May 3, 2013, 1:32 pm
Last edit by: RichardInSF
Short term parking:
ParkSFO
Pros:
QuikPark
Pros:
Burlingame Airport Parking (ParkBAP)
Pros:
Anza
Pros:
BART
Pros:
SFO Long Term Parking and Lot D
** The shuttle buses look exactly the same! One says 'Lot D', the other says 'Long Term Parking' (likely no longer a concern? see below re: AirTrain)
SFO Long Term Parking
Pros:
Cons:
SFO Long Term Parking Lot D
Pros:
ParkSFO
Pros:
- Generally highest rated by FTers
- Fast and regular shuttles
- Quick & easy access from 101 freeway
- Register for emails to receive monthly coupons
- Coupons for 1 free with 3+ days, 2 free with 5+ days, 3 free with 7+ days, and 4 free with 9+ days parked in a single stay.
- Coupons are blacked out during Thanksgiving, Xmas, and other peak periods
- www.parksfo.com/coupons/
- June 2013 Coupon
- Often full or forced to valet at higher rate
- More expensive than other off-airport options, especially if no coupon
- Reservations required or risk likely being turned away at entry
- Price listed online does not include tax and fees (which is around 16%)
QuikPark
Pros:
- Online reservations
- Relatively cheap
- must prebook online for best rate and bring printout to give to attendant
- Slow shuttles
- Even with a reservation, sometimes fill up and hard to find a spot
(note: if you book on-line and the lot is full, they will find you a space-you will be stopped at the gate but all you have to do is show them your pre-paid receipt)
Burlingame Airport Parking (ParkBAP)
Pros:
- Consistently one of the cheapest, especially for weekly rates.
- Generally do not have to prebook to get the best rate.
- 3 shuttles an hour only, and a bit slower than average due to distance. Try to arrive at or before :00, :20, or :40 to allow a few minutes wait.
- September 2013: For pickups late, I feel the turnaround times are more consistent with 2x per hour for the shuttle. No posted change, however.
- Poor ratings (see yelp)
Anza
Pros:
- With Burlingame Airport Parking, the only parking South of airport (Other than BART)
- Easy access dropoff, not so easy to get back on freeway (S-101)
- Valet is free (no extra charge) when they are near capacity
- Frequent parker program: Each 30 paid days yields a 5-consecutive-day park for free. Check in on facebook and receive credit for 1/2 paid day as well. (Note: This program has changed. It is now tied into the Fivestars card rather than a paper punch card.)
- When partially full, they require you use their free valet service, and this requirement varies from hour to hour. Be sure to have nothing valuable in your car!
- Poor shuttle service for SFO arrivals at busy weekend/holidays (30-45min wait)
- Need a printed coupon from their website to get the best rate
BART
Pros:
- Free over the weekend (except the cost of using BART to the airport) and holidays, even as part of a longer stay
- Online reservations for weekday parking
- BART schedule is known well in advance
- Pretty much guaranteed a parking spot
- Hard to use if you're trying to park or pick up when BART is closed for the night
- Possibility of getting a ticket if you overstay your reservation
- Can wait up to 20 minutes for BART in off-peak hours, or have to go to San Bruno and back to Millbrae during peak hours (or take a taxi for about $12)
SFO Long Term Parking and Lot D
** The shuttle buses look exactly the same! One says 'Lot D', the other says 'Long Term Parking' (likely no longer a concern? see below re: AirTrain)
SFO Long Term Parking
Pros:
Regular shuttles (not the fastest, not the slowest)- AirTrain blue line now goes to Long Term Parking (no more bus shuttles) but makes quite a number of stops before reaching the domestic terminals
- Sometimes if the normal area and Lot D fill up, you'll get a voucher to use the short-term parking at long-term rates
- Covered Parking in the garage - it gets full at peak times
Cons:
- Expensive
- However, current promo is $12/day for 3 days prepaid online (and the rate decreases for additional days)
SFO Long Term Parking Lot D
Pros:
- Sometimes if the Long Term Parking area and Lot D fill up, you'll get a voucher to use the short-term parking at long-term rates
- Expensive
Tips for Long Term Parking and Lot D- Park near Stop 5 in Long Term Parking and you are the first off the bus and out of the parking lot!
- Although the signs will indicate that a floor is full, I am often able to find a spot on these floors.
- Airtrain station is on level 5 of the garage
Month or longer parking:
Someone who's done this please add experiences - I (rob_flies_ua) would just pay for a shuttle or car service at this point. unavaca recommends taking Uber in this case.
AirportParkingReservations.com coupon:
$5 off: FBFRIENDS415
EXPIRES 12/31/16 @ 11:59 PM PST Coupon Valid Online Only
SFO Parking
Dec 1, 2014 | 8:08 pm
#181
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,755
Researched and found smartairportparking.com offers pretty competitive rates. Also, it has a name your own price feature. It had listed QuikPark at Aloft Hotel for $11/night. I was able to get this lot for $8.25/night when I named my own price. Receipt seems to show that tax is included - which saves an additional 10% or so. Nice deal.
