If you’re taking an extended vacation over the New Year, it’s wise to plan every detail meticulously. This means not just travel documents, packing and itinerary, it also means taking care of how you plan to get to the airport and back at the end of your holidays.
Driving your own vehicle to the airport is a great idea. It saves you a tidy sum in cab charges, you can leave at your own pace and arrive and depart in comfort and safety.
Parking your own vehicle at Tullamarine Airport offers good benefits. You can select a parking spot closest to your terminal and there are braille-enabled signs and wheelchair accessible lifts for your safety and comfort.
With online booking and payments, it’s a hassle-free experience. There are QR codes to facilitate easy entry/exit with spots available for both long and short term parking.
You can choose from a variety of other options such as valet or premium parking, value parking, airport terminal wait zone, business parking and more. If you’d like your car to be cleaned, you can opt for this as an add-on.
The biggest plus point is that your vehicle is in a covered area that’s well-maintained and lit, with helpful signage at vantage points. Read here for more information: https://www.unitedairportparking.com.au
Tullamarine Airport Parking: May Not Be The Best Option
There could be certain issues that you may face while parking at Tullamarine Airport:
High Parking Fees: Compared to many other major cities across the world, Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport fees are among the highest. This is applicable for both long and short term parking.
Accessibility For Physically Disabled : Some passengers have had a bad experience with accessibility from the car park at Tullamarine. You need to book your wheelchair well in advance but be prepared for your request to be refused at the last minute.
Road Project Problems: The new connecting road that links Tullamarine Freeway to the airport had created several issues earlier this year. Nearly 2000 parking bays were removed to facilitate this project. There may be fewer parking spots available unless you book well in advance.
Oversell: Some passengers have been inconvenienced because of overselling parking spots at Tullamarine. In some cases, travellers have wasted precious time circling for spots though they had booked in advance. The green light signage could often display incorrect information. At times the signs say that the parking is full, but when passengers drove in they found several empty spots, leading to frustration and stress.
Traffic Delays: With the school holidays in full swing, the traffic situation has become a major stress point. With more than a million people expected to travel during this season, the situation has become complicated due to road works. The authorities have provided information on when certain roads will be closed, and it’s important to keep yourself updated before you set out.
Hidden Charges: While online booking may seem fairly easy and straightforward, do keep a keen eye out for hidden charges. Your parking fee might get loaded with convenience charges, peak hour surcharges, holiday surcharges or more. It could come as a rude shock when you return from your holiday to be presented with a fat bill that you least expected. Short term charges are always much higher than long term, so this is something you need to figure out before you book.
Security: Tullamarine Airport parking boasts of 24×7 CCTV coverage, patrolling and surveillance. However, some passengers have been shocked to return from their holiday when they picked up their vehicles at the airport parking. Damage and theft are some of the risks of long term parking and it’s important to remove all your valuables from the vehicle before you park. Ensure that all the windows are up and the car is securely locked. Avoid displaying expensive music, GPS or computer systems in your car that could attract opportunistic thieves.
Parking operators: Apart from the airport owned parking company, there are several private parking companies that operate in Tullamarine. Before you use one of these, make sure that you research them thoroughly. Many of them offer cheaper rates or “better” facilities, but you could run the risk of damage, theft, vandalism or more when you use a cheaper operator. Outside parking comes with its own issues, and you could find your car dirty and messed-up with bird droppings, dead leaves or tree sap.