Parking at Seatac

[Kachina]

We're flying in and out of Seattle, and I notice that some of the hotels have a park and fly program, where you can pay a certain amount to leave your car on their property and have their shuttle drop you off/pick you up at the airport. For someone who has never been to that airport and would like to shave off any driving around time we can, this looks attractive.

Anyone utilize this deal? We're being offered a park & fly for $10 a day, way cheaper than what the airport charges per day for parking, but I have read a few accounts of cars being broken into. I guess that could happen at the airport as well, but am wondering what others think who have used the service.

Worth it? Or should we just suck it up and park at the airport?

Thanks!

 

[aliceclones]

My in-laws have done this several times, and really like it as an option. I think the risk of your car getting broken into is probably the same as parking at the airport. Just be smart about where you park. Be as close to a light source as possible, and in plain view of the hotel lobby would be ideal.

 

[wdwrich]

Are there other parking options in the vicinity of the airport? In our city, there are numerous "park & fly" lots near the airport that are strictly for parking (not hotel lots). They are fenced-in, and are much more secure as far as access than a hotel parking lot would be. Most of them are staffed 24/7. Some also offer indoor garage parking.

 

[Kachina]

I think I'm just going to go with the airport garage. Some of the stuff I was reading makes it sound like it's all smack in the middle of the worst ghetto in the world, and if my chances are even anywhere I park, I guess I'll take my chances and park right at the ticket counter level and cut out shuttle waits and such.

Thanks guys!

 

[MillauFr]

I believe the park and fly lots are far more secure than the airport parking garage. Anyone can come and go and walk though the airport parking garage. Many of the park & fly lots are fully fenced, lighted, and patrolled. They have pretty good security and check everyone who is coming and going. If you are concerned about security do not park in the airport parking garage.

 

[dmunsil]

We've always used MasterPark, which has 4 lots. They're all secured, valet-style lots, where you pull up and leave the keys and they park the car for you. They're not the cheapest (at all), but they have great service, and you earn Alaska miles. When you get back, you call from the airport for a shuttle (or just get on the next shuttle to come by). You give them your ticket number, and when you arrive at the parking lot, they have your car ready to go with the trunk open in a covered driveway area. There's a printable coupon they always have available, and they have an employee discount for a lot of local Seattle-area businesses like Boeing and Microsoft, so be sure to ask if they have an employee discount for your company.

Lot B is one block from the SeaTac entrance off of Pacific Highway, so we almost always park there, unless they're full (which sometimes happens at peak times and holidays).

http://www.masterparking.com/seatac_parking_coupon.htm

Other lots around SeaTac we've tried are the kind where you drive around and find a space yourself, then try to flag down a shuttle. We find that process so frustrating that we just suck it up and pay the extra to do valet parking. I think there are other valet lots, but we haven't tried any of them.

Ultimately for trips of up to about 10 days it ends up being no more expensive to park at MasterPark than to take a town car or cab (for us in Kirkland), and we find it much more convenient.

 

[MillauFr]

Second to MasterPark. That is the lot I was mentioning on my previous post. Excellent service, security, and much cheaper than the airport lots. Last time I was coming back on the shuttle bus it took the frequent customers less than sixty seconds from the time the shuttle bus pulled up to the drop off at MasterPark until they were exiting in their cars. Very fast.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I think I'm just going to go with the airport garage. Some of the stuff I was reading makes it sound like it's all smack in the middle of the worst ghetto in the world, and if my chances are even anywhere I park, I guess I'll take my chances and park right at the ticket counter level and cut out shuttle waits and such.

Thanks guys!

We stayed at a park and ride hotel a couple years ago for a Disney trip and yes, it was in the middle of the ghetto. I kid you not, there was a WEAVE on the side of the road - YES a WEAVE - like from someone's head.

That being said, none of us slept good. But it was cheap for both the hotel, shuttle to airport, and hotel parking.

In the future, unless we stayed at a nicer hotel, we would just park at the airport too.

 

[supergoofy]

Another suggestion is to rent a car in town and return to the airport.

Last time I did this it was like $30 each way which was way cheaper than the airport parking.

And no worries about theft.