As a whole, 2023 has not been a good year for people who like to fly out of Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) and leave their cars there.
Earlier this year, the airport implemented parking price increases for those who park their cars in the various airport lots while on trips.
However, at the Tuesday, July 25 meeting of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, the airport board made a very small change regarding short-term parking – that is, the spaces in the two lots right next to the terminal.
Before the change, parking in the upper and lower decks connected to the airport terminal – where people drop off and pick up passengers – was $2 per hour. At the meeting, the board voted to throw out that pricing and, instead, “charge $1.00 per half hour for parking in the Authority’s short-term parking lots.”
Now, on the surface, that sounds a lot like six of one and a half dozen of the other. However, PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker explained how the move benefits airport patrons.
“This was a change in increment that we did in response to customer feedback,” he said. “This way, if folks are only parked for 15 or 20 minutes, they don’t have to pay for the full hour.”
He also said that a buck per half hour is hard to beat when it comes to other airports.
“Either way, it’s still one of the best deals out there in short term airport parking,” he said.
Over the last several years, the airport has been overhauling its parking system in order to make it more automated and user friendly.
One of the changes people who use the short term lots next to the terminals will notice is that the meters are now gone and there are pay stations instead.
The pay stations are ridiculous! The meters were far more convenient and User friendly. I fly out of GSO 40 weeks per year. I put 2 quarters in the meter, check in for my flight (5 minutes), then go park in the garage. Then walk to TSA. Now using the pay stations, I had my card service halted twice, as they DO NOT like 1 or 2 dollar charges. Small charges usually indicate fraud.
If you don’t have 2 quarters to put in a meter, maybe you shouldn’t be walking around in public.
I don’t know what a PAY STATION is, but I know how to feed a Parking Meter. Last time I dropped someone off at PTI I dropped a Quarter into a meter and I was gone in 10 minutes. It worked great. What was wrong with that?
——
All “improvements” are much worse than the previous system.
Stuff PTI .
Definitely not very “Fly Easy” like their claim to fame. I wonder how much the board pays for their own parking…
Lol. Whether it’s one if the best deals in short term airport parking or not I don’t imagine a lot if folks are shopping around for the best deal. You either need to go there or you don’t. Hope PTI can bring more routes on board in the future
Good point.
PTI Airport has a monopoly of parking at PTI Airport. Consequently they can ignore the preferences of consumers for simple, easy, inexpensive, straightforward parking meters.