This has become a problem...recently. The PHL Economy jammed packed (especially on Friday afternoons) with people parking in spots they made up. Allow lots of extra time.

After some bad experiences at the PHL's economy lot and Colonial, I only use Fasttrack now and they have not disappointed me. Be careful about PHL's economy lot. During rush hours, it may take a long time to find a parking spot, and sometimes you can't even get on the buses because they are full. Colonial's shuttle service is very infrequent, and they are farther away to the airport and takes longer time. I've vowed not to use these two anymore.

I have great experiences since I started to use Fasttrack north lots (economy and valet). IMO, they have the most frequent shuttles for pickup and dropoff. That's really most important factor for me because I want to save time. There's always a shuttle waiting. After I jump in, within 10 min I'm in the terminal. When I get back, I give them a call and usually within 5-10 min I'm on the shuttle. Their price is reasonable, and the lots are in good shape (compare to Colonial's potholes galore). Nothing to complain about.

I'll give it a go at Fasttrack
 

thanks; I think I'll try Fasttrack this week since we're not getting into the lot until about 1pm on a weekday. Stay tuned; story next week!

I use the Fasttrak South lot at Philly and I always prepay so there's no confusion when I pick up my car--I just hand them my receipt, grab my keys, and go.

Oh yeah, so make sure you have your receipt or else you'll have to pay again. I think it's pretty scammish that their system neither sees that I've already paid nor will they accept the receipt when I drop the car off.

I agree. There is always a risk with PHL's lots being full and possibly having to wait for an extended time to catch the economy lot shuttle. I use Fasttrack South and have not been disappointed.

my experience today at FastTrack
 

parked at FastTrack Valet lot NORTH.

DROP-OFF EXPERIENCE - (a Wed. early afternoon)
^ easy to find off Rt. 95 Southbound
^ driver took our luggage FROM OUR CAR ^ and onto shuttle van.
^ we were on our way within 5 minutes from arriving at the valet lot.
^ driver unloaded our bags.
(initial reactions - I'm loving this - it's so easy!)

RETURN PICK-UP EXPERIENCE - (Tuesday ~6pm)
^Used coupon from Internet (cashier said it was cheaper to use coupon than AAA discount & no stacking discounts allowed)
^ Van arrived within 10 minutes from placing call (note - another couple had already called from DL's terminal so van was already on its way when we called)
:td: had to haul luggage onto shuttle (driver did arrange it in the bins though)
:td: every seat on the shuttle van was taken for the return to the lot
:td: no instructions for a first-timer when getting off @ the lot as to what to do first
^ car was "staged" in the canopy area
:td: no preferential treatment for valet parkers
:td: had to haul luggage off shuttle (driver did assist when specifically asked by an elderly, handicapped person)
:td: two cashiers at checkout but difficult to know that one was for credit cards only
:td: check-out line was long (somebody paid by Orbitz but didn't have their "voucher" just a print-out of their Orbitz receipt so there was quite a bit of discussion at the head of the line which held up everyone else)
^ easy to get back onto Rt. 95Northbound from the lot

now for the very worst part - MY CAR IS FILTHY (the exterior). It's got a coating of dust all over it. So now I've gotta make a trip through the car wash so figure another $20 on top of the car rental.

For the future, if I've got a lot of time, I'll probably just look at PHL's economy lot first; however, if time is crunched, I'd probably use FastTrack again.

hope this helps others.........

Parking at PHL
 

How is the parking situation at PHL nowadays? I see an older thread, but I haven't parked at PHL in over 12 months. BUT I always had problems with parking in the long-term economy lot over on Friday afternoons. How is it in the winter time? I need to park this wknd.

An update from some recent parking experiences. Decided to try a new spot and see how it goes.

Parked at FastTrack self-park lot - NORTH.

DROP-OFF EXPERIENCE - (Sunday late afternoon)
^
Easy to find, but I cheated and punched the address into my car’s nav system.

Packed own bags into the shuttle bus.

Shuttle bus not crowded.

On my way within 1 minute from arriving at the self-park lot. Did some quick thinking when looking for a spot, saw shuttle bus making the rounds around the lot picking up people, then saw a few people standing waiting to get picked up. Judged the shuttle’s route, picked a spot near someone already waiting, got bags out of car, stood next to the person, and shuttle pulled up. I was on the shuttle within seconds of getting my bags out of vehicle.

Initial reactions – Not bad so far.

RETURN PICK-UP EXPERIENCE - (Friday mid-afternoon)

^
Used AAA discount (15%), cashier said this was better than any coupons. Total cost see below.

Waited about 10 minutes for shuttle, evidently several people call before I did.

Driver hauled bags onto bus, I said I’d do my own,

Preferential treatment for valet parkers, they got dropped first.

Driver hauled luggage off shuttle for everyone, I had to say I’ll do my own.

