Wellington Airport Car Parking

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Wellington Airport Car Parking

Tinshed

278 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 56

#130921 2-Oct-2013 18:29

Is it just me but has Wellington Airport stuffed up car-parking? I parked at the airport today and it was the worst experience I have had in the 35 years I have lived in Wellington and used the airport. Really, it was appalling. In all my 35 years, and that includes when the airport was just a fancy hanger, this was a terrible experience. Mass confusion, a 10 minute "drive around" looking for a park, cars going way too fast, and, well, just an unpleasant experience. Really, this is just a massive fail. I am sure this is only about revenue generation - it can't be about the 'client experience'. Perhaps it is down to "teething" issues, but gee, what a massive fail. I have used Sydney and Melbourne airports that are way bigger than Wellington and have experienced nothing worse than today. Heck, I used to dis Auckland airport drop-off/pick up as a massive cock-up, but, hey, not any more. Wellington airport is now, in my humble view, the worst in New Zealand. No doubt the senior management will enjoy a healthy bonus this year as a result.

Tinshed
Wellington, New Zealand

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#906595 2-Oct-2013 18:31

Weird. I've been there twice in the last week. Drove in, parked, drove out for free the first time and paid at the barrier arm the 2nd time. Super easy.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#906607 2-Oct-2013 19:02

When I went a couple of weeks ago they were redoing the parking. I think what they were trying to do is stop people waiting in their car at the drop off point to pick people up, as it wasn't inside the paywall. I think that part of the drop off point is now for taxis only, and if you want to drop people off you have to go through the paywall, and you get the 1st 10 minutes free. Not sure what happens if there is a long wait at the exit pay gate, as to whether you have to pay. I don't think you should ever have to pay to drop someone off, or pick someone up for that matter, if people are waiting to be picked up. It is a great way to make money though, parking at an airport.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41029

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#906629 2-Oct-2013 19:40

Is the parking done yet? I want to know how the roads are going to cope when everyone needs to get a ticket just to go around to drop outbound passengers...

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#906704 2-Oct-2013 21:06

freitasm: Is the parking done yet? I want to know how the roads are going to cope when everyone needs to get a ticket just to go around to drop outbound passengers...

Changes went live this week.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#906715 2-Oct-2013 21:21

What annoys me most is their repeated claim about reducing parking prices.

It used to cost $3 for 15 mins. It now costs $2 for 15 mins, but the first 10 mins of that is now free.

I know I wasn't top of my class at school for math but to me that's a 100% price increase, not the decrease they claim.

alasta

6888 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3362

Trusted

Subscriber

#906747 2-Oct-2013 22:02

The first time I parked there I booked online and was hugely confused by the fact that the machine gave me a ticket upon entering the car park which I assumed was to be used to eventually exit the park, but it turned out that this ticket was completely redundant and I was supposed to use my credit card to get out.

I've parked there a few times since and haven't had any problems, but I was shocked at having to pay $9 for less than 45 minutes when I picked some friends up a few months ago. Actually I seem to recall that there was a lady in front of me in the queue who was having trouble getting the machine to take her cash and I couldn't help commenting on the irony of being ripped off but not actually able to give them any money.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#906777 2-Oct-2013 22:42

alasta: The first time I parked there I booked online and was hugely confused by the fact that the machine gave me a ticket upon entering the car park which I assumed was to be used to eventually exit the park, but it turned out that this ticket was completely redundant and I was supposed to use my credit card to get out.

I've parked there a few times since and haven't had any problems, but I was shocked at having to pay $9 for less than 45 minutes when I picked some friends up a few months ago. Actually I seem to recall that there was a lady in front of me in the queue who was having trouble getting the machine to take her cash and I couldn't help commenting on the irony of being ripped off but not actually able to give them any money.

The ironic thing is that if you have to wait for others to pay, or they have problems with the machine, it ends up costing you more in time. I now wait outside the airport in the golf course carpark until the people I am picking up are ready outside and they phone me. Then I go in and straight out again. Even then I was lucky for it not to take 10 minutes due to the queue at the machine. That is probably the reason why they reduced the 15 minute fee to $2, as many people who are solely picking people up must get charged that, and $2 isn't probably large enough for people to complain about.

Kim587

130 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#906780 2-Oct-2013 22:55

I think awful airport parking must be in vogue at the moment, the new airport carpark they opened here in Christchurch not long ago is one of the lest intuitive set ups you'll ever see as well.