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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 Sep 9, 2025 | 11:22 am
  #616  
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Holiday Parking Prebook: $20 off 5+ days

Book by September 20, 2025, and get $20 off stays of 5+ days in any SFO Parking Garage. Valid for holiday entries between:
  • Nov. 11 – 28, 2025
  • Dec. 18, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026
Use promo code EARLYBIRD at checkout. Simple savings, guaranteed convenience.

EARLYBIRD: Receive $20.00 off stays of 5 or more days with entries between November 11 to 28, 2025; and December 18, 2025, to January 03, 2026. Purchase before September 20, 2025.
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Old Dec 22, 2025 | 10:42 am
  #617  
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Christmas week upgrade offers

Have received two offers via email so far to upgrade my booking from Long-Term Parking to the International Garage

$56 upgrade fee for a 7-day booking

If I do the math, I think this is the list price difference between LTP and International for these dates, but it is also preserving my original early booking discount for LTP, so it's a net savings
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Old Jan 5, 2026 | 6:29 pm
  #618  
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Just got an email about a flash sale at SFO parking. Saved me 26% off LTP for a booking later this week.

Weve released a limited number of "Flash Sale" spots across all garages. Once theyre claimed, theyre gone.

Your Exclusive Weekend Discounts:
  • Long Term Garage: Extra 26% OFF
  • Domestic Garage: Extra 15% OFF
  • International Garage: Extra 10% OFF
Remember, these savings are in addition to any current reservation discounts!

The Details:
  • Book by: January 9th
  • Travel window: Valid on entries through February 28th
Enter Promotional Code SFOJAN-519 at checkout to apply the discount.
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Old Jan 5, 2026 | 6:30 pm
  #619  
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2026 New Year Flash Sale: Up to 26% Off

On-airport parking up to 26% off, book by Jan 9:

We're kicking the New Year off with some serious savings! The January SFO Parking Flash Sale is officially live, and reservations are filling up fast. If youre planning a weekend getaway between now and February 28th, this is your window to secure the best rates of the season.

Weve released a limited number of "Flash Sale" spots across all garages. Once theyre claimed, theyre gone.

Your Exclusive Weekend Discounts:
  • Long Term Garage: Extra 26% OFF
  • Domestic Garage: Extra 15% OFF
  • International Garage: Extra 10% OFF
Remember, these savings are in addition to any current reservation discounts!

The Details:
  • Book by: January 9th
  • Travel window: Valid on entries through February 28th
Enter Promotional Code SFOJAN-519 at checkout to apply the discount.
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Old Jan 6, 2026 | 6:46 pm
  #620  
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I got that last night as well, and jumped on it, as we'll be away for a couple of weekends in Feb, so this works nicely. With the promo code, price is just a bit below ParkSFO (with their promos), which is where I normally go. While I like that their shuttle is very frequent, the last few times its been a real pain to find a spot, not to mention that their QR code readers just plain suck - I've had to grab a ticket the last couple of times and pay at the counter.

I do have a question about LTP though, which I have used, but not a lot. In FAQ, it seems to say this about timing:

The purchase price quoted by the Online Booking System includes a 4-hour grace period on booking entry and a 2-hour grace period on booking exit dates/times for the time purchased online in advance. If you exceed your pre-purchased time, you will be charged at exit for the extra time at SFO’s current posted parking rates in Airport Garages.
Does anyone know what exactly that means? I kind of take it to mean that you can enter (ie, use the QR code) up to 4 hours before the time of the reservation, and leave 2 hours after, but you're responsible for paying additional fees if you park longer than the reservation time. For example, if I were to set up a reservation for Feb 1. at 10am - Feb. 3 at 10am, but end up staying longer than that time, I'd be charged extra? ie, if you enter at, say, 7am on Feb. 1 and leave at noon on Feb. 3, you'd be charged an additional day since those hours are the actual time you used? I'm confused because if you're delayed beyond the 2 hours 'grace' of the reservation time, I can't imagine the QR code just wouldn't work? And it seems posted rates means you'd be charged the full [walk-up] rate without promo, etc. for any additional time? Do I have that part right as well?

​​​​​​​Appreciate any insight.
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Old Jan 6, 2026 | 8:11 pm
  #621  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
'm confused because if you're delayed beyond the 2 hours 'grace' of the reservation time, I can't imagine the QR code just wouldn't work? And it seems posted rates means you'd be charged the full [walk-up] rate without promo, etc. for any additional time?
I recently left the garage well past the reservation end time. If my math is right, I left about 4 hours after the end time, and was charged the posted rate for 2 hours of parking. After I scanned the QR Code, the gate thought for a few minutes then eventually asked for a credit card for the additional charge.

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Old Jan 6, 2026 | 9:59 pm
  #622  
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The effective 6 hr grace period comes in handy on many trips.

Originally Posted by emcampbe
I'm confused because if you're delayed beyond the 2 hours 'grace' of the reservation time, I can't imagine the QR code just wouldn't work?
Also from the FAQ.

When you exit the parking garage, the parking system will read your booking code (QR code), check your booking details and calculate the pre-booked duration of your stay. If you have over-stayed your pre-booked time, the system will determine whether any additional payment is due. You will be required to insert a credit/debit card to pay the amount due prior to being able to exit the garage.
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
I recently left the garage well past the reservation end time. If my math is right, I left about 4 hours after the end time, and was charged the posted rate for 2 hours of parking. After I scanned the QR Code, the gate thought for a few minutes then eventually asked for a credit card for the additional charge.
My experience as well from a couple years ago. Additional charge was based on time starting from end of 2 hr grace period.
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Old Jan 9, 2026 | 2:07 pm
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I use this weekly. I figure i need about 30 min margin for traffic, and then i give myself extra time incase i need to rebook my return. so if i expect to get to the garage at 11am, i give my self 30 min margin down to 10:30am and then the 4 hour grace means i start the reservation at 2:30pm and ends at 2:30pm on my exit day or the following day if my exit is sufficiently past 2:30pm on the actual date. then i can leave by 4:30 wihtout extra charge.

regardless of how late you are, qr code will always work but charge you for the time you're over/past your 2 hour exit grace period. i think i had to stay about 2-3 days late once.