:td:
Some returnees mistook the South Lot shuttle for the North Lot shuttle, causing them to get on, and then immediately get off.

Every seat on the shuttle van was taken for the return to the lot. Business travelers, families with kids with Mickey Mouse hats on, etc., etc.

No instructions for a first-timer when getting off @ the lot as to what to do first -- I witnesses this also, families on return from Disney vacation all got off at the Valet (first) stop, then they all got back on after realizing they weren’t close to their car. Then they took a 200 hundred yard ride to their car.

One cashier at checkout and no one waiting in front of me. If there was, I’d imagine it would not be quick.

General impressions:
:td:
Lot surface is very pot holed and had a run down look to it, fences look like they were ready to fall over. Avoid if you’re looking for a Las Vegas casino-like parking operation (valet or otherwise). I didn’t really mind.

Lot had huge -- I mean huge, like 30 or 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, but not more than an inch or two or three deep -- puddles of standing water on the day I returned. They have a drainage problem? The rest of the lot was dry, as were the surrounding streets and roads. I can see returning a week after you park your vehicle and you lost the game of chance by parking in a spot that is now inundated on all sides by a few inches of water.

Shuttle buses old and tattered on the inside. In need of a deep cleaning, new light bulbs, etc.

^
No coating of dust like previous poster reported. This was in the early spring, maybe the rain that made the huge puddles washed the dust off? And clogged their drainage system?

You can easily find a huge space, … if you don’t want other people parking too close and slamming their doors into your vehicle, or if you have a huge monster truck or giant SUV.

Total cost $39.27 for Sunday late afternoon to early Friday afternoon. I'm looking at the receipt now and wonder if they didn't make a mistake, this seems low. I do notice they break down the total cost as 40% Transportation and 60% parking. And they apply the 20% Parking Tax to only the parking, not to the transportation.


SmartPark. The following weeks trip parked at SmartPark, 2nd St in Essington. Did self-park, not valet.

General Impression: Seems like a well rehearsed, well-oiled operation. People in uniforms or jackets/hats/vests, drivers say “I’ve been working here for 8 years”, they ask how were your travels upon return, newly paved lot, new fencing, they put small but bright orange traffic safety cones at the corner of a vehicle that happens to stick out into the lanes of travel too far (this struck me as a little bit over the top).

Upon entry, they direct you to a spot, and coordinate by radio with the van driver to pick you up, the van pulls up as you’re turning off the engine.


My only dislike: :td: They paint their parking spaces small, and have small clearances between vehicles. If you worry about someone slamming their door into the side of your vehicle, this place is prime setup for it to happen.

I’d guess the doors of just about any vehicle can reach the body of the vehicle parked next door. And you don’t get to pick the cherry spots, they direct you to the one they want you to take, including the entrance attendant and the van drivers, who block you out from going anywhere but the spots they seem to be working at the moment. I was actually worried that I would return and someone would have slammed their door into the side of my vehicle a few times.

This is the only negative thing I can say. Everything else, check out, pick up, helping with bags was quick, practiced and efficient, vans nice and clean. I’ve used this lot twice in the last three weeks.

Total cost Monday morning to Friday afternoon $46.91. This is with a coupon, no AAA discounts they said. SmartPark cost more than FasTrack/Avistar even though I parked at AviStar one day more than at SmartPark.

A tip for discount coupons. You can always print them when you're at your destination, and have them in hand when you check out.

2 days free parking at FT
 

the only catch is the coupon was in COs March mag on board, maybe in April also. Febs had 1 free day

for 2 days you need to write in an email address, so if you wont be flying CO see if a friend will be. parked there for 2 days last week = no charge:D

I saw the same 2 day free coupon in UAs mag as well good till 9/30, in the May mag

Any good PHL parking deals out there now? Earlier in the year, I had a bunch of Fasttrack/Avistar "days free" and 1/2 price coupons, but prices seem to have reverted to normal. Philly parking is never too expensive, so it's no big deal, but I'm always inclined to try to save a few bucks. :)

Ever since Southwest began at PHL the off-site parking deals are few and far between. Some parking company websites have occasional promos or coupons so visit them. Most give AAA or AARP discounts. The PHL owned lots continue to be the most expensive lots in the area so avoid them. IMO no one company offers consistent good service and pricing and best to avoid companies where you gotta give them your car keys for any reason.

MisterNice

Any updates on recent experiences? Thanks.

next to last page in UAs Inflight Mag is a 20% off. So Fastrack self-parking cost me $7.20 a day. Or prepay it at their online site its the same amount

was gonna park by the aLoftfor $7 a day but FTs has more shuttles while aLoft+ goes on the 1/2 hr so if you just missed it to or from the airport you got a 1/2 hr wait till the next 1.

I parked at 5am and the shuttle picked me up witin 5 mins and last night I called up and was told 10 mins max its on the way, and sure enough it took less then 10 mins