OT Anyone every had a problem with their car when returning home from airport?

[littleprissboutique]

Just curious. We will be leaving all three families cars at the airport in Knoxville TN (TYS). They will be there for a total of 8 days. I know not to leave anything of value in the car, but all three are new model Honda's 05 05 06. And, I cant take out the DVD player--kinda attached... more trouble than it is worth...

Around here and pretty much everywhere Honda's are chop shop bait...LOL

Do you think I have anything to worry about? Mine is the 2006(pilot) urg . I usually have my dad drop us off at the airport, but he cant this year.

Here I go being a worry wort again

 

[Servants of Evan]

My brother-in-law did at Cleveland Hopkins. He used one of the common off-site parking & shuttle lots and upon returning four days later his car wouldn't start. It turns out someone had removed his battery! Some say it is better to remove the claim ticket in hopes the person stealing your car would have to produce ID or something, but I always suspect they have someone working on the "inside" letting their friends know when a nice car has arrived (and owners with lots of luggage -- indicating a longer time away) have departed.

 

[Capt_BJ]

If you are really worried about it ... disconnect your battery. 9 out of 10 theives will give up if it won't start on the first try.

 

[agnes!]

Capt BJ, that is *brilliant*!

agnes!

 

[ducklite]

The other thing to do is park in a secured,gated off site lot with 24 hour security. Or take a cab to the airport if that's possible.

Anne

 

[mickeyfan2]

We have always left our in a secure (fenced in and guards) airport owned lot and never had any trouble.

 

[puffkin]

Try to park underneath a light, towards the middle of the lot.

We also make sure EVERYTHING is out of sight, even if it is only an ice scrapper.

We have left our cars 7 times now at PHL park n fly hotels (unsecured hotel parking lots) and have never once had a problem.

 

[Bowen9475]

We went to DW in October and used a hotel park and fly program in Windsor Locks, CT. The hotel had us leave the cars in a parking lot next door. Whenever we have done a park and fly program before we have always been able to leave the car in the hotel parking lot. Unfortunately my niece forgot some money in the glove compartment of her car and it was gone when we returned. We almost wonder if all cars are looked through because her car is several years old and looks it. You would never think that by looking at her car there would be anything of value in it. The lot is supposedly fenced in and someone is there 24 hours so we are left to believe that it had to be an employee but the parking lot company denies any responsibility. We will obviously never use this lot or hotel again.

 

[KarenP99]

Upon return to Manchester airport (MHT), I found my 02 Trailblazer had a key scratch down the passenger side.

Totally frustrating. Why would someone do that? Just a PITA to have to get it fixed, and pay for it!

 

[dvc guy]

I have used Avistar off airport private parking at EWR/JFK/LGA many times and never have had a problem. When you call for the van to pick you up at the terminal they get the car bring it up front and have it running. Pay your bill and hit the road.

 

[NotUrsula]

No theft or vandalism, but we did come back to discover we had a flat once, and the spare had gone flat, too. It was midnight on a very hot summer night. Luckily, we use what I consider one of the best-run private lots I've ever dealt with, and they have free tire/battery service for customers. Twenty minutes later, we were on our way with clean hands.

A number of years ago, before this garage was built (and before we carried cell phones!) we were parked in one of the airport-run lots over Christmas. We came back to the results of a major ice storm, and it took us 3 hours to dig our car out of it in sub-freezing weather. The doors were frozen shut, but thank G*d it was a hatchback, and we were finally able to get that open and crawl in that way. Not one of the bus drivers who came by offered to help or call AAA for us. The moral is, if you are going to leave your vehicle in an outdoor lot in freezing weather, make sure you put anti-ice around the doors and in the key locks.

 

[NotUrsula]

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