It’s no secret that airport self-parking lots can come with some risks. Not only are they further away from the airport, but they also may not be properly secured, and their rates may be unpredictable. Here are a few of the reasons you should avoid self-parking at JFK if you want to make the most of your travel time.
Poor Security
While many off-site parking lots say they have 24 hr security, many of them are not properly secured with a fence or other means of keeping people out. In addition, a single security officer at the front gate is not sufficient to watch over hundreds of cars all at one time. Theft is a real problem in these lots, and definitely something you don’t want to be thinking about while you’re away.
Pricing
Another problem is the high cost of keeping your car at one of these lots if you are going to be gone for more than a day or two. You could easily rack up hundreds of dollars in charges, plus have to pay shuttle fees to an from the airport. If you are looking for ways to save money, it is best to leave your car at home and take a private car to the airport instead.
Extra Travel Time
If you do choose to leave your car at a third party lot you will need to plan far enough in advance to catch the shuttle to the airport proper. Some lots only have shuttles running every half hour or hour, so you must be on time or you will have to wait until the next shuttle comes around. This can cause serious delays and throw off your whole plan. Plus the process of unloading your luggage, putting it onto a shuttle, and then unloading it once more at the airport can be strenuous and time-consuming.
Available Parking
Some of these lots have upgraded to using online reservation systems for their parking spaces. However, many lots post no information about their lot status online so you have to drive out there and drive around the whole lot to discover that there are no available parking spaces. This can be frustrating, especially if it’s a major travel weekend, and leaves you with few options for finding affordable parking.
The best way to avoid all of these hassles and make your flight on time is to hire a private car service that can pick you up at your front door and take you directly to the airport. You will spend less time searching for parking and waiting on shuttles, and you will save money in the process.