Cheap off-site parking around airports is not a new thing, as long as there has been spare land around the airports and people driving to get to their flights, there has always been someone looking to profit by supplying a service. It is fair to say though that in these early days, the offsite airport car parks left a lot to be desired, little more than plots on the adjourning land, with extremely basic facilities and security, the market has evolved dramatically since those times.

The evolution of the internet, online bookings and holiday habits of the population has led to a boom in the Airport parking sector, from an industry worth 20 million 20 years ago, to one worth close to 300 million today.

Although the industry worth so much and the companies that look to profit from the boom need to be able to offer a service second to none, as there is very little loyalty when it comes to booking a place to leave your car, price and location are the main priorities, there are still a whole heap of myths that have lingered on since those days a long time ago, when a field was all you could expect.

So here is a list of the 10 most common airport parking myths that still prevail today, and hopefully some sensible explanations to debunk them.

1) The Car Parks are in the middle of no-where

It is a common misconception that once you have parked your car you are going to be faced with a 10 mile trip to the airport. I believe this stems from the belief that the cheaper option is destined to leave you paying the price in location. However, as many car parks are built on the vast amounts of land that inevitably surround and airport, this could not be further from the truth. A little bit of careful planning will result in you being able to park up less than a mile from the terminals with transport laid on to get you there. A quick search on Google Places for Manchester Airport Parking will return a number of parking options almost within the airports perimeter itself.

2) The car parks are not manned 24 / 7

Long gone are the days when you drop your keys off with a land owner who was the proprietor of a plot on the airports borders, and hope for the best. The industry has matured to such an extent, and the choice for the consumer so vast, then security is paramount to the future of all the offsite car park vendors. Customer satisfaction surveys weigh heavily towards the issue of security, and online forums where experiences are swapped are vital the business. If security was not above and beyond what was expected for the onsite parking sites, the industry would collapse.

3) Your car will be left in a field

Perhaps true some 30 years or so ago, however, with today’s year round travel, it is vital that any car that arrives in sunshine can leave in rain. A field, muddied by the inconsistent British weather would see its business disappear very rapidly. All regulated car parks will meet very high surface standards, so there is no fear of arriving back and needing a tow out.

4) Your car will be scratched or damaged when you return

It is unfortunately inevitable with all the comings and goings, that someone will suffer damage to their car, but this is no more likely than if you were parked in a multi-storey car park or your car was left on the street outside your house. Unfortunately it is always these tales of misfortune that make the press, forums or message boards, and not the millions of cars a year that are perhaps in a safer place than if left at home. In today’s world of video surveillance, it is no surprise that each car is recorded on entry, so any damage that occurs, if the fault of the car parking company can be raised and dealt with appropriately. P{lease be sure though, in the highly unlikely event of damage, to report anything before you leave the car park, to ensure you are within your rights.

5) Your car will be used without your permission while you are away

Although with the car parks that retain your keys, they do have the right to move your car as is appropriate, you should have no fear of your vehicle being taken for a joy ride ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ style, even if you do leave a 1961 Ferrari 250 behind.

6) When you return you won’t be able to get your car out

Save for a torrent of snow are treacherous icy conditions (that would prevent driving on any surface) you should really not worry about weather condition hampering your exit. The days of parking in the farmer’s field are long gone and if you find your car in a difficult parking position, in all reputable companies there will be a member of staff or 5 to help you out.

7) There will be no-one to get you to or from the airport

One of the key factors of the offsite airport parking business is the essential need to have a reliable and fast shuttle system to the airport. Along with security and cost, this is the primary factor that will influence the customer purchase decision so it is vital this service is second to none. Another look at Manchester Airport Parking companies will illustrate this, with the home page of the websites proclaiming 5 minute transfers every 15 minutes.

8) It will cost extra to get to the airport

If you are going to put on a shuttle service, it had better be free, no company would get any business if not!

9) It will be cheaper to get a taxi

This may possibly be the case if you live round the corner from the airport and you are going away for 2 weeks. However, for most people who could face a round trip of over 100 miles this is another myth. Offsite airport parking can cost as little as £2 / day, making it a no brainer in terms of cost and convenience.

10) The car parks are not run by legitimate companies

Although you will still encounter the odd chancer looking to make and easy pound at your expense, the vast majority of off-site airport parking services are strongly vetted by the police to ensure they are fully secure and receive ongoing consultation with security experts to ensure standards are continually maintained.

So, as more and more people continue to use the offsite airport parking options that are blossoming around all of the UK’s airports, i hope this little article has allied any fears and debunked a few myths. At the end of the day though, there are always going to be bumps and scrapes, chancer’s and their fields, no industry is perfect, but in many respects you stand a much better chance than leaving your car outside your house.

Author Bio: Manchester Airport Parking Manchester Airport

Category: Automotive
Keywords: manchester airport parking, manchester airport, airport parking, cheap airport parking,