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
Jul 22, 2025 | 8:12 pm
#604
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,669
New on-airport valet discount code VALETDAY:
The SUMMERTIME code for Long Term parking continues:
VALETDAY: Receive $25.00 off stays of 2 or more days at SFO Valet Parking. Reservations are required 5 days before the entry date. Exit before August 31, 2025. Purchase before July 27, 2025.
SUMMERTIME: Receive $20.00 off stays of 6 or more days in Long Term. Reservations are required 5 days before the entry date for Exits before August 25, 2025..
Jul 23, 2025 | 1:13 pm
#605
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
Another great experience at ParkSFO. Zero wait time for shuttle at either end.
To note the SFO domestic/int/LT discounts seem to vary depending on when you check. I found the best discount about one week before my departure, Within 48 hours, the discount was reduced significantly. So it pays to book somewhat in advance. I did not pull the trigger because the domestic garage was still 2x higher than ParkSFO (and Int A/G was higher still).
To note the SFO domestic/int/LT discounts seem to vary depending on when you check. I found the best discount about one week before my departure, Within 48 hours, the discount was reduced significantly. So it pays to book somewhat in advance. I did not pull the trigger because the domestic garage was still 2x higher than ParkSFO (and Int A/G was higher still).
Jul 23, 2025 | 9:52 pm
#606
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 16,202
Hopefully this isnt off-topic, but mods, if theres a better thread, feel free to move.
we are going to use LT parking and wondered about the new[ish] option to check bags before getting on AirTrain (we are flying UA).
can anyone confirm that the free bag we get based on status should be honored (I kind of assume its coded into ticket, but wanted to make sure), and that they put priority tags on as well? We havent used LT parking in a while, so havent tried this service, but pretty convenient, it seems, if theres not too long a line.
we are going to use LT parking and wondered about the new[ish] option to check bags before getting on AirTrain (we are flying UA).
can anyone confirm that the free bag we get based on status should be honored (I kind of assume its coded into ticket, but wanted to make sure), and that they put priority tags on as well? We havent used LT parking in a while, so havent tried this service, but pretty convenient, it seems, if theres not too long a line.
Jul 23, 2025 | 10:11 pm
#607
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,242
I haven't used it, so afraid I can't help with your other questions, but for all the times I've walked past the one at LTP, I can't say that I've ever seen a line there.
Did notice there is a link to the company that provides this service that has a webform for questions in case no one knows here.
https://www.flysfo.com/remote-bag-check
Did notice there is a link to the company that provides this service that has a webform for questions in case no one knows here.
https://www.flysfo.com/remote-bag-check
Aug 8, 2025 | 6:55 pm
#608
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 16,202
Alright, so back from my recent trip, and not impressed with SFO LT parking. At all.
First, arrived, and both parking garages were blocked off, and they were insisting we could only park in the outside spaces (didn't even realize these existed). Even asked one of the guys we passed in the lot as we were entering. Said to my wife after parking, what do you want to bet there's parking inside. Sure enough, on our walk to the elevators through the ground level of the new garage, I'd say about 15-20% of covered spaces we walked by were open. Suspect more inside where we weren't walking by.
Second, got up to the bag check desk, agent asked which airline we are flying, said UA, and then that they are unable to connect to UA today. This meant despite our D gate departure, had to take the AirTrain an extra stop to T3, trudge through the construction detours I was really trying to avoid and check bags in T3.
Maybe I'm being more pickier than I should - nowhere is perfect, but given a choice, not sure I'd choose LTP again,, and will most likely go back to ParkSFO.
First, arrived, and both parking garages were blocked off, and they were insisting we could only park in the outside spaces (didn't even realize these existed). Even asked one of the guys we passed in the lot as we were entering. Said to my wife after parking, what do you want to bet there's parking inside. Sure enough, on our walk to the elevators through the ground level of the new garage, I'd say about 15-20% of covered spaces we walked by were open. Suspect more inside where we weren't walking by.
Second, got up to the bag check desk, agent asked which airline we are flying, said UA, and then that they are unable to connect to UA today. This meant despite our D gate departure, had to take the AirTrain an extra stop to T3, trudge through the construction detours I was really trying to avoid and check bags in T3.
Maybe I'm being more pickier than I should - nowhere is perfect, but given a choice, not sure I'd choose LTP again,, and will most likely go back to ParkSFO.
Aug 8, 2025 | 7:08 pm
#609
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: AA, United, R34 ftw
Posts: 2,064
Wow, not great to hear about LTP that both garages were closed. I've never seen anyone even manning those bag check counters so I'm surprised you found someone there at all. UA had systemwide computer issues which they deny was a cyberattack but I think a year from now they will admit was one because stuff like your baggage issue wouldn't have happened (if related). Overall sounds like a bust for sure and that parksfo did okay in July with our latest data point.
Sep 6, 2025 | 11:45 am
#612
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,242
Sep 7, 2025 | 10:59 am
#614
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,242
Sep 8, 2025 | 2:03 pm
#615
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
Thanks, saved me $10!
P.S. Just to note, The Daily garage Level 1 seems to have the most open spaces (in fact I got Sinatra parking this week - right next to the D tunnel) but THERE IS NO SCANNER for prepaid tickets. So if you want to exit fast drive up to level 2.
P.S. Just to note, The Daily garage Level 1 seems to have the most open spaces (in fact I got Sinatra parking this week - right next to the D tunnel) but THERE IS NO SCANNER for prepaid tickets. So if you want to exit fast drive up to level 2.
Last edited by Boraxo; Sep 17, 2025 at 5:25 pm