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
#301




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
Planning to park at SFO for July 4 trip for maybe the first time ever. I have the Park N Fly Amex offer (and AAA discount) but it looks like the $18 long term rate may still be a better deal all things considered. Is there any reason to consider Park N Fly as opposed to just doing regular long term parking?
#302




Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,198
Haven't driven to SFO in years, but I have to pick up folks this week who are arriving internationally and need help with luggage.
I'm assuming Garage A or G makes no difference for arrivals?
Is there a specific level I should be parking at or does it not matter?
Thanks.
I'm assuming Garage A or G makes no difference for arrivals?
Is there a specific level I should be parking at or does it not matter?
Thanks.
#303
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,807
Haven't driven to SFO in years, but I have to pick up folks this week who are arriving internationally and need help with luggage.
I'm assuming Garage A or G makes no difference for arrivals?
Is there a specific level I should be parking at or does it not matter?
Thanks.
I'm assuming Garage A or G makes no difference for arrivals?
Is there a specific level I should be parking at or does it not matter?
Thanks.
#304




Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,531
Well I guess ParkSFO has finally worked out the difference between business travel and personal travel! Rather than only being able to use coupons for a specific stay, you can now bank the free days for future stays. ie, make your expense account pay full price, and use the free days for your own personal travel.
There doesn't appear to be anything about it on their website, but the email is at Untitled Document
It'll be interesting to see how tax is implemented on the free days. They had some screwy rules back when they used to do the free day coupons without a minimum stay, but I forget exactly what they were as I haven't seen one of those coupons for close to 10 years...
There doesn't appear to be anything about it on their website, but the email is at Untitled Document
It'll be interesting to see how tax is implemented on the free days. They had some screwy rules back when they used to do the free day coupons without a minimum stay, but I forget exactly what they were as I haven't seen one of those coupons for close to 10 years...
#306
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,039
Well I guess ParkSFO has finally worked out the difference between business travel and personal travel! Rather than only being able to use coupons for a specific stay, you can now bank the free days for future stays. ie, make your expense account pay full price, and use the free days for your own personal travel.
There doesn't appear to be anything about it on their website, but the email is at Untitled Document
There doesn't appear to be anything about it on their website, but the email is at Untitled Document
Cheers.
#307
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 187
We have to leave a car at/near SFO for two weeks in late October. I don't want to pay astronomical airport parking fees, but I'm also a bit leery about relying on a cheaper off-airport service because I can't imagine they're all that busy these days and so have probably reduced their shuttle services. Does anyone have experience with a good and reasonably priced option in Covid times?
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 34,039
We have to leave a car at/near SFO for two weeks in late October. I don't want to pay astronomical airport parking fees, but I'm also a bit leery about relying on a cheaper off-airport service because I can't imagine they're all that busy these days and so have probably reduced their shuttle services. Does anyone have experience with a good and reasonably priced option in Covid times?
Cheers.
#309
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
We have to leave a car at/near SFO for two weeks in late October. I don't want to pay astronomical airport parking fees, but I'm also a bit leery about relying on a cheaper off-airport service because I can't imagine they're all that busy these days and so have probably reduced their shuttle services. Does anyone have experience with a good and reasonably priced option in Covid times?
Also, though I didn't need it, I asked at the desk and if you're going to stay near the airport the night before departure or after arrival, you can use the discounted Way parking and stay that night without paying the hotel parking fee ( I think it was 29.95 a night!). (I wouldn't recommend staying at the Embassy Suites (parking was fine), but there are quite a few parking deals at better hotels as well.)
#311
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
That's a change from last year. They run a scheduled shuttle. Maybe the hotel wants to charge you a fee. I'd call the hotel. I suppose the Uber would only add a few bucks to the total. You can certainly grab the shuttle back from the airport.
#312
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I stayed at Burlingame Airport Parking, next to the Hilton, this last weekend, at $9 a day plus a 5% tax (some other airport area locations in different cities charge higher taxes). Shuttle is on-request but there were already others waiting for the 5am shuttle when I walked up to the front of the hotel. On return, called the Hilton and the shuttle was there in about 15 minutes. Their lot was less than 25% full and had plenty of spaces. One reason I keep going back here is that I feel my car is reasonably secure - have never seen anyone walk in from the street. When you factor in Uber costs on a lower per-day stay, you might come out pretty close to their rates. I know they used to offer lower weekly rates, and the daily rate could jump as high as $15 in peak times, but I'd input your dates there and see what it prices at.
#313
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
The Holiday Inn in San Mateo did for a few years, as I regularly stayed there with two weeks of parking on international trips. Think too many of us were doing that as now it's only 7 days (plus they're currently closed and due to reopen in October).
I've seen this website mentioned before for stays that include parking:
https://sanfrancisco.parksleepfly.com/
Did a random search for 14 days starting in mid-September and there were four hotels starting at $259 for a one night stay and 14 days of parking.
I've seen this website mentioned before for stays that include parking:
https://sanfrancisco.parksleepfly.com/
Did a random search for 14 days starting in mid-September and there were four hotels starting at $259 for a one night stay and 14 days of parking.
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
The Holiday Inn in San Mateo did for a few years, as I regularly stayed there with two weeks of parking on international trips. Think too many of us were doing that as now it's only 7 days (plus they're currently closed and due to reopen in October).
I've seen this website mentioned before for stays that include parking:
https://sanfrancisco.parksleepfly.com/
Did a random search for 14 days starting in mid-September and there were four hotels starting at $259 for a one night stay and 14 days of parking.
I've seen this website mentioned before for stays that include parking:
https://sanfrancisco.parksleepfly.com/
Did a random search for 14 days starting in mid-September and there were four hotels starting at $259 for a one night stay and 14 days of parking.
My international flights often /edit to add - man, I miss those/ have one leg at least where that's very convenient. But it's expensive - $18+ a day - if you really don't need the room.
#315
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Aren't the rooms typically around $180 to $200 without the parking? So, $259 is good value if you need the room.
My international flights often /edit to add - man, I miss those/ have one leg at least where that's very convenient. But it's expensive - $18+ a day - if you really don't need the room.
My international flights often /edit to add - man, I miss those/ have one leg at least where that's very convenient. But it's expensive - $18+ a day - if you really don't need the room.






