Going BWI to MCO instead of PHL to MCO--Advice, please!!

[SSDonut]

Hi.

When SW released their Nov fares yesterday, PHL to MCO was $99 (on 11/19) and BWI to MCO was $49--so I bit the bullet and went with BWI. Also, the return on 11/28 was cheaper than what I could do to PHL.

So, now I need advice. . . .how/where does one park at BWI? What is the cost?

Really, anyone who has gone this route before and has any insight, I'd appreciate it. We're in Chester County, PA, so I'm thinking it will be about 2 hours to BWI from home. . .

TIA!!

 

[dcherry]

Garage is $10/day
Express lot $14/day
long term $8/day

The web site will often have coupons for $9/day parking in the garage or express lot. We always park in one of these areas now. It's so much more convenient than the long term parking.

 

[librarygal]

We never park in the airport lots at BWI. We usually use Fast Park because they pick you up at your car (no dragging bags to a shelter), help you with your bags and then take you directly to the airport. The current coupon price is $6.40 a day plus tax.

http://www.airportfastpark.com/Baltimore-Washington-Airport-Parking.aspx

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Hi.

When SW released their Nov fares yesterday, PHL to MCO was $99 (on 11/19) and BWI to MCO was $49--so I bit the bullet and went with BWI. Also, the return on 11/28 was cheaper than what I could do to PHL.

So, now I need advice. . . .how/where does one park at BWI? What is the cost?

Really, anyone who has gone this route before and has any insight, I'd appreciate it. We're in Chester County, PA, so I'm thinking it will be about 2 hours to BWI from home. . .

TIA!!

I live 20 minutes from BWI and I'm there often twice a month.

I discovered the off-site parking lots are far better.

My preference is Pre-Flight parking because of their frequent flier parking program.

You can check them out online - print a map (they are 100 yards beyond the car rental facility).

Next - a month or so before your trip....go back to the Preflight website for BWI and print a copy of their parking coupon. This will bring the cost down to below long-term airport parking.

NOW THE REAL REASON FOR PREFLIGHT......

When you arrive to park, they will tell you which aisle to park in. Ususally before you can get your luggage out of the trunk....the shuttle bus will show up next to your car. They load your luggage if you wish and woosch.....you are off to the airport.

When you return....walk outside from baggage claim to the Outer Rim of the drive area (where the shuttle busses stop). Hold up your little red ticket when the Preflight bus drives by and they will pick you up. Your friendly bus driver will deposit you directly behind your car and help you with your luggage.

It cannot be easier unless they delivered you to your JET!

BWI is a great airport - especially if you are flying Southwest. Their terminal was renovated most recently - lots of dining options.

Have a great trip!

 

[StregaNona]

Another recommendation for Fast Park ...

 

[3darlings]

I also booked BWI instead of PHL yesterday. Today the fares to/from BWI went up to $ 77! Guess the $ 49 was a one day deal. I would definitely recommend the off site parking - we have been stuck before when the economy on site parking was full and had to pay a fortune.

 

[katallo]

Another for Fast Park. We love the SW terminal. Once you clear security it is so easy. The SW terminal and even baggage pickup is great. Depending on the time you leave, you could always check into several hotels near the airport with a shuttle service.

http://www.buyreservations.com/AHR - BWI hotel choices/1 - BWI hotel choices.htm

 

[chemie15]

We are in Delaware and always fly BWI because the flights are cheaper and we feel it is a nicer airport. The delay occur far less than if we were to fly out of phl. We usually use the coupon on the BWI website for the parking at 9/day where they pick you up and drop you off at your car. However, I will probably look into the offsite parking with the recommendations of the earlier comments. Either way, BWI is faster, and easier in my mind. Security is always a breeze, especially with the new full body scanners.

 

[SSDonut]

Thanks, everyone for all the replies! I feel better about having jumped on these tickets now--it is always so unnerving to have to make a decision re flights quickly!

The flight home (Sat after Tkg) is always tough to get/expensive, so I felt like I had to take advantage of the $49 fare going down.

Sounds like BWI will be fine!!

Thank you!

 

[Mitzicat]

I love love love Airport Fast Park Blue Lot!!! http://www.airportfastpark.com/BaltimoreContact.aspx

I travel a lot and park there all the time. So easy...quick in quick out!

I belong to their frequent parker club and my September 09 parking stay for my Disney trip is free! I collected enough points over the past year.

Plus with the Frequent Parker Club card (which is free) you get the coupon rate all the time. No need to worry about clipping coupons! Also during the busy season you are guaranteed parking.

One time came home and it had snowed a lot and the guys helped us clear the car off. Another time co-workers car would not start and the guys helped us out again.

You would think I was working for them the way I talk about them.

 

[puffkin]

OP- We always fly out of PHL (at least 2-3 trips a year) and when I saw the $49 BWI fares, we too took the plunge and booked for our December trip. I am a little nervous flying out of a new airport, but anything has to be better than PHL!

ETA: We will be coming to BWI via 695...which would be the closest lot....Fast Park or PreFlight?

