Airport Parking. Reserve Ahead or Cross Your Fingers?

Airport parking is one of the many joys of business travel. One of the many joys we’d never experience again if we didn’t have to. So what are your options? If you’re a real high-roller, you can probably pay someone to take you. But if you a run-of-the-mill road warrior, you’re going to have to suck it up and drive yourself. These days, you don’t have to get to the airport 45 minutes early to stalk the best parking places if you don’t want to.

Option One: Reserve an airport parking spot online.

Okay, this isn’t really an option if you’re departing from the Abilene Regional Airport, but any decent size place should have parking available for reservation. What’s the best source for parking reservations? BootsnAll, of-course.

BootsnAll has a drop-down menu featuring the major (and some not-so-major) airports in the US and Canada. You can also search by region, but I’m not sure why. If available at the facility, you can choose between covered, valet and surface parking. Shuttles to and from your vehicle are always included.

Option Two: Park, Sleep and Fly

If you have a really early flight or a long drive to the airport, this is the best option in the U.S. You can find hotels in major metro areas that include a parking package with the price of the room. You keep you car in the hotel’s secured parking and take a shuttle to the airport. What could be better? With hotels running the range from the Days Inn to the Radisson, you can find something in your budget (and in your miles program). Special rates are available for these packages. Last week, an acquaintance was flying out of Memphis and did the park, sleep and fly at the Radisson. It would have cost his company just as much to park for the week as it cost to park for the week and spend the night. Where can you get these amazing deals? Also from Bootsnall.