Airports are busy places. Period. Taking a flight can be stressful if not planned well. However, planning doesn’t mean booking flights alone. It includes booking parking spaces and working on a schedule based on whether your travel is international or domestic. While arrival times vary based on your travel type, the parking you’ve chosen will determine exactly how early you should arrive when using an offsite lot.
If you are traveling by flight, it is best that you arrive at the terminal at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. This excludes the travel time you need to get to the parking lots, which can be significant lot for early mornings, holidays, or peak travel season.
Why should you arrive early for offsite parking?
Even though onsite parking lots are available at airports, getting an onsite lot can be tricky. The options for offsite parking lots are many, which can usually be booked through websites like Global Airport Parking or through parking apps. These are commonly used for airport parking, but the distance can vary with the parking lot you pick.
While some lots are as close as 0.5 miles from the airport and might offer shuttle services, others may be farther away and without shuttle services. So, when planning your travel to the airport, you should factor in these conditions as well.
Factors influencing how early you should get to the airport
It is not always about the parking, except when it comes to traveling to the airport, where it’s everything. Whether you’re flying on a domestic or an international flight, there are some other factors you must consider, like the following.
- Checking in luggage
- Time/season of your journey
- Size of the airport
- Familiarity with the airport
- Availability of TSA PreCheck or CLEAR
- Available parking lots
- Drop-off transportation
Checking in luggage
If you’re planning to check in your luggage, you should reach the airport earlier than the time recommended by the airlines. This is because it can be time-consuming for you to stand in the queue to weigh your luggage, tag it, and hand it over to an airline employee. Often, there can be more waiting time during peak travel times.
Time/season of your journey
The time of your travel can also significantly impact when you should reach the airport. For instance, you can expect crowded airports and long queues during the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Also, experts say that the airports tend to be busier during weekdays, Mondays, and Fridays. So, reach the airport much earlier if you’re traveling during holidays or peak seasons.
Size of the airport
The airport size can also be a crucial factor. For instance, if the airport is big, you’ll require more time to reach the gates from the security checkpoint. Some airports, like Denver, have an intra-airport transport system to travel between concourses or gates. However, while flying out from smaller airports like Austin or Charlotte, you’ll have to walk a small distance to reach the gates.
Familiarity with the airport
If you’re a frequent traveler from an airport, you’ll know everything related to it – from the parking lots and terminals to where the boarding gates are. However, if you’re flying out from a new airport, it is best that you arrive early to familiarize yourself with the surroundings.
Available parking lots
It is always best to avoid the trouble of finding parking as you arrive at the airport. If you’re looking for a safe, guaranteed, and cheap airport parking spot, then most offsite lots near an airport offer free round-trip shuttle service. Booking via parking apps or websites ensures you have the best parking spot at the lowest rates when you drive to the airport.
Availability of TSA PreCheck or CLEAR
Enrolling in the TSA PreCheck program or CLEAR can expedite the security screening process. Based on the airport you’re flying out from and the time of your journey, programs like TSA PreCheck can save considerable waiting time at security checkpoints. Around 200 airports in the country have TSA PreCheck available. Also, some airports have a dedicated lane for CLEAR.
Drop-off transportation
You won’t have to worry much if a friend or relative is dropping you off at the airport or you’re arriving by taxi or a rideshare service. However, if you’re driving, you’ll take some time to park your car and walk to the airport entrance. Always keep in mind the distance of the parking lot from the departure entrance.
How early should you arrive when using offsite parking?
Parking at or near the airports requires buffer time, not just for parking but for drop-offs, boarding shuttles, and the queues that can be there. So, it is recommended that you reach your offsite parking at least 30 minutes prior to the estimated time to be at the airport. However, during peak travel season or weekends, it is safe to arrive at least an hour early.
In addition, you should also look into the shuttle frequency at the lot and the distance to the terminals.
Is 30 minutes enough for offsite parking?
While 30 minutes is a safe buffer you give while parking at the offsite lots, it may not be enough during holidays or peak travel hours. In such cases, plan for 45 – 60 minutes.
Do offsite parking shuttles run 24/7?
If you are booking ahead, make sure the website or the app you are using mentions the shuttle availability. While most major airport offsite lots offer 24/7 shuttle service, their frequency varies. So, you must verify shuttle timing before arrival.
Final Thoughts
Yes, offsite parking can be cheaper and convenient with the pricing. However, to make it completely work in your favor, you should arrive early at the parking lot. Similarly, your travel time to the airport should also include the shuttle transfers and the related delays.
