Meet and Greet parking is quite new to us here in the United Kingdom, although our exposure to the American media has made us all well aware of the theory of meet and greet or valet parking as it is known across the pond. Many an episode of Columbo with Peter Faulk or Magnum PI during the eighties was viewed with a sense marvel as cars were simply dumped outside of restaurants or nightclubs only for the keys to be casually discarded to a young slip of a lad dressed up like a bellboy to speed it off out of sight. Although my life over here in the United Kingdom has yet to see this meet and greet alternative to parking your own car really take a grasp on everyday life, it is becoming more and more common around the airports of Great Britain.

The explosion in meet and greet airport parking began at the turn of the twenty first century as a direct alternative and in many ways opposite option to the cheaper off site car parks that started to clutter the airport perimeters and beyond. These more convenient and expensive choices were there to offer choice for those who didn’t mind paying a little more for the peace of mind of not having to walk to a bus and then take another trip to the airport before checking in.

Although cheap and discount parking is still the airport parking of choice for those going on cheap weekend or city breaks, using budget airlines, as the last thing you want to do is to pay more for your parking than you have done for your flight, there now appears to be a lot more acceptance in travelers simply driving up to the terminal and handing over their keys, just like those TV programs I watched in the eighties.
T
he tourists who use this facility appears to profit the most are either those with lots of suitcases or those with lots of kids, along with those who would beforehand have got in taxi to the airport. The growth in the number of holiday makers taking a winter trip has also led to the increased embracing of this once so American phenomenon, as who in their correct mind want to trudge around pulling a suitcase and skis?

Although it’s more costly for this additional meet and greet service, when you can get a week’s parking for around £40, the extra, when you are spending over £1,000 on a family trip or skiing for a couple, is effortlessly swallowed when set next to the ease. However, I think it will be a while before i’m driving up at my favourite theatre and calling “park it kid”?

And so I wonder as I look back on all those nineteen eighties cop shows and Saturday night TV, what will be the next phenomenon to make it back over to these shores? At least dancing on top of cars like the kids from Fame never took off!

Author Bio: Manchester Airport Parking Manchester Airport Meet and Greet

Category: Travel
Keywords: meet and greet parking, airport parking, valet parking meat and greet airport parking