Planning your trips in the coming months? These practical tips can help you save your wallet from expensive airport parking costs.
Despite Australians taking fewer trips compared to the pre-pandemic era, travel is more expensive than ever before.
The latest data revealed that inflation and soaring prices of hotels, flights, and rental cars contributed to a record domestic tourism expenditure of $108 billion in 2023. This marked a 40% increase compared to Australians’ spending on domestic travel in 2019.
While most of us don’t mind saying goodbye to our hard-earned cash for a flight to our dream destination, nobody likes paying big bucks just to park their car at the airport.
Parking fees can be a big extra cost for travellers, particularly if you’re leaving your vehicle in an airport car parking facility for a long time.
Luckily, there are several practical ways that can help you make big savings on the cost of airport parking.
Whether you’re traveling for a business trip or you’re headed somewhere tropical for the winter, here are our top tips to help keep the cost of airport parking down so you can have more money to spend on your travels.
How do you save money on airport parking?
When it comes to cutting your expenses on airport parking, it’s all about thinking and planning ahead to get cheaper rates. Here are five ways to do it:
1. Book in advance
Booking airport parking early can help you save a lot of money. And the earlier you book, the cheaper the rates usually are.
For example, pre-booking parking in Sydney Airport can save you up to 70%. In other major airports, booking in advance can mean getting exclusive discount codes and offers. Melbourne Airport online reservations offer a discount price on parking, however they are only available for pre-bookings only.
At Perth Airport, parking bookings are accepted up to 12 months in advance. The earlier you book, the bigger the savings. However, discounts will not apply to bookings made less than 24 hours in advance.
On one hand, people who simply turn up on the day of their flight and park are hit with hefty airport parking fees.
Of course, you are welcome to just drive in, take a ticket, and pay the applicable drive-up rates on exit.
However, skipping the advance booking could jack up your airport parking charges by as much as 40% to 60% above the standard rates.
But if you only book 1 or 2 days ahead, your parking fees will still be cheaper compared to arriving without a reservation. You could save hundreds just by planning ahead like this.
In some major airports, you may not even need to book a day in advance to get cheap airport parking rates. Brisbane Airport offers a discount of $10 for up to two hours of parking when you book at least one hour prior to arriving.
So if you know exactly when you need to be at the airport, it’s a good idea to reserve your parking space well ahead of time. Once you get your flights locked in and your accommodation and itinerary sorted, start looking for a parking space near your airport of choice ASAP.
If you wait until the last minute, you may not only lose your chance to choose from multiple parking options but also have to pay a higher price due to high demand.
2. Do your research when choosing your airport
Not all airports are equal when it comes to parking charges and policies. Some are more expensive than others while some are cheaper but don’t offer the convenience you may be looking for.
If you’re flexible about where you fly from, check out prices at different airports in an area for both flights and parking to get the best deal overall.
Sometimes, even though flights from certain airports might seem cheaper, once you factor in parking costs, it could end up costing you more than flying from alternative airports.
But before you jump into any deals offered by an alternative airport, make sure to always read the fine print to make sure there are no hidden charges or taxes. Most people gloss over fine print and then end up paying a lot more than the stated price.
3. Sign up for Frequent Flyer Programs
Some airlines, airports and commercial parking operators offer a frequent flyer program to attract customer/passenger loyalty. These schemes can not only save you money on flights but also on your parking. If you find yourself flying rather often or you have a familiar destination you routinely travel to, this is a great option for you.
Typically, the more you fly and book, or the longer you have been a member, the bigger (and better) the discount will be.
Before you sign up for one, make sure to ask questions to find out more about different loyalty programs and which one is best for you and your travelling needs.
4. Use comparison websites
Instead of doing all the work finding the best deal on airport parking, consider using comparison websites.
These sites do the work for you by finding multiple parking providers and comparing their packages.
One major advantage of comparison sites is that they often offer better rates than booking directly because they buy parking spaces in bulk and pass on discounts to customers. So, let these websites save you time and money by finding the best deal for your needs and budget.
5. Choose an off-site or long-stay parking space
When you’re looking for a place to park at the airport, you might notice that the ones closest to the terminal are usually more expensive.
But here’s our cost-cutting tip: if you’re okay with availing the shuttle service to the main airport, you can save money by choosing a long-term parking option or an off-site parking space.
These options are further away but come with cheaper rates, especially if you’re planning to leave your car for a longer period.
Going away for a long business trip or that lifetime trip to Europe for a month or two? Parkhound can help you find a monthly parking space near airports, ensuring your vehicle is securely parked for the duration of your trip.
6. Look for coupon or deals online
Don’t limit yourself to airport websites when looking for a good deal on parking. Make sure to cover your bases and check out coupon websites when planning a trip.
Remember to also follow airports’ social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Following these accounts will help keep you updated when they post updates with special offers. Make sure to also search through their older posts or updates if you can use any promo or discount program you can use for your trip.
Don’t forget to also check out old reliable Google and search for potential deals from travel websites. Just make sure to do your due diligence and not fall for scams.
7. Don’t travel during peak periods
During peak travel times, such as holidays, parking and other travel-related expenses tend to be higher. Deals on airport parking may also be harder to come by during these peak periods.
If you choose to travel during off-peak times of the year or month, you are more likely to find cost savings.
Times of the year when there is less demand, such as outside of school holidays or during the summer break, offer better value in terms of prices and availability.
If you can’t avoid travelling during peak seasons,you can still reserve convenient and cheap parking spaces near any airport with Parkhound!
We offer thousands of hidden-gem spaces at affordable rates all year round. So when you book your travel accomodations and your flights, don’t forget to lock in your parking spot at the same time!
Find monthly parking near an airport with Parkhound
Take the stress out of airport parking by pre booking your space with Parkhound. We offer hundreds of convenient and cheap parking options near major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more!
To learn more about airport parking rates in major cities, check out our guide for CBD Parking in Australia: On-street, Off-street and Everything in Between.
