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Old May 3, 2013, 1:32 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: RichardInSF
Short term parking:
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
Cons:
  • 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
Cons:
  • 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.
Cons:
  • 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.)
Cons:
  • 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
Cons:
  • 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
Cons:
  • 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
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Old Aug 6, 2024 | 3:09 pm
  #541  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
Burlingame Airport Parking tends to be a little over $10/day all-in. Downside is the shuttle (shared with Hilton) only runs every 30 min or so. I come in from the north, so it's also a longer drive than Park SFO, which is what I usually use.

Never tried LTP before, but with the FLASH20 code for an upcoming 6 day stay it's pricing out at $86 all-in which is better than Park SFO even with the 2-day free coupon, which is ~$80 + tax. What is the tax at ParkSFO...9%, 10%?

[edit]: Actually, if tax is 9% and ParkSFO doesn't tax free days (do they?) then it's on par with LTP.
ParkSFO used to tax free days. I've not parked there in ages, but always had a bone to pick with how they charged a percentage tax on $0 (as opposed to a fixed-fee type tax).
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Old Aug 7, 2024 | 9:06 pm
  #542  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan

Never tried LTP before, but with the FLASH20 code for an upcoming 6 day stay it's pricing out at $86 all-in which is better than Park SFO even with the 2-day free coupon, which is ~$80 + tax. What is the tax at ParkSFO...9%, 10%?

[edit]: Actually, if tax is 9% and ParkSFO doesn't tax free days (do they?) then it's on par with LTP.
If I remember correctly ParkSFO taxes are closer to 15% and they do tax free days. Not sure if that's changed, haven't parked there in a year or so.
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Old Aug 7, 2024 | 9:45 pm
  #543  
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Originally Posted by freeagent
If I remember correctly ParkSFO taxes are closer to 15% and they do tax free days. Not sure if that's changed, haven't parked there in a year or so.
As of yesterday:
CTAX 8%
AFEE 5%
FSUR 3%
Yes, free days are taxed.
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 10:50 pm
  #544  
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Since the day is free, on what amount do they multiply the tax rate percentage to determine the amount due?
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Old Aug 9, 2024 | 11:24 pm
  #545  
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Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
Since the day is free, on what amount do they multiply the tax rate percentage to determine the amount due?
the coupons reimburse the daily rate. Ill admit Ive never paid too much attention to the semantics of the taxes, but daily rates without coupons I think are 18.95, and the one day free itemizes out that as a discount; I see no reason why, if they charge taxes on a free day theyd base it on any different amount.

whether they feel they should, or legally need to, tax free days are another argument, I suppose. They do it for a reason - Im no lawyer, but presumably a team of theirs has looked at the situation and determined they must charge taxes on those discounts.
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Old Aug 11, 2024 | 12:10 am
  #546  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
the coupons reimburse the daily rate. Ill admit Ive never paid too much attention to the semantics of the taxes, but daily rates without coupons I think are 18.95, and the one day free itemizes out that as a discount; I see no reason why, if they charge taxes on a free day theyd base it on any different amount.

whether they feel they should, or legally need to, tax free days are another argument, I suppose. They do it for a reason - Im no lawyer, but presumably a team of theirs has looked at the situation and determined they must charge taxes on those discounts.
A lot of times taxes is all in the point of sale system and how it can be set up to effectively be what should be collected and remitted--after all, this is all just pass through to the taxing agency. And the tax free days could be a discount in taxes as I've seen that in other states, but they also could just be some sort of discount where they effectively 'eat' the tax and discount the rate. The details will always give you an idea of what's up.
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 1:13 pm
  #547  
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I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are? Level 5, since that's where the AirTrain station is? The garage looks quite big and it appears you can end up walking quite a ways to the AirTrain. Thanks in advance!
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 1:14 pm
  #548  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are? Level 5, since that's where the AirTrain station is? The garage looks quite big and it appears you can end up walking quite a ways to the AirTrain. Thanks in advance!
We were there recently and went to Level 5 for this reason. Made things easier.

Cheers.
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 2:39 pm
  #549  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are? Level 5, since that's where the AirTrain station is? The garage looks quite big and it appears you can end up walking quite a ways to the AirTrain. Thanks in advance!
been a long time since Ive parked in regular LTP, but last couple of times theyve had the new structure blocked off and sent us to the old. Those are some long walks. They also had level 5 blocked off there, so had the walk then the elevator.

we use ParkSFO generally now, which, with coupons, is generally a lot cheaper, and busses are frequent so I havent found them any more of a PITA then the Airtrain. Last time we had an early flight ex-SFO and did a Park n Fly rate at Hyatt Regency which worked out quite well - I think parking worked out to about $15+/day over the non-parking room rate. And busses from there are frequent for a hotel (every 15 minutes).
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 2:46 pm
  #550  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
Last time we had an early flight ex-SFO and did a Park n Fly rate at Hyatt Regency which worked out quite well - I think parking worked out to about $15+/day over the non-parking room rate. And busses from there are frequent for a hotel (every 15 minutes).
We've done the Hyatt Regency Park 'n Fly as well and this is great since it is only $15/day for days beyond the specified limit. As Hyatt Globalist this also works well when we have earlier flights and want to stay bythe airport.

Cheers.
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 3:49 pm
  #551  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
we use ParkSFO generally now, which, with coupons, is generally a lot cheaper,
ParkSFO is usually what we use, but with the recent FLASH20 code, I found LTP to be the better deal for my upcoming 6 days of parking (see post #539) even with the 2 days free coupon. The 15% tax including on free days makes the difference.
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 6:52 pm
  #552  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are?
The last couple times I used it, there were very limited spaces available, and they were all very far from the AirTrain station. Management here frequently messes with the access as well.

The savings would have to be VERY substantial for me to choose LTP over ParkSFO.
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Old Aug 19, 2024 | 9:55 pm
  #553  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are?
I consider myself lucky if the new garage isn't coned off. Level 5 is good, but it can be tough to find parking there.

Originally Posted by emcampbe
been a long time since Ive parked in regular LTP, but last couple of times theyve had the new structure blocked off and sent us to the old. Those are some long walks. They also had level 5 blocked off there, so had the walk then the elevator.
I've noticed this with the "old" garage. Entrance to Level 5 seems to always be blocked off from the ramp going up.
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Old Aug 20, 2024 | 12:29 am
  #554  
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We parked recently at LTP and checked the garage status at https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/parking before booking since it was pretty full. Took a bit for my wife to find parking, but wasn't bad even in a 96% full garage (according to the web site). We couldn't get an EV parking which is what we wanted so we would get to charge for free, but seems like we were lucky to get the parking and the rate we did which came out to just over $50 for 4 days.

Level 5 is nice, but generally any parking near an elevator is great. I use this trick all the time in the other garages since many times the elevator spots are free on other levels.

One thing to consider is airtrain maintenance. When we were coming back, there was maintenance that had the airtrain moving in only one direction. This will add time if you haven't factored in a buffer for last second contingencies.
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Old Aug 20, 2024 | 6:54 pm
  #555  
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Originally Posted by mangoMan
I'll be parking at SFO LTP for the first time in a few days. Any suggestions on where the best parking spots are? Level 5, since that's where the AirTrain station is? The garage looks quite big and it appears you can end up walking quite a ways to the AirTrain. Thanks in advance!
I've found that Level 6, above the AirTrain level, is easier... I think people give up before they get that far up.

I really don't like taking shuttle buses so I park there quite often. Yes, it can be a bit of a walk to the AirTrain, but for me it's worth it, since I really don't like buses.
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