Parking at a Walmart and taking Uber to airport to save money
#46
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
If I lived in an apartment building, I'd call a cab without a second thought. But we live in a house. And it was drilled into my head from a very young age that you never call a cab to the house when going to the train station/airport. I'm sure that will be overly cautious for many people, but that's the rationale.
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 15
I just realized I never came back to this thread to update what I did. You folks convinced me that it wasn't work the risk, so I just went with my airport's (RIC) 3rd party off-site parking (Park 'N Go) which gives a discount when pre-paying and booking online.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,508
One data point for one specific Walmart:
I did a 3 night trip out of MSY over Memorial Day weekend. We drove to the airport on Friday to find all the lots and garages were full. We drove off-airport to discover all the private airport parking lots were also full. I didn't have time to drive home and taxi back and make my flight, so in a bit of a panic, I drove to the nearby Walmart on Veterans Blvd in Kenner, parked there, and called an Uber.
I figured I'd rather pay the tow fee, if that happened, than miss my flight and the wedding we were traveling to the next day.
When we got back on Monday, the car was still there, everything was fine. I think the roundtrip Ubers totaled to under $25, compared to $33-$57 that airport parking would have cost, so we ended up saving a little. But I didn't do it to save money, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it, especially for longer trips.
I did a 3 night trip out of MSY over Memorial Day weekend. We drove to the airport on Friday to find all the lots and garages were full. We drove off-airport to discover all the private airport parking lots were also full. I didn't have time to drive home and taxi back and make my flight, so in a bit of a panic, I drove to the nearby Walmart on Veterans Blvd in Kenner, parked there, and called an Uber.
I figured I'd rather pay the tow fee, if that happened, than miss my flight and the wedding we were traveling to the next day.
When we got back on Monday, the car was still there, everything was fine. I think the roundtrip Ubers totaled to under $25, compared to $33-$57 that airport parking would have cost, so we ended up saving a little. But I didn't do it to save money, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it, especially for longer trips.
#49
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
One data point for one specific Walmart:
I did a 3 night trip out of MSY over Memorial Day weekend. We drove to the airport on Friday to find all the lots and garages were full. We drove off-airport to discover all the private airport parking lots were also full. I didn't have time to drive home and taxi back and make my flight, so in a bit of a panic, I drove to the nearby Walmart on Veterans Blvd in Kenner, parked there, and called an Uber.
I figured I'd rather pay the tow fee, if that happened, than miss my flight and the wedding we were traveling to the next day.
When we got back on Monday, the car was still there, everything was fine. I think the roundtrip Ubers totaled to under $25, compared to $33-$57 that airport parking would have cost, so we ended up saving a little. But I didn't do it to save money, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it, especially for longer trips.
I did a 3 night trip out of MSY over Memorial Day weekend. We drove to the airport on Friday to find all the lots and garages were full. We drove off-airport to discover all the private airport parking lots were also full. I didn't have time to drive home and taxi back and make my flight, so in a bit of a panic, I drove to the nearby Walmart on Veterans Blvd in Kenner, parked there, and called an Uber.
I figured I'd rather pay the tow fee, if that happened, than miss my flight and the wedding we were traveling to the next day.
When we got back on Monday, the car was still there, everything was fine. I think the roundtrip Ubers totaled to under $25, compared to $33-$57 that airport parking would have cost, so we ended up saving a little. But I didn't do it to save money, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it, especially for longer trips.
And thanks for the report ^
#50
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
This is one of the most entertaining threads I have ever seen! Having seen some of the people at Walmart at 3:00 am - I can say I would never leave any car of even modest value in that parking lot. It could get jacked by crack/meth users in some places. Or simply towed and impounded. Take the Uber or other car service from your home or a place where you can get without leaving your car. Or, do secure long term airport parking, again depending on value of car.
Last edited by MikeFromTokyo; Jul 3, 2018 at 6:50 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
not all walmarts are equal >
walmart.com/store/5936/vienna-va/details
walmart across from bentley dealer and audi dealer
in between sheraton hotel and mercedes dealer
shares building with 24 hour gym, garage, offices
also right by a 4-year-old metrorail station
tysonswest.com
walmart.com/store/2086/plano-tx/details
bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/03/20/daily21.html
walmart.com/store/5936/vienna-va/details
walmart across from bentley dealer and audi dealer
in between sheraton hotel and mercedes dealer
shares building with 24 hour gym, garage, offices
also right by a 4-year-old metrorail station
tysonswest.com
walmart.com/store/2086/plano-tx/details
bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/03/20/daily21.html
wine prices as high as $500 a bottle
#53
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 8
Even if Walmart is opened 24/7, the parking lot is sometime the responsibility of the strip mall owner (a different corporation). At night, there are usually fewer cars in the lot and security driving around may notice a car sitting in one spot. Its a remote chance, but your car may be towed when you return from your travel.
#54
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
Welcome to FlyerTalk .... sort of
Sort of because I have to correct almost everything in your post.
Even if Walmart is opened 24/7, the parking lot is sometime the responsibility of the strip mall owner (a different corporation). At night, there are usually fewer cars in the lot and security driving around may notice a car sitting in one spot. Its a remote chance, but your car may be towed when you return from your travel.
And when have you seen a WalMart in a strip mall? They are stand alone buildings with a parking lot, though I suspect they will start to lease some of that parking lot like Home Depot to a business such as Chicken Express, since the lots are so huge.
Wired.com story says:
If you've ever tried to sleep in your car on a long trip without planning ahead, you may have run into the law at some point. Each U.S. city has a different policy and tolerance for car-sleeping and it's hard to find a legit spot if you don't know where exactly you'll be stopping.What you can count on is one of Walmart's over 3,000 stores being nearby. The company's policy of allowing overnight stays in their parking lots is intended to boost sales, but has the tangential effect of creating a subculture around its locations (though they're still at the mercy of local laws).
Just Google people sleeping in WalMart parking lot and you will find a bunch of hits, including the quote above and the whole article.
Sort of because I have to correct almost everything in your post.
Even if Walmart is opened 24/7, the parking lot is sometime the responsibility of the strip mall owner (a different corporation). At night, there are usually fewer cars in the lot and security driving around may notice a car sitting in one spot. Its a remote chance, but your car may be towed when you return from your travel.
Wired.com story says:
If you've ever tried to sleep in your car on a long trip without planning ahead, you may have run into the law at some point. Each U.S. city has a different policy and tolerance for car-sleeping and it's hard to find a legit spot if you don't know where exactly you'll be stopping.What you can count on is one of Walmart's over 3,000 stores being nearby. The company's policy of allowing overnight stays in their parking lots is intended to boost sales, but has the tangential effect of creating a subculture around its locations (though they're still at the mercy of local laws).
Just Google people sleeping in WalMart parking lot and you will find a bunch of hits, including the quote above and the whole article.
#58
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: CP-ASEL,AMEL,G-IA in Tucson, Arizona, United States
Posts: 1,124
Another idea (more plausible a few years ago when rental rates were much less) is to rent a car from a place near your home and then drop it off at the airport. The one-way charge, if any, might be reasonable if the two locations are in the same geographic area.