How to Save Time Parking at the Airport

One of my friends missed his flight because of airport parking. 
It’s not that his car broke down. It wasn’t because of the traffic. And not because he overslept.
It was all because he had to spend 30 minutes finding a spot for his car at the airport parking lot. 

For a straight 30 minutes, he was circling in the garage in search of a spot. His departure time got closer, while every space was nearly filled, or the spots available were not secure. 
By the time it took to find a suitable spot for his car, he ran to the shuttle to catch his flight. He was in complete panic. He finally made it to the security, but then the boarding door was closed. 
 

And there was a hefty fee for rebooking, which he had to pay since there wasn’t any other choice left. 
It was all because of the time that was wasted in searching for parking. 
That expensive lesson taught my friend something crucial. It was that parking is not just about where you park and leave your vehicle; it’s actually about making sure your car, which is a valuable resource of yours, stays protected while you’re away, while protecting another very valuable resource of yours: time.

And that is why I’ve written this down to give some airport parking tips on saving time and reducing the stress of fellow travellers. 
 

Why Airport Parking Takes Time 
 

Most people have the view that airport parking takes hardly 10 minutes. 
They view it as something super simple. You arrive, you park, and then you walk to the terminal. Easy right?
No. 

The reality is brutally different. 
People fail to act in the time it would take to circle the garage for available spots. Then walking to the lots, waiting for the shuttles. The time it takes to unload the luggage from the car. And then dragging that luggage. And making sure to remember where you parked when you come back. 
All of a sudden, that 10-minute task has consumed 30 to 35 minutes of your valuable time. And that’s on a normal day. 

When you go for parking during peak travel days like summer, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, you’ll be wasting much more time. Your planned schedule will be ruined. 
The main question is not whether you will handle all this frustration; the real question is whether you will be able to deal with it efficiently. 

The Strategy 
 

Here is what I personally follow, and that changed everything for me. I stopped treating airport parking as something I would figure out when I got there. 
And I started treating it the same way I would treat my hotel booking and flight booking. Now I view it as something that requires planning and better decision-making. 
 

Because I realized this as a frequent traveler, the best planning  regarding airport parking starts way before leaving home. 
 

• Always research your options at least 24 to 48 hours ahead. There are several covered and outdoor parking spaces available with their own schedules for shuttles, and they can accept reservations online. 
• Always go for pre-booking whenever possible. When a spot is already reserved, the hunting time will be gone. Now you know exactly where your parking space is. 
• Download relevant applications. There are a number of websites and applications that have a real-time availability display of parking lots. You can book for free and pay later. 
• Check the parking lot status before leaving for the facility. For official airports, most of them publish parking lot availability online. If you see your preferred lot is full, you can save time by not going there and instead opting for an alternative. 
• Map your route to the entrance of the parking lot. The GPs to the airport is good but not enough. In certain cases, you might want to check the closest entrance to the parking lot and use that to enter the facility. 
   

This app preparation is simple and will take 15 minutes max, but it will definitely  help you save time parking at the airport. 
 

When You’re Running Late
 

In the case where you’re super late and didn’t have time to do the planning before you leave. 
Here is something I would say about the emergency protocol:
 

• You enter, and you go straight to the short-term or hourly parking . Don’t waste your time driving to the economy lots. Pay the higher price for proximity.
• If there’s a valet service available, use it. The cost is less than missing your plane.
• You can also go for ridesharing if you believe parking will make you miss the flight. Go for an Uber. 
• Take the first space you find available. Don’t waste your time searching for the perfect spot. When in an emergency, your flight matters more than parking convenience.
• Try not to panic. If you rush, there are chances that you’ll make some slip-ups. Be fast, but focused and calm. 
   

These tips are not the ideal ones, but they are the most logical ones when in an emergency, because in such situations, the main objective is not to miss the flight. 
 

The Real Cost of Making Bad Parking
 

I told you what to do in an emergency, but it is always better to plan your parking. 
I say this because if someone misses their flight. The expenses they now have to pay are not only confined to the parking. 

This means paying more for rebooking, for hotel charges, or loss of opportunities, stress, and frustration. It costs you your peace of mind.

Next time, if you’re planning for your flight. Ask yourself whether you’re willing to spend 10 to 15 minutes planning your parking in your home or are ready to risk time, which could be up to 45 minutes.