 

[annnewjerz]

I booked about a month ago on SW out of BWI because I found insanely cheap fares compared to those leaving PHL. I'm in Burlington Co., NJ so it'll be a bit of a hike---but it's just DH and I so it shouldn't be too bad.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get reasonably inexpensive flights from PHL and be able to switch to save about 2 hours of driving----but for now, I'm juuuuust gine with my $49 fares from BWI.

 

[TinkTink78]

We did it once... It was a hike from Burlington Co, NJ. Probably would not do it again unless there was $100's of dollar difference in the airfare price.

I got PHL to MCO on Airtran for $79. Not bad for a September weekend... and I paid $59 back in May.


Good luck!

 

[annnewjerz]

We did it once... It was a hike from Burlington Co, NJ. Probably would not do it again unless there was $100's of dollar difference in the airfare price.

I got PHL to MCO on Airtran for $79. Not bad for a September weekend... and I paid $59 back in May.


Good luck!

Oh believe me---I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get Philly. I got $49 each way out of BWI but would pay up to $79 each way for our flights from Philly just to save on time and gas. Right now I'm happy to drive to BWI, but if I can avoid it without having to pay an arm and a leg---I will

 

[TinkTink78]

Oh believe me---I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get Philly. I got $49 each way out of BWI but would pay up to $79 each way for our flights from Philly just to save on time and gas. Right now I'm happy to drive to BWI, but if I can avoid it without having to pay an arm and a leg---I will

I'm confused... Did you get the BWI tickets ? or are you still waiting for PHL to be less?

 

[annnewjerz]

I'm confused... Did you get the BWI tickets ? or are you still waiting for PHL to be less?

I got the BWI tickets on Southwest---and can change airports/flights/times, etc. if PHL offers a lower fare that I want. So yes, I purchased $49 flights from BWI and am willing to change flights to PHL if a $69 or $79 fare comes our for my dates. With Southwest, you can make any changes you want without paying a fee.

 

[cdepauli]

The BWI airport is miles better than PHL, so you made a good choice. I always park in the airport's Express Lot, which is $14 a day, but they always have a coupon online that allows you to park there for $9 a day. I like it because, since it is the airport's lot, it is closer to the airport, and they pick you up right at your car, handle your luggage and take you right to the airport. When you come back, they drop you off at your car, handle your luggage as well. Just remember the paper they give you with your space number!

http://www.bwiairport.com/en/parking/information-rates/parkhappy

 

[Bound For Glory]

I grew up about 4 miles from BWI. We now live about an hour away in York, PA. We have a 7:20 flight out on July 16. A neighbor told me that his family stayed at an airport hotel the night before in a similar situation. We'll be staying there on the 15th for free with points I earned in a previous job that required travel. We'll start our vacation a day earlier, save at least an hours sleep, visit some old friends, and keep our car at the hotel for free for the week. Their airport shuttle will take us over in the morning.

Oh, I checked SWA's website and noticed that our tickets had dropped to $49 each way. I called and they changed our price. We didn't get cash back but we did get a $144 credit that we can use on SWA in the next year. You can actually give it to someone else to use, which is good because we don't fly frequently. Our total for 4 round trips is $476.80 after taxes & fees.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We flew out of BWI in 06 to visit Niagara Falls, flying into Buffalo. SWA doesn't fly PHL to BUF. We didn't feel like driving 9 hrs and figured 2+ hr drive each way from Cherry Hill would still be easier.

The drive down wasn't bad but it started pouring buckets as we arrived at BWI. Since it was only a long weekend, we opted to pay a few $ more to park in the garage due to the rain. Added maybe $6-8 to our parking cost and we stayed dry. The best part was as we circled around the garage looking for an empty space which could have potentially taken hours, we realized each level has an electric sign stating how many available parking spaces there are. We kept going higher looking for one with plenty so we wouldn't have to search long but that wasn't necessary. We then discovered that once you enter each level, there is another lit sign at the end of each aisle stating how many are available in each aisle. We started to wonder, "how does it know?" when we saw a motion-detector type eye that changed color as we pulled into an empty space.
We thought this was such brilliant technology that could save so much time circling around looking for an empty space.
I'd be a whole lot more tolerant of PHL's dirty, gray 'decor' if they had such technology.

The return drive was not so easy. Our flight was delayed several hours due to huge tstorms along the east coast. Our flight was so turbulent, the TAs couldn't perform drink/snack service, could barely stay standing while walking down the aisle. Luckily it's only a 40 min flight. The heavy rain continued for the entire ride home. It was so bad cars were doing 25 mph and many pulled over. I was really wishing we could have flown out of PHL. I'd have to save a LOT of $$ to try that again.

Anyhoo, we got decent fares out of PHL for our next 2 trips so no trek to BWI anytime soon for us.
$59 down Aug 29
$99 return Labor Day

$59 both ways Oct. 30-Nov 7.

Still a bargain compared to driving.

 

[WillCAD]

OP- We always fly out of PHL (at least 2-3 trips a year) and when I saw the $49 BWI fares, we too took the plunge and booked for our December trip. I am a little nervous flying out of a new airport, but anything has to be better than PHL!

ETA: We will be coming to BWI via 695...which would be the closest lot....Fast Park or PreFlight?

Using the $9 coupon from the BWI web site, the Express lot is the best option.

Coming from I-695, the easiest route to take is MD 295 to Aviation Blvd. Follow this map:
Bing Map