Originally Posted by emcampbe
I got that last night as well, and jumped on it, as we'll be away for a couple of weekends in Feb, so this works nicely. With the promo code, price is just a bit below ParkSFO (with their promos), which is where I normally go. While I like that their shuttle is very frequent, the last few times its been a real pain to find a spot, not to mention that their QR code readers just plain suck - I've had to grab a ticket the last couple of times and pay at the counter.

I do have a question about LTP though, which I have used, but not a lot. In FAQ, it seems to say this about timing:



Does anyone know what exactly that means? I kind of take it to mean that you can enter (ie, use the QR code) up to 4 hours before the time of the reservation, and leave 2 hours after, but you're responsible for paying additional fees if you park longer than the reservation time. For example, if I were to set up a reservation for Feb 1. at 10am - Feb. 3 at 10am, but end up staying longer than that time, I'd be charged extra? ie, if you enter at, say, 7am on Feb. 1 and leave at noon on Feb. 3, you'd be charged an additional day since those hours are the actual time you used? I'm confused because if you're delayed beyond the 2 hours 'grace' of the reservation time, I can't imagine the QR code just wouldn't work? And it seems posted rates means you'd be charged the full [walk-up] rate without promo, etc. for any additional time? Do I have that part right as well?

Appreciate any insight.
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
I recently left the garage well past the reservation end time. If my math is right, I left about 4 hours after the end time, and was charged the posted rate for 2 hours of parking. After I scanned the QR Code, the gate thought for a few minutes then eventually asked for a credit card for the additional charge.
Originally Posted by econ
The effective 6 hr grace period comes in handy on many trips.



Also from the FAQ.





My experience as well from a couple years ago. Additional charge was based on time starting from end of 2 hr grace period.
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Old Jan 9, 2026 | 3:21 pm
  #624  
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Originally Posted by Frozenguy
I use this weekly. I figure i need about 30 min margin for traffic, and then i give myself extra time incase i need to rebook my return. so if i expect to get to the garage at 11am, i give my self 30 min margin down to 10:30am and then the 4 hour grace means i start the reservation at 2:30pm and ends at 2:30pm on my exit day or the following day if my exit is sufficiently past 2:30pm on the actual date. then i can leave by 4:30 wihtout extra charge.
Usually I set the start time to around T-90 min before departure + 4 hours. If traffic is lighter than anticipated, then I'll wait in the cell phone lot just south of LTP until about 4 hours & 1 minute before LTP reservation start time.
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Old Mar 20, 2026 | 10:42 am
  #625  
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Alrightinteresting experience in booking/re-booking LTP reservation.

had a 5-day booking (actually, more like 4.5, but charged at 5 day rate essentially since beyond a couple of hours, you hit max). with the spring break promo. Rate was $94.40 with promo applied. All good.

was thinking we might try and SDC to an earlier flight, and thinking I should also add time at the tail end to max out time at the daily rate since I was already paying for it. Tried to rebook, and rate was down to $90 (I didnt realize the rates could drop, so note to self to check previously booked reservation like airlines/hotels in case of price drop).

System refused the booking due to duplicate booking - I also didnt realize it would do that but started from scratch since I know changing a booking is essentially canceling and rebooking, and just used to doing it that way so the rate didnt change (habit for hotel, etc.). so went into existing reservation and found the option to change - great. However, system re-calculated the charge - presumable with the promo, as $76.50! Not sure what happened there. Double checked the dates/times were still correct, and they were. Tried a new booking and system was back to quoting $90. So seems like some kind of bug in the system for changes. Hey. Im not going to complain.

hopefully this will stick. I guess time will tell. I do see the new rate charged to the card, and no refund of the old yet, but I presume that will come by next week.
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 12:29 pm
  #626  
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Currently seeing that SFO parking offers discounts for reservations booked prior to 5/18 (at least for bookings in May) for any end date. But, if the start is 5/19 or after, no discount. And this hard divider has been there for a couple of weeks. Not a creeping boundary, but one that seems solid at the 5/18 - 5/19 transition.

Cheers.
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 12:37 pm
  #627  
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Originally Posted by brp
Currently seeing that SFO parking offers discounts for reservations booked prior to 5/18 (at least for bookings in May) for any end date. But, if the start is 5/19 or after, no discount. And this hard divider has been there for a couple of weeks. Not a creeping boundary, but one that seems solid at the 5/18 - 5/19 transition.

Cheers.
Anticipating Memorial Day travel?
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 12:54 pm
  #628  
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Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
Anticipating Memorial Day travel?
Yeah, probably that. We have a trip planned across the holiday and, since we're retired, I hadn't realized that there was a holiday in there

We have our ParkSFO reservation, just in case, since their rate is better with no SFO parking discounts.

Cheers.
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 2:00 pm
  #629  
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Discounts for domestic & int terminal are mediocre in April. Guess Ill be at ParkSFO.
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 2:07 pm
  #630  
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Originally Posted by Boraxo
Discounts for domestic & int terminal are mediocre in April. Guess Ill be at ParkSFO.
We got a good one for early April in LTP. I still find that better than ParkSFO in terms of time, so we do that for comparable rates.

Cheers.
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