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Airport Parking can be very expensive and the last thing that you want when you’re about to catch your flight is a big hole in your holiday budget; but you can reduce the cost of parking at the airport by booking in advance online.
You should never turn up at the airport without having already booked your airport parking because the gate prices are much more expensive than anything you will pay online. The airport car parks tend to charge a premium for turning up on the day and the prices can be up to 60% more than prices online. Even if you haven’t remembered to book your airport parking on the day you are supposed to fly, you can still book online before you reach the airport and you can still save money. For example, if you wanted to book On-Airport Heathrow Parking or Off-Airport Luton Airport Parking for one week in December you could save £50.70 and £35.01 respectively, on the gate price, just by booking online.
The earlier you book online the more money you will save. Some of the airport companies now offer ‘advance purchase’ prices and the earlier that you book your airport parking the more likely you are to find them. These prices will then be withdrawn as you get closer to the departure date so it’s best to snap them up while you can. If you were to book your Manchester Airport Parking at least 30 days in advance you could save a little more money than if you book nearer the time. It is worth bearing in mind that these advanced purchase pricing offers are non-refundable and only apply to certain airports but this doesn’t negate the fact they can still save you extra pennies.
Contrary to popular belief it is not always cheaper to get a taxi to the airport. Depending on how long you are away for, the time of year you are holidaying, the airport you are flying from, where you live in relation to the airport etc a taxi could cost much more. Make sure that you compare airport parking and taxi quotes online before you book to make sure you are getting the better deal. For example if you were to go on holiday this Christmas for a period of two weeks and were traveling 60miles to the airport, you could save a massive £66.75 by booking a standard airport parking service and you could even save £8.20 on a top of the range Official Valet Meet and Greet Gatwick Parking service.
Another important offer to look out for is ‘Best Price Guarantees’ offered by some airport parking companies online. For example, if you booked Bristol Airport Parking for £47.99 but found exactly the same airport parking cheaper somewhere else, you would, depending on the company; be given this booking for FREE, be refunded the difference or offered a discount on the parking you had booked. Not only this, but also many companies offer a cancellation protection option, which is either included in or addable to most quotes. This allows you to cancel your booking at any time and get your money back. Remember to always read the terms and conditions surrounding these offers to make sure you are eligible for them.
E-mail subscriptions to online airport parking companies are often advisable because as well as being sent details about offers on airport parking you often receive discount codes to apply to your future bookings. So, not only will you be saving on the gate prices charged by booking on the day, but also you will save extra money by simply providing these companies with your email address.
Finally, when it comes to choosing your airport parking booking it is important to check out the different options to find out which offers are the best value for you. The standard parking options, which are available at most airports, are on-airport and off-airport parking. It is a common misconception that the on-airport car parks will offer a better service and will be more efficient; often transfer times from off-airport car parks are the same as those from the on-airport car parks and the service that they offer is just as good, so be sure to check what the different car parks offer you.
The ‘Meet and Greet’ airport parking option is only available for pre-bookings and is easily the most convenient type of airport parking. It is most valuable when you are either traveling in a large group of have an excessive amount of luggage. After booking your parking online or over the phone, all you have to do is turn up at the airport and a driver will park your car for you and on return from your holiday you will be met at the appropriate terminal with your car.
If you are looking to book an airport hotel to save yourself the stress of an early morning start and no sleep, there are some amazing deals online that also incorporate parking. Sometimes the hotels themselves offer inclusive parking on site and a transfer to the airport or alternatively the parking will be included in the price of the hotel but you will have to park your car at a nearby car park. Either way, if you are booking an airport hotel and parking there are some brilliant deals available and sometimes booking both can work out cheaper than parking on its own, so shop around.
All in all, the benefits of pre-booking, and especially online, are indisputable. You are guaranteed to save money by paying in advance rather than turning up at the gate and there are many more options made available at your fingertips, which are simple and quick to book.
Copyright © 2010 Charlotte Kay
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