Thoughts On Transport to and from Airport...
 

I myself swear by driving my own car and parking. There are advantages to this, at least in my case.

My home airport is PHX and I live on the north end of town. My lot of choice is an off-airport lot that charges 6.50 per day for uncovered and 8.50 for covered..and in Phoenix, you need covered in summer if you don't want your dashboard to melt and your battery to die. I can print cupons out from their website. They have a shuttle that takes about 2 minuted from car to curb which is actually faster than the Sky Harbor airport lots.

If you park on-airport..say in the Gecko lot, the shuttle bus takes it's own sweet time looping around the uncovered lot picking up the cheapskates and it has taken up to 15 from car to curb.

Supershuttle. I HATE IT!!!! It's like the Southwest Airlines of ground transportation. It's full of kettles!! You end up going to everyone else's house before yours, and the kid that's always in there gets carsick. In my case, it costs more to take Supershuttle from my house than it does to pay to park for my average trip anyhow.

Taxis are even worse for me, and cost the most.

There is nothing like having your own car when you get back to your home airport, and nothing like departing your house for a trip on your own time without worrying if your transport will show up on time.

But I have peeves about it, of course. I wish people would REMEMBER where they parked when they get back. Nothing worse than being in the parking shuttle and Ma Kettle forgets what row or spot she was in (despite being given a slip with the info on the outbound) and she ends up having the driver drive around the whole lot looking for her car while you know exactly where yours is. "What kind of car is it mam?" says the driver and she answers with "Well, it's a blue one".

I also wish people would be ready when the shuttle comes to their car, and not anally get on and off the shuttle to double check if they locked the doors and to get just one more water bottle out of the car while everyone waits.

And, specific to the lot I use, although it is called "Sky Harbor Airport Parking" it is NOT affiliated with the airport and if you parked ON airport, do not try to flag it down and ask to be taken to the Gecko or Jackrabbit lot..the big bus with Jackrabbit or Gecko on it is the one you want. And "The Parking Spot" shuttle does not go to "The Fast Track Parking" lot....DIFFERENT COMPANY!!

Secondly, when I can save a buck and be picked and dropped off by Mrs. Pinworm I will do it..but folks need to realize what the Cell Phone Lot is and how it works....you don't have to try to park curbside and gum up traffic and upset the airport cops while you wait for your loved one to arrive..you can park in the cell phone lot, check the board, and get them to call you when they reach the curb! Failing that, you can go to short term parking, park, and meet your loved one at the security gates when they come out. It's like 2 dollars an hour.

Yup...in your case. Not so useful for me without a car and in NYC. I take mass transit the vast majority of the time and it is way better for me.

Suggesting that there is a single right answer for everyone is a fool's errand.

I think having a family member dropping us off and picking us up in our vehicle is the way to go! Three weeks of parking at our local airport would be equivalent to about $250 - $275.. unless of course they have a better than weekly rate.

I hate Super Shuttle too! I prefer the Parking Spot / Century at LAX. The coupons are a nuisance. I've complained to management to no avail to make discounts automatic for Spot Club members.

I take public transportation in Minneapolis, unless I'm on a very early flight. Then I drive or take a taxi, depending on the length of my trip (under two days, it's cheaper to park).

Living near DFW has its advantages....
I once took the shuttle to the south parking lot and walked the 2.5 miles home from there. :)

Actually, I've found them convenient and cost-effective, but then I've yet to have a kid barf in one... yet. :eek:

Try ToAndFromTheAirport.com

Canadian airport parking is way more expensive ( I see you are in Calgary) I used to live in Toronto and it was utterly outrageous what long term parking cost..I think it was in the 18 dollar per day range!

I have flown to PHX on both of the major carriers there -- US Airways ("this aircraft operated by America West Airlines" due to the then-incomplete merger at the time) and Southwest. Both cases similar itineraries.

The "kettle" percentage was similar on both airlines.

Before Supershuttle raised its rates, I used to swear by them. As I lived in Tempe, I was always the last one picked up and I didn't mind having to ride with "kettles". Plus it was cheaper than a cab and I didn't have a car my first year in AZ.

Even when I got a car, if I was going to be gone for a week or more, I still didn't mind Supershuttle. Convienent as having my car is, I'm often jealous of those who live in cities like New York, Boston and San Francisco where there's good public transit to the airport.

Amtrak Northeast Corridor
 

I live in Washington DC, yet all of my flights depart or arrive in all airports along the Northeast Corridor from WAS to NYP, including some that Amtrak don't connect to, but in DC you can still get to via public transport like DCA and IAD (Metro and/or Washington Flyer). I also use Amtrak Northeast Corridor for flights out of JFK, connecting at New York Penn Station with MTA Long Island Railroad.

I always say.. dollar saved is a dollar earned.. I willing to splurge and can afford it.. but I'm also thrifty by habit, because I love to save coin and milk value just like alot of FTers.^

If I fly out of the closest commuter airport- park there for free, little theft. If I fly out of a commercial airport instead of connecting from the commuter airport- get dropped off by family. Any little bit I can save, I will. The gas for round trip twice is still cheaper than paying to park.

It can be nice if you have family whose time is valued so low that they don't mind the two round trips. I always put the person-hours into the cost mix when determining what's cheapest in terms of transportation. Public transportation usually wins out here in Minneapolis.

I try having a family member drive me first, and gamble on having someone available for the ride home otherwise it's a taxi. I don't currently have a car but when I did if it is under a seven day trip I drove and parked at the airport (MSP, expensive) but if it is over seven days it is cheaper to take a taxi both ways.

I also try and use public transportation when possible at my destination. Fairly easy to do on the east coast but challenging at other places.

Cheers,
Pogopossum