Best Airport Parking Melbourne Area

[Simon Hopes]

Airport parking is an important part of taking a flight from a local airport. While not everyone chooses to park their vehicle at the airport, many travelers do, and with good reason. Driving to the airport and leaving your car just before your flight departs is a fast and easy way to begin your trip. However, not all airport parking areas are alike. Some are better than others, and a few are questionable at best. If you are thinking about using long-term parking when you take a flight for an extended stay somewhere, check the airport parking facilities ahead of time to ensure your vehicle will be safe. 

Visit the website. 

The airport, airline, or parking services division should have a website or webpage dedicated to parking options. Check to see when the information was last updated, and if it has been more than a few months, contact parking services to see if changes have been made. There may be a live chat feature where you can ask detailed questions about leaving your car at the airport. For offsite parking, driving directions may also be included. 

Inspect the parking area. 

If possible, visit the airport parking lot or covered facility ahead of time to check it out. You don't want to arrive on the day of your flight with just minutes to spare before departure, only to find out that the parking area is closed or in poor condition. If you can inspect it ahead of time, look for routine security features, and ask security personnel on duty to explain anything you're not sure about. 

Check the security aspects. 

Depending on where the airport is located, the surrounding area may be questionable or susceptible to crime. Discuss security features like parking surveillance, lighting, fencing, and monitors as well as escort to and from the airline terminal. If there is a shuttle, is the waiting area for it covered and safe, especially at night? Do all security devices work, and are they up-to-date? You may want to ask about recent thefts or damage to parked vehicles, or about criminal activity in adjacent areas. If you notice that important security features are not currently in use, feel free to ask why not or suggest that the parking services department consider using them, for example, installing better lighting or an alarm system for a gated parking area. 

Request references or testimonials. 

Usually, customer testimonials will appear on the airline or airport parking Melbourne website or on a larger review site for local businesses. Compare customer feedback on several long-range parking areas to see which ones rank the highest in customer satisfaction. You may want to request references from corporations that use airport parking frequently. If the parking office has done a customer survey, results may be helpful, as well, if they are available to the public. 

Ask about discounts. 

In addition to shopping for competitive parking prices, you may be interested in related discounts. For example, some airport parking services offer free parking on extra days after you have used parking service for a certain amount of time, like thirty days within a year. Referring another traveler to parking services, someone who uses long-term parking, may net you a reduced rate next time you park and fly. Some airport parking Melbourne services offer associated vehicle services while you're gone, such as oil changes or a tune-up, at regular or reduced rates. 

Many airport parking areas are similar, but some can be better or worse than others. Take time before your next trip to check out airport parking at the terminal where you plan to depart from. You may be surprised to learn some things, good or bad, that you didn't realize about the parking options when you fly and leave your car at the terminal. It's better to discover in advance what you need to know than to find out when you return.