Three Great Airport Parking Strategies for the Holidays

If you’re getting ready for your summer holiday, you may be considering your options for getting to and from the airport. Even in the busiest cities in Australia, there tend to be a few affordable long-term parking options near the CBD or at the airport. However, it’s still possible to park your car for a discounted rate if you act fast. Read on to find great strategies for the first leg of your journey, so you can park with peace of mind this holiday season.

Ruby Kelly, customer care manager of Flyparks.com.au, recommends making your airport parking arrangements now if you haven’t already done so. “Prices tend to go up over December and January, over the holiday period”, Kelly says. “Some airports such as Brisbane and Perth are showing a bit of overflow in regards to parking already, and prices have begun to rise.”

She cites Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as airport that typically tend to be busy. “The most expensive are Sydney and Melbourne, which is simply supply and demand – there’s not a lot of space, so the airports can charge a higher price for parking”, Kelly added. For these airports, you’ll want to book your parking in advance, as early as possible.

Option 1. Go Long-Term

In most cases, you’ll find that long-term, off-site parking lots offer the best value. Usually located just off the airport grounds, these car parks provide a safe place to store your car, convenient shuttles to the airport terminals, and additional services such as car washing and maintenance. Additionally, many are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you’ll be able to drop off and pick up your car with ease.

Often, you can find a better price by booking online, rather than paying in person at the parking lot. You’ll also save yourself time and stress if you guarantee your space before you arrive. This saves worrying about whether or not the car park will already be full by the time you get there.

Using Flyparks.com.au, we compared the prices for airport parking at Perth Airport in January. This website consolidates prices from a variety of local airport parking providers, so you only have to search in one place to find a multitude of options. For a quick search of the last week in January, dropping off the car on the 24th and picking it up on the 31st, found that the off-site car parks listed generally undercut the airport by 20 to 30%.

Option 2. Book a One-Night Airport Hotel Stay

For those who don’t live close to the airport, bundling your parking with a one-night hotel stay can be a good cost-saving option. Some hotels add a week’s worth of parking to your bill for a reasonable fee, making this a pretty inexpensive way to park. Travellers would need to stay for at least one night at the start of their trip at an off-airport hotel, and then arrange to leave their car at the hotel for the duration of their holiday. In addition to the night’s stay and parking, some hotels also offer free shuttle services to and from the airport so that customers can get back and forth easily.

Packages that include parking and a one-night hotel stay typically start at $150.00 in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne and tend to cost a little less in areas such as the Gold Coast and Mackay. You can also contact your preferred hotel brand to see if their airport location offers any reduced priced parking packages.

Option 3. Take Advantage of Rail Services

Although not yet possible at all airports in Australia, you can catch the train to the airport in Sydney. You might be able to find a decent rate on parking, by leaving your car at a long-term parking facility near a public transportation stop and then taking the train onwards to the airport. For example, there are several multi-day parking options in Sydney, which are a little cheaper than parking at the airport’s own P1, P2, P3 or P7 car parks.

While this does add an extra leg to your trip, and it’s not ideal if you have heavy luggage or kids in tow, it may be a more economical option if you’re looking to save money. It’s well worth doing your homework when it comes to public transport however, as prices can be steep when it comes to airport connections built by private companies. A one-way ticket from Central Station to Sydney Airport currently costs a whopping $16.70 per person!

About Flyparks

Flyparks is an online comparison site for low-cost airport parking in Australia and New Zealand. If you’d like to save both time and money by booking your car parking in advance,  where you can search and compare rates near major airports and easily reserve your Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland or Perth Airport Parking. Booking online takes just two minutes with our secure checkout, and your email confirmation will be sent shortly afterward – no account needed!