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
#496
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It's all about the discounts here!
#497
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#498
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#499
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When I've been asked about a reservation, I just say yes, and sometimes they ask me to show them. I've shown the app an then been waved through. However, app does not confirm a reservation, I think the confirmation email is the only thing that would. The only thing the app proves that you have is an account with them. You can't even make a reservation on the app (though I'm not sure why.- you do need to go to the website to do that).
#500
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Cheers.
#501




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You know, I wonder between discounts for frequent users, discount club, special promotions--which method really does retain customers? Or does any of this matter any more and it's just about the cheapest price? In parking here there seems to be a difference in the product so there's that as a differentiator, but on other 'similar services' like flights, I wonder which method 'hooks' the customer the most?
#502
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You know, I wonder between discounts for frequent users, discount club, special promotions--which method really does retain customers? Or does any of this matter any more and it's just about the cheapest price? In parking here there seems to be a difference in the product so there's that as a differentiator, but on other 'similar services' like flights, I wonder which method 'hooks' the customer the most?
I got "unhooked" when I not only moved closer to SFO (still in the East Bay) but with other transport services available, from public transit to affordable rideshare, and previously at times, a shared van service - given my location, I was frequently the last or second to last pickup on the way to SFO, and the first or second dropoff on the way home.
#503
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Everyone has their own calculus. When I was parking frequently at SFO (and after SFO stopped offering big book in advance discounts for on-airport parking), ParkSFO offered the best price/convenience combination. In terms of freeway access, ease of finding a decent spot, and frequency of shuttle, I found it to be the best off-airport lot at SFO by a pretty large margin. Pricing was also good, if a bit opaque in terms of how the discount would apply.
#504
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Coming back with egg on face as I stand on the AirTrain from LTP. I started to make a reservation based on our conversation, just to see, but did not finish. Well, reservations only (or members).
The reservation is non-binding and takes no payment. Ill not make that mistake again, even at times I think are non-peak.
Cheers.
The reservation is non-binding and takes no payment. Ill not make that mistake again, even at times I think are non-peak.
Cheers.
#505



Join Date: Oct 2013
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Coming back with egg on face as I stand on the AirTrain from LTP. I started to make a reservation based on our conversation, just to see, but did not finish. Well, reservations only (or members).
The reservation is non-binding and takes no payment. Ill not make that mistake again, even at times I think are non-peak.
The reservation is non-binding and takes no payment. Ill not make that mistake again, even at times I think are non-peak.
Are you saying that you had to park at LTP because you couldn't get into ParkSFO without a reservation?
#506
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#507
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Yikes. I guess just say 'yes' when they ask about reservation. I always just show the app (even though I have the 'non-binding' reservation), which like I say, doesn't prove a reservation otherwise.
Interestingly enough, entered on 3/28, start of spring break (in Pleasanton, at least), and found a better spot (and more quickly) than I have in a long time. First time not needing to go in the new area, and on level 4 to boot (haven't been below 5 in ages).
I still think they really need to work on the accuracy of the spot full lights/indicators, as I frequently find them more inaccurate than accurate. Every level always has a few showing green when the spots are actually used.
Interestingly enough, entered on 3/28, start of spring break (in Pleasanton, at least), and found a better spot (and more quickly) than I have in a long time. First time not needing to go in the new area, and on level 4 to boot (haven't been below 5 in ages).
I still think they really need to work on the accuracy of the spot full lights/indicators, as I frequently find them more inaccurate than accurate. Every level always has a few showing green when the spots are actually used.
#508



Join Date: Oct 2013
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Or just make one on the spot? Although they weren't allowing new ones last weekend when I checked last minute on the website.
LTP garages have the same problem.
LTP garages have the same problem.
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In the end, I did not have a reservation and have no interest in lying just to try and get what I want. To each their own.
Cheers.
#510




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When all is said, I find it odd that even now ParkSFO hasn't managed to integrate the reservation into the app.



