5 Tips to Save Money on Airport Parking

What if there was a way you could drastically cut your airport parking expenses? Well, there is.

Travelling is a logistics-laden experience.

From the time you decide to take the trip, to booking your ticket and driving yourself to the airport, there are many money-guzzling logistics involved.

Leaving your car at an airport parking lot is not cheap. The costs can really add up if you intend to leave it parked for a few days. There is, however, a way you can save your hard-earned cash, especially if you are parking your car at the airport parking lot for a couple of days. Below are five insider tips on how you can save big on airport parking.

1. Select Your Preferred Airport Carefully

Some airports charge exorbitant airport parking fees. Some charge as high as US$60+ per day. If you will be gone for a couple of weeks, this is a huge tab to pick upon return. If you have the choice of flying from a large airport with exorbitant parking fees or a smaller one with more competitive parking rates, you may want to consider the latter.

Ideally, consider the various parking options available and go with the most competitive. When parking at an offsite parking lot, ask if the rate includes shuttle service to help you quickly transfer to the airport terminals.

2. Hunt Down the Most Competitive Airport Parking Deals

Parking fees are a huge source of income for most airports. However, this traditionally lucrative source of revenue has recently come under heavy onslaught from rideshare providers such as Lyft and Uber. You no longer have to drive to the airport since an Uber or Lyft driver can pick and drop you anywhere you want to go.

To motivate you to use their airport parking, airports are increasingly offering unbelievable parking deals that also come with loyalty benefits. Yes, Uber and Lyft may be convenient, but if you can park your car at the airport at a fraction of the cost, it makes better sense to drive yourself to the airport.

3. Be On the Lookout for Parking Discounts

To get parking discounts, follow various airports on social media, subscribe to their mailing lists, or regularly visit their websites for possible parking deals and discounts.

4. Search the Web for Airports with the Best Parking Deals

Going online is not only convenient; you also get to find out which airports have the most affordable parking rates. There are online applications that aggregate airport parking offers, deals and conditions to help you find a parking solution within your budget.

With these apps, you can compare rates and view the available parking spots. In some cases, you can get up to 70% discount by using these aggregators. In other words, these applications will reveal to you the most affordable airport parking available.

5. Ask for a Combo Deal That Includes Airport Parking

Some of the best airport parking deals are bundled with other services. For instance, you can ask your hotel if they have special parking deals with airports. Some airlines also have special parking deals for their clients. The trick is to use a booking service that offers more value for your money if you book another service with them, e.g. plane tickets, hotel stay, etc. You get discounts for using one company for all these services than you would if you were to book for each service separately.

Besides these tips, I can think of many ways to help you make huge savings on airport parking. For instance, if you are a frequent flyer, you are likely to get better rates at airports, which are in some cases extended to your friends and family.