Calgary Airport Parking Insanity

RiverRat · #1 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 7:14 PM**

Is the Calgary Airport running out of parking?

This past weekend I had to catch a flight on Friday, and had a very hard time finding a place to park.

Long term parking was full, they were running overflow parking out at the edge of the airport and it was lined up and filling up quickly. I ended up parking in short term and just paying the extra money, because I ran out of time and was about to miss my flight. It still took me several minutes to eventually find a spot in short term.

I take several flights a year, and this is the first time I could ever remember seeing the airport run out of parking.

Anyone know, does this happen often, or was this just a freak occurance over the busy family day weekend?

Wooster · #2 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 7:16 PM**

Should probably move this post into the YYC thread. But yeah, you're right. The airport as a whole is having a hard time keeping up with the crazy growth in passengers it is experiencing. Way above airport projections, no?

YYCguys · #3 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh white

Should probably move this post into the YYC thread. But yeah, you're right. The airport as a whole is having a hard time keeping up with the crazy growth in passengers it is experiencing. Way above airport projections, no?

If I understand the master plan for YYC correctly, I think as they expand the terminal to the south, the parkade will also be expanded accordingly

Arriviste · #4 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 7:26 PM**

A tip....Park in the overheight parking if you are in a rush. You may spend more time walking, but less screwing aorund in that maze.

Coldrsx · #5 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 7:39 PM**

yah same deal here in YEG....they have added 2000 spots in the past 2 yrs and it is still very very hard to find spots. The parkade is almost always full as well. They are working on a 1000 spot parkade addition as we speak but when it is done, i bet it will be at capacity.

Plus15 · #6 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 8:05 PM**

I flew about 2 weeks ago, and the long term main parkade levels were completely full, they had all the lanes blocked and directed me to the surface lots. It was a total shit show. I parked so far away it took me 15 minutes to get to the check in counter, and along the way I had to drag my luggage over and around stairs, ramps, and ended up going through Airport Corporate Centre and the plus15 to get to the terminal. There is no sidewalk. Shit show.

freeweed · #7 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 9:57 PM**

It's not a one-time occurence. It's happening all the time at YYC now.

I've started to schedule all of my vacations/business trips to start on Thursday, because by Friday, there's no long-term parking AT ALL. Short-term is just as bad on many days, so I've gotten into the habit of picking people up very late (as in, I'll be at Tim Horton's, call me when you finally get your luggage and wait outside in the pickup/dropoff zone).

Third-busiest airport in Canada, after all.

The Chemist · #8 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

It's not a one-time occurence. It's happening all the time at YYC now.

I've started to schedule all of my vacations/business trips to start on Thursday, because by Friday, there's no long-term parking AT ALL. Short-term is just as bad on many days, so I've gotten into the habit of picking people up very late (as in, I'll be at Tim Horton's, call me when you finally get your luggage and wait outside in the pickup/dropoff zone).

Third-busiest airport in Canada, after all.

If I have to travel on business, I just park at the Park and Jet. It's not as convenient, but it costs less and there is a shuttle that runs to the terminal, so it's not all bad.

SpongeG · #9 Posted: **Feb 20, 2007, 11:10 PM**

they really should get the LRT there - i imagine a lot of the parkers are people going up north for work?

walli · #10 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

yah same deal here in YEG....they have added 2000 spots in the past 2 yrs and it is still very very hard to find spots. The parkade is almost always full as well. They are working on a 1000 spot parkade addition as we speak but when it is done, i bet it will be at capacity.

Yeah - I can imagine YEG having a real problem given the higher percentage of people who'd need a parking spot there.

It wouldn't be easy convincing anyone to drop you off out in Leduc!!! The other option is inter-city taxi, but again, that's expensive!!!

Bokimon · #11 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 1:43 AM**

Park at Whitehorn Station and take the 57 bus to the airport.
Much easier IMO for shot duration day trips. Maybe overnights too..

YYCguys · #12 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 3:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bokimon

Park at Whitehorn Station and take the 57 bus to the airport.
Much easier IMO for shot duration day trips. Maybe overnights too..