Dec 18, 2014 | 2:20 am
#182
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 263
After using ParkSFO for years, the experience there has become intolerable -- constantly over capacity, infrequent shuttles, poor customer service, high prices...
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
Dec 18, 2014 | 9:18 am
#183
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,599
After using ParkSFO for years, the experience there has become intolerable -- constantly over capacity, infrequent shuttles, poor customer service, high prices...
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
Dec 18, 2014 | 10:38 am
#184
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,755
After using ParkSFO for years, the experience there has become intolerable -- constantly over capacity, infrequent shuttles, poor customer service, high prices...
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
Dec 20, 2014 | 9:11 am
#186
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,377
Skypark offers indoor parking. Valet only but very efficient. Car is backed in ready to go on return (after a call). AAA discount.
Dec 20, 2014 | 9:20 am
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,039
After using ParkSFO for years, the experience there has become intolerable -- constantly over capacity, infrequent shuttles, poor customer service, high prices...
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
With the 1-2 day discount coupons, I find the prices reasonable.
They seem to be moving to using pay machines instead of the person at the booth. On our last trip we were all asked to pay inside prior to exiting. Some at the counter and some (like us) at a machine. This was very easy. Read the parking ticket and the barcode on the voucher. I think it even charged us too little, but didn't analyze it
Then just gave the card to the booth person. It seems that, longer term, it will all be machine pay and card-in-the-slot to exit.
They also talk of going to a reservation system at some point.
If we lived in SF, Uber might be a good option. Not so much from the South Bay
Cheers.
Jan 17, 2015 | 5:49 pm
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,039
Groupon for ParkSFO
http://tinyurl.com/lfpnpj6
The 3-day Groupon is even a good deal for 2-day stays, by just a little.
Cheers.
The 3-day Groupon is even a good deal for 2-day stays, by just a little.
Cheers.
Apr 23, 2015 | 6:17 pm
#189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 18,103
We still use them, and have experienced some, but not all, of these issues. We've seen them over capacity on holiday weekends, but pretty open most of the rest of the time. And, on the over-capacity dates, we've simply used Valet service. The shuttle frequency has been quite good for us, and customer service very reasonable.
With the 1-2 day discount coupons, I find the prices reasonable.
They seem to be moving to using pay machines instead of the person at the booth. On our last trip we were all asked to pay inside prior to exiting. Some at the counter and some (like us) at a machine. This was very easy. Read the parking ticket and the barcode on the voucher. I think it even charged us too little, but didn't analyze it
With the 1-2 day discount coupons, I find the prices reasonable.
They seem to be moving to using pay machines instead of the person at the booth. On our last trip we were all asked to pay inside prior to exiting. Some at the counter and some (like us) at a machine. This was very easy. Read the parking ticket and the barcode on the voucher. I think it even charged us too little, but didn't analyze it
Apr 29, 2016 | 1:17 am
#191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 18,103
Yes, you can park >24 and yes, the rate is lower than the other on-site lot.
Apr 29, 2016 | 8:53 am
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
While I generally don't like others driving my car, I've never had an issue with them, and it's nice to be able to text for your car ahead of time (while waiting for the shuttle) so your car is ready for you when you get there.
May 3, 2016 | 11:50 pm
#193
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: VLO
Posts: 233
After using ParkSFO for years, the experience there has become intolerable -- constantly over capacity, infrequent shuttles, poor customer service, high prices...
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
I'd always stuck with them for the covered garage parking, but I'm now looking for an alternative. Does anyone else offer covered spaces?
Shuttle to the airport was waiting and at capacity. Driver wore weightlifting gloves and drove the bus hard.
Wait for return shuttle was less than two minutes. Same driver, same gloves, same lead foot.
Cost $39.50 for Friday morning to Sunday afternoon after using coupon found here: http://www.parksfo.com/coupons/2day/
May 4, 2016 | 9:54 am
#194
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,039
Was planning on parking in SFO's International lot but was so ahead of schedule opted for Park SFO. It was a Friday morning. Self park was full but Valet was free.
Shuttle to the airport was waiting and at capacity. Driver wore weightlifting gloves and drove the bus hard.
Wait for return shuttle was less than two minutes. Same driver, same gloves, same lead foot.
Cost $39.50 for Friday morning to Sunday afternoon after using coupon found here: http://www.parksfo.com/coupons/2day/
Shuttle to the airport was waiting and at capacity. Driver wore weightlifting gloves and drove the bus hard.
Wait for return shuttle was less than two minutes. Same driver, same gloves, same lead foot.
Cost $39.50 for Friday morning to Sunday afternoon after using coupon found here: http://www.parksfo.com/coupons/2day/
The automated payment works very well, coupons and all.
Cheers.