Wellington Airport parking scam

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rscole86

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#55653 7-Jan-2010 13:39

Has anyone used Wellington Airports parking recently?

In the past, we have always parked in the Value Parking area, as this was cheaper than the uncovered, and only an extra minutes walk. Last week however, we found out that their prices are nolonger cheaper in the Value Park.

http://www.wellington-airport.co.nz/html/parkingtransport/car-parking.php

As you can see their prices are now the same. So what does 'Value' mean? Is it better 'Value' as I have to walk further, and therefor benefit my health?

As we do not regularly goto the airport, I do not know when the prices went up to match uncovered, but there was nothing to advertise this fact in the parking areas. I assume its either, the airport to lazy to update their signage, or a ploy to get people to park further away when they would not normally?

My next problem, is now you can pre-pay your parking online. BUT, you cannot pre-pay less than two hours ahead. I needed to be at the airport in an hour to pick someone up, and wanted to pay online to get my 10-50% discount. If you prepay, what happens if I go over this? Apparently your credit card will get charged the standard rates.

In the past you could park for less than 5minutes, and get out for free, BUT only if you put your ticket in the exits, as putting it in the pay machines will ask for the 30mins payment. Again, this is not advertised, and unless you know about it a lot of people could be paying for a pickup. So it looks like I will be back at Caltex waiting for a phone call, telling me to pick someone up.

[/rant]

EDIT: I forgot to point out, that pre-booking does not gaurantee you a park in anyway.

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#287781 7-Jan-2010 14:08

So if you put a ticket in the machine now there is no free parking given at all?

That used to be a guaranteed method of getting free parking. You had 5 mins to put the ticket into the machine and then had 10 minutes to leave via the exit barriers!

allan

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#287797 7-Jan-2010 14:48

A slight hi-jacking of the topic here, but also a scam...

I also find it extremely annoying that it is apparantly illegal to pick up anyone up from the drop-off area, as per the signs that indicate this. If the person is there waiting - why on earth not?

If other airports can provide both a pickup and set down area, why can't Wellington! In Auckland (who admittedly have a little more ground area to work with) they don't even police too strictly cars waiting for a few minutes for passengers to emerge from the terminal.

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#287807 7-Jan-2010 15:08

sbiddle: So if you put a ticket in the machine now there is no free parking given at all?

That used to be a guaranteed method of getting free parking. You had 5 mins to put the ticket into the machine and then had 10 minutes to leave via the exit barriers!

Off topic a little, but with Aotea Parking in Auckland, if you park after 6 for only a short period of time, make sure to visit the booths, as last time I tried the machines wanted to charge me for the full overnight range!

sbiddle

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#287817 7-Jan-2010 15:21

allan: A slight hi-jacking of the topic here, but also a scam...

I also find it extremely annoying that it is apparantly illegal to pick up anyone up from the drop-off area, as per the signs that indicate this. If the person is there waiting - why on earth not?

If other airports can provide both a pickup and set down area, why can't Wellington! In Auckland (who admittedly have a little more ground area to work with) they don't even police too strictly cars waiting for a few minutes for passengers to emerge from the terminal.

Lack of pick up parking in Wellington is nothing but anti competitive profiteering - by having no short term pickup area they're trying to force people to pay.

If you want to see an even worse example try Melbourne airport. There is no fee parking anywhere near by and short term parking costs an arm and a leg and if you're not careful probably your other arm and leg also. It's very common to see people parking on the Freeway shoulder just before the airport exit!

rscole86

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#287834 7-Jan-2010 16:18

sbiddle: So if you put a ticket in the machine now there is no free parking given at all?

That used to be a guaranteed method of getting free parking. You had 5 mins to put the ticket into the machine and then had 10 minutes to leave via the exit barriers!

Correct, it use to be 15mins total, so you could but your ticket in the exit barriers at 14mins and still leave for free.