That's not a bad idea at all. How long would your car be safe from towing? I might consider this in the future, depending on when my roommate plans to move out (he's my ticket to the airport right now) and what your answer is.

How is the #57 in terms of service, frequency? Has there ever been thought put into an express bus from Whitehorn or something to the airport, to be funded by the Airport Authority or whomever (much like there is a shuttle bus from the Greyhound depot to the 10th Street LRT station, provided by Greyhound)?

mersar · #13 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 3:42 AM**

57 isn't too bad, 30 mins mid-day and 20 mins during peak. It has the advantage it runs pretty much the entire length of 36th (from Erinwoods in the south), so you can jump it at any of the NE stations on 36th. Service wise its usually not too bad for timing, and aside from rush hour it doesn't seem to be too packed so long as your not heading south.

I wouldn't risk parking at Whitehorn, if its anymore then a mid-day flight there and back. I know the NW park n ride lots CPA and CPS go through each night ticketing and towing vehicles.

Bokimon · #14 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 3:43 AM**

By bus it is only 15minute ride. It actually goes to the airport but goes west a little bit, ( you know by the Cactus Club, Hampton inn and Suites at Barlow NE) and then by the Coca Cola plant before heading up McCall way.
I used to do this quite a bit years ago and had no problems. The last bus is around 11 or 12am. And frequency is about 15 minutes peak, and 30mins regular.

Parking at LRT I dont think it would be too bad, I see cars parked at my station at Southland overnight a few times. There are only 1 or 2 but my guess is that late workers doing overnight shifts etc. Nothing with towtrucks from what i know.

freeweed · #15 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 5:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Chemist

If I have to travel on business, I just park at the Park and Jet. It's not as convenient, but it costs less and there is a shuttle that runs to the terminal, so it's not all bad.

I'd love to, except I've never found the damn Park 'n' Jet thing. I see the signs, but I end up in the airport parking as I'm usually in too much of a hurry to bother. Plus, I have no idea where the hell their shuttle picks you up, although I guess I could ask and find out.

In other words, lazy slobs like me are what are keeping the parkade overfull. The airport authority should seriously start promoting Park 'n' Jet, although if it's like other cities it's likely a whole separate company running it, and stupidity will rule the day (we don't want to give business to our COMPETITION!!!!).

Surrealplaces · #16 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 7:15 AM**

I've run into the parkade being almost full. Basically it takes just as long to find a spot as it does to go to Park and Jet. I've used Park and Jet a couple of times recently, and it works well for me.

bigcanuck · #17 Posted: **Feb 21, 2007, 6:44 PM**

Park 'n Jet is just off the corner of Barlow and Airport Trail. On Barlow, as you turn North at the lights outside of the airport and at the gas station, there is another option called Park 'n Fly. It's a buck more per day than Park 'n Jet but is a little closer. It's also a much, much smaller lot and holds less cars. These lots frequently have coupons on their websites and both give 250 Aeroplan points.

The shuttles pick you up on arrivals level just outside the baggage carousel for arrival area A - by Bus Bays 1-7. I've never waited more than 8-10 minutes for a shuttle.

KrisYYC · #18 Posted: **Mar 26, 2007, 9:40 AM**

The airport is struggling to keep up because of growth beyond expectations and lack of alternative transportation to/from the airport. Recently the Airporter bus operated by Cardinal had to discontinue service due to lack of drivers. I work at the airport and everyday I'm amazed at how much it's been neglected in terms of public transport.

Passengers have three choices:

1. Have somebody pick them up (filling the parking lot)

2. Be gouged $30 by cabbies for a 15 minute ride downtown

3. Take Calgary Transit, which is hardly convienient unless your flight happens to arrive during peak transit hours. If your flight is off peak times, be prepared for a 60 minute one way trip downtown.

I really hope that Calgary Transit and The Airport Authority can work together and start some kind of rapid airport express shuttle operating from McKnight Westwinds when it opens.

Kris