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Frequent Parker Programs — Which One Do You Prefer?
After doing a couple of searches in the MilesBuzz! forum, I was surprised to find that there is not a definitive thread pertaining to the earning of free parking, points and/or miles as a result of being a member of a frequent parker program.
There are many threads devoted to the earning of points and miles in airline, hotel and rental car programs. With the not-so-recent advent of national airport parking chains, I thought an informative thread detailing the benefits of frequent parker programs around the United States would be useful and helpful. I do not know about international airport parking lots, but they could be included here too if it is pertinent. The goal of this thread is to make FlyerTalkers aware of the choices that are available when parking a vehicle at the airport, and then decide who has the best frequent parker program and benefits best tailored to their needs. If one has a choice of airports, at which airport should one park one’s vehicle? Who offers the most benefits? Can a parking space be reserved on the Internet? What other services does that company offer, such as car washes, minor vehicle repair (such as charging dead batteries, etc.) or automobile detailing? Most importantly, what are the benefits offered by that frequent parker program? ----------------------- I park at the Atlanta airport location of Pre-Flight Parking, which charges US$7.50 per day (US$10.00 per day for covered parking) and always has parking available, from my personal experience. Benefits:
The Parking Spot is another company which has a frequent parker program called The Spot Club. I have never parked with The Parking Spot and thus have no personal experience with them — maybe someone with experience with them can offer more detailed information derived from personal experience? Does anyone else have any information on other frequent parker programs worldwide, and whether one can earn free parking, points and/or miles with that respective program? Which one do you prefer, and why? |
Canarsie - great topic!
I'm in the Northeast (CT) and use AVISTAR Parking. They are my company's perferred so we get great discounts. They have an Express Club. What I like about it the most is that when I get back to the lot my car is waiting with the receipt on the dash (or passenger seat) and it's just "throw the carry-on in the car and go". What I like least is that the Club is not free ($15/yr). However, I get to use the corporate discount for personal travel, so really the discounts outweigh the yearly fee. Some locations do accept reservations. AVISTAR is at the following locations: BDL EWR (2 locations) JFK LGA ORD PHL Here are the rest of the details: PARKING DISCOUNT - Express Club members receive a 10% discount on parking at all AviStar locations or, if you already have a corporate rate with AviStar it will automatically be linked to your membership. EXPRESS EXIT - Members present their Express Club card each time they check-in so we can have your receipt waiting for you in your car charged to your designated credit card. PRIORITY RESERVATIONS – reservations “exclusively for Express Club members” are set aside at the AviStar Reservation Center to insure the last available parking space is always set aside for members. To guarantee your parking space, make a general reservation online or for a Express Club Priority Reservation just call us toll-free at 1-800-621-PARK (7275) Mon-Fri 8am to 7:30pm and Sundays 1pm to 6pm. NEW MEMBER BONUS – All new members receive two Express Club Bonus Certificates. Each one can be used for a free car wash, indoor upgrade (park indoors and pay the outdoor price) or one day of free parking. Please note – indoor parking and car care services are not available at all locations. FREE FIRST YEAR MEMBERSHIP – Express Club membership costs $15 per year and this fee is waived to all new members for one year. They also have online coupons for various discounts on services. Website: www.avistarparking.com (edited for typos) [This message has been edited by alan32 (edited 10-04-2003).] |
Other end of Connecticut, and I too always use Avistar at the New York Airports. The express club has been great, but lately the online coupons usually offer way better deals for parking. I'm not ready to give up the express club yet though. Indoor parking, oil changes, detailing and car transfers between the airports when necessary.
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Canarsie
I also use Pre-Flight and find then the best.I get a 50% discount and my rate makes it impossible to beat. Generally,I can get to and from my car faster than the airport lots with shuttle service (Though the West lot is the best shurt-term quick alternative). |
Am I missing something? I've found Avistar to be *really* expensive (at least at EWR). Their rate seems to be $13.95/day+tax This site has links to coupons for parking places all over the US. At EWR you can easily find places that charge a lot less than Avistar. I usually use Corporate Parking which is currently $9.75 all-in at their AAA rate.
[This message has been edited by xyzzy (edited 10-05-2003).] |
I use PreFlight at BWI Airport. Costs $9 per day but occasionally they send out coupons showing a $2.00 discount per day with the 7th day free. They're located about 7 minutes from the terminal. All the conveniences mentioned by other posters also apply here. I don't know if they have a frequent parkers club at this location.
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Phoenix Airport off site Thrifty Parking $4/day if using coupon available at the thrifty.com web site and every 3 stays you get 250 miles on various airlines. I use it for AWA.
PCA Parking gives you 5 Free days parking for every 31 days that you pay for. PCA gives the best service. |
PCA (parkingcompany.com) recently modified its program. They now award you one free stay up to 10 days for each 31 days you park. If you can use the full 10 days, that's quite a big rebate.
That said, at OAK I use Expresso, which has no frequent parking program. Expresso's $5 rate (with no taxes added!) beats the $8+tax discounted rate at PCA even considering the parker program. |
I tested the Parking Spot at LAX a few weeks ago, but did not join their frequent parking program because I forgot to sign up prior to exiting the structure (will do that next time).
Overall, I was extremely pleased with the ease and convenience of getting to/from the terminal. Their shuttles run very often, unlike some of the other parking lot shuttles, and are spanking new, and thus very clean. They also give you a free bottle of water when you get on the shuttle (and get off, upon your return). One thing I really liked about the Sepulveda structure at LAX (LAX has two Parking Spot locations) is that it's a big parking garage with an elevator, as opposed to a spread-out lot. I find this layout to be more convenient than the sprawl of LAX lots such as Park One, or LAX lots B & C. Out of all of the LAX parking facilities I've used, I think the Parking Spot is the most user-friendly. They are a bit pricey (3 price categories: valet, covered parking & rooftop parking), but the convenience factor is worth a few extra dollars to me - which is where being a memboer of the Spot Club could really come in handy. |
Avistar's list price is $14 a day, but it's like buying a camera, nobody should be paying list. They have coupons that discount it, you can go through sites like longertermparking.com and some of the other long term reservation places that will get you in there for $10 a day, you can show your AAA card and save 10 or 15% (forget which), you can get a discount with their express club, etc, etc, etc.
There are times, like when parking your car you want to see again without it being full of scratches, or want a ride back to the parking lot within a few minutes after you call for it, that the least expensive parking lot isn't always the best option. If that was the case I'd use the long term lot, but for me it's not about saving money, I'd gladly pay a few extra dollars a day and know the car will be ready and still there when I get back. |
The best Avistar deal can be found at http://www.airportdiscountparking.com
The deals are: 1 - first day free and $2 per day off the regular rate thereafter, and 2 - $69.95 a week. Also, Avistar seems to fudge a bit on the Newark city parking tax by applying part of the payment to the (non-taxable) bus rides to and from the airport and only part of it to (taxable) parking. [This message has been edited by monitor (edited 10-05-2003).] |
Park’ N Fly also offers a free park of up to 7 days after 34 paid parking days. A nice treat when traveling for leisure with the family!
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I know there's a few off-site parking companies here in CLT, but considering the airport parking is only $2.75/day, I don't know how they stay in business ... who needs a frequent parker program with rates like that?
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There are many airports that I wouldn't feel safe parking my car, even if it was free. It's why the off site lots stay in business, because people don't trust their car in the airport lot, or in the case of winter trips, getting a car cleaned off with snow and warmed up is worth a few extra dollars a day.
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