Now, you have to exit within 5 minutes.... we found out the hard way today.

sbiddle

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#287835 7-Jan-2010 16:21

5 mins is pretty strict, I wonder how many people who validate their tickets, walk to the car, put their bags in the car, join the queue to exit and find they've exceeded that?

allstarnz

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#287886 7-Jan-2010 20:22

sbiddle:If you want to see an even worse example try Melbourne airport. There is no fee parking anywhere near by and short term parking costs an arm and a leg and if you're not careful probably your other arm and leg also. It's very common to see people parking on the Freeway shoulder just before the airport exit!

Melbourne is crazy. It's hilarious seeing all the people parked up on the side of the road in the last safe stopping area, waiting to head in and do the pick up and run theory.

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NZROVER

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#417001 14-Dec-2010 12:02

These guys have a monopoly and they know it. I have been using their long term parking and its equally a rip off. When you park down the far end you come back to a car covered in salt and pay heartily for the privilege !! Park in premium ?? only if you have a gold card !! There's got to be an alternative out there and I'm going to try and find it ... any suggestions please ...

timmmay

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#417037 14-Dec-2010 12:51

You can take a shuttle bus, leave the car at home.

darkness

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#417048 14-Dec-2010 13:08

In Auckland (who admittedly have a little more ground area to work with) they don't even police too strictly cars waiting for a few minutes for passengers to emerge from the terminal.

thats not true. I have to pick up my partner from the airport on regular occasions. And they won't even let me sit there for 5 mins waiting. Pretty much shoo me on straight away, even if theres heaps of room for other cars.

Byrned

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#417061 14-Dec-2010 13:28

With the amount of complaints about this there must be a good opportunity got an enterprising person to setup a longterm carpark operation similar to the 20 or so that operate at Auckland.

graemeh

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#417064 14-Dec-2010 13:31

timmmay: You can take a shuttle bus, leave the car at home.

The shuttle buses are almost as big a rip off as the car parking.

Its a pity there isn't a service like the Air NZ parking at Auckland airport.

mattwnz

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#417071 14-Dec-2010 13:46

allan: A slight hi-jacking of the topic here, but also a scam...

I also find it extremely annoying that it is apparantly illegal to pick up anyone up from the drop-off area, as per the signs that indicate this. If the person is there waiting - why on earth not?

If other airports can provide both a pickup and set down area, why can't Wellington! In Auckland (who admittedly have a little more ground area to work with) they don't even police too strictly cars waiting for a few minutes for passengers to emerge from the terminal.

What I can't understand about wellington airport, is why there is a 'drop' off area, yet there is no 'pickup' area. Well there is, but it is reserved solely for taxis. The old airport there was a drop off and pickup area.

Therefore the only way to pick someone up, is to use their carpark. They definitely need to regulate the parking charges, as currently the prices are way too high.

Back to the OP. If they are advertising one area as 'value', over another area, then there has to be some form of value in parking in that area. I would suggest contacting the commerce commission if you believe it is misleading.

timmmay

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#417081 14-Dec-2010 14:00

graemeh:
timmmay: You can take a shuttle bus, leave the car at home.

The shuttle buses are almost as big a rip off as the car parking.

Its a pity there isn't a service like the Air NZ parking at Auckland airport.

How so? I paid about $30 or so for a ride from the airport to my place, that was about 1/3 the price of a taxi, seems like a good deal to me.

graemeh

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#417102 14-Dec-2010 14:55

timmmay:
graemeh:
timmmay: You can take a shuttle bus, leave the car at home.

The shuttle buses are almost as big a rip off as the car parking.

Its a pity there isn't a service like the Air NZ parking at Auckland airport.

How so? I paid about $30 or so for a ride from the airport to my place, that was about 1/3 the price of a taxi, seems like a good deal to me.

Well it used to be $8 from the airport to town in a shuttle then super shuttle paid for exclusive rights to unbooked airport pickups and now it's $18 for the same trip.

It does sound like it is reasonable though for people like you that live a long way from the airport.

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