T1.

Pink Elephant has become "Business Parking T1 and T3"

Just used BP+ for the first time, and as noted by 20-Horse above, 'splendid' !

We move from Kent to Berkshire next week, so LHR will displace LGW as my default airport, and I guess I'll be back here a lot more.

^ Finally, I get to fly on airlines where I can earn some miles (rather than EZ)
:td: It's Heathrow...

As long as you avoid the place time forgot (T3), it's fine (T1 and T4 are quite acceptable).

Don't get me started with the SYD inspired shopping mall that is LHR T3...

"Business Parking Plus" is the new name for Park 1, and is well worth a couple of pounds extra. You are picked up as you get out of your car by a minivan, which then beetles straight over to T1.

Pink Elephant has become "Business Parking T1 and T3"

I normally use the Short Stay on advanced rates because I can't face the wait to get back ....

So how do you get back from T1 to the "Business Parking Plus" - how quick is it?

Not much of a saving on short trips ..... £57 for "Business Parking Plus" as against £65.90 for T1 Short Stay.

Which is better?

"Bargain Valet Parking" and other similar valet deals are heading my searches for the best 10 day parking deal at T1. With a good £20 in it, and the promised convenience on offer, I might give it a go.

They won't REALLY shuffle my car over to the Tesco car park will they :eek:?

(it's enough of a wreck to discourage anyone from racing round the M25)

So how long is the wait to get from T1 back to your car at Business Parking Plus please?

So how long is the wait to get from T1 back to your car at Business Parking Plus please?

I dunno, I only did the BP+ - T1 transfer yesterday :p I'll time it this evening and report back.

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So how long is the wait to get from T1 back to your car at Business Parking Plus please?

I dunno, I only did the BP+ - T1 transfer yesterday :p I'll time it this evening and report back.

Reporting from the bus.... T'was 90 seconds walk from coming out of int'l arrivals to the bus stop, and the van arrived 20 seconds later. Now 3 minutes after coming through the arrivals door and we're leaving the side tunnel. Into the car park at 3.45 and going left to drop someone else off. And back at my car (3rd drop) at 5.30.

Sorry - yes, those are minutes after walking out of the int arrivals door, so I was back in the car less than 6 minutes after walking through. Splendid.

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Reporting from the bus.... T'was 90 seconds walk from coming out of int'l arrivals to the bus stop, and the van arrived 20 seconds later. Now 3 minutes after coming through the arrivals door and we're leaving the side tunnel. Into the car park at 3.45 and going left to drop someone else off. And back at my car (3rd drop) at 5.30.

Thanks!

Sounds like this is even faster than the short stay - because more often than not you either have to wake them up - or there's a queue - to get your card to get you out on advanced bookings.

How do they know you're waiting for the bus or is the 20 second wait just a coincidence do you think?

(Is that a type 3:45 to 5:30 in the car park?!:D)

Thanks!

Sounds like this is even faster than the short stay - because more often than not you either have to wake them up - or there's a queue - to get your card to get you out on advanced bookings.

How do they know you're waiting for the bus or is the 20 second wait just a coincidence do you think?

I think I got lucky - there were two people already at the stop, but the lady in the bus on the way there said that they are there every couple of minutes

(Is that a type 3:45 to 5:30 in the car park?!:D) No, it's about right - 1:45 to drive around the entire car park, drop off two separate passengers prior to me, for me to get out of the van, walk over to the car, unlock, drop my bag on the back seat, dejacket and get in.

It was splendid.

Just be careful you don't leave the carpark and drive straight back through the tunnel into T1/2/3 :eek:

No, it's about right - 1:45 to drive around the entire car park, drop off two separate passengers prior to me, for me to get out of the van, walk over to the car, unlock, drop my bag on the back seat, dejacket and get in.



Oh .... minutes!:)

Thanks for this steer - booked for Sunday's family redemption trip with BAA, 13 days in T1A for just £114 :cool:

I usually park in Business Parking and am always the one who 'just' misses the minibus ...

Do you guys pre-book before arriving at the Airport? Been paying through the nose for months until i started booking on line before give http://www.parkat.co.uk/ a whirl or essential travel some good rates especially on the off-airport stuff

Do you guys pre-book before arriving at the Airport? Been paying through the nose for months until i started booking on line before give http://www.parkat.co.uk/ a whirl or essential travel some good rates especially on the off-airport stuff

Yes.

As I said earlier - Short Stay is a bargain if you pre-book via the BAA site (through quidco) and you can also earn BAA points.

I think I got lucky - there were two people already at the stop, but the lady in the bus on the way there said that they are there every couple of minutes



Actually you were unlucky, 9 times out of 10 there is already a van waiting, and they leave as soon as you get there. It really is the best non short stay airport parking experience possible, and better than many short stays as well.

Actually you were unlucky, 9 times out of 10 there is already a van waiting, and they leave as soon as you get there. It really is the best non short stay airport parking experience possible, and better than many short stays as well.

At the peak times for sure but at the weekend you might have to wait a few minutes. I see there is a call button now (maybe I just never noticed) in the bus shelter now to call them but in my experience they monitor the comings of cars so they know you're there.

Just used BP+ for the first time, and as noted by 20-Horse above, 'splendid' !

We move from Kent to Berkshire next week, so LHR will displace LGW as my default airport, and I guess I'll be back here a lot more.

^ Finally, I get to fly on airlines where I can earn some miles (rather than EZ)
:td: It's Heathrow...

You just wait, you will get grumpy when someone else is parked in your regular slot.

Then, when you are a regular, and you book with your return flight number, they will start to synchronise with your return. They will enquire over the radio if Mr. Stewie Mac is onboard. They will pull away as soon as you board, if they can.

They are great lads and lasses and I miss them loads now that I have to slum it at T5.

Enjoy, good old park 1 is the best. Don't park your car under one of the lamp posts as very very rarely, it will be repainted in guano.

All the best.

20-Horse

Still confused!:confused:

Can people who have used BOTH BP+ and T1 Short Stay ie can compare from first-hand experience state which they prefer and why please?

Thanks.

Still confused!:confused:

Can people who have used BOTH BP+ and T1 Short Stay ie can compare from first-hand experience state which they prefer and why please?

Thanks.

I've never been comfortable with the short stay for security reasons (just that it's more open) and also the high amount of traffic means that the space turnover is much higher - I don't want my car being scratched which is what's happened before by, I suspect, some idiot with a baggage trolley.