Tag Archives for: Travel

Become a storyteller: Parking Today the Airport Issue – ParkNews.biz March 29th – April 4th, 2022

April 04, 2022

 

 

Become a storyteller: Parking Today the Airport Issue – ParkNews.biz March 29th – April 4th, 2022

 

 

 

 

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” – Ibn Battuta

 

 

Have you travelled yet since the lockdowns eased up? The trip you had to cancel be it to Paris, Amsterdam, Jerusalem, Marrakesh or one of the US beautiful locations, is it “lets go” now? It seems for most people it is. Hence, it is the double demand. The natural yearly cabin fever of needing to get away. Or go take your children for spring break. Or let them go on their own. And then, the previously postponed trips back on schedule. Especially leisure trips.

I flew a lot during the lockdowns. As I had to make a trip from LA, CA to Fort Myers, FL on regular basis, pandemic or not, to assist my parents. The airports during that time were depressing. But now, it seems the joy of travel, the anticipation of seeing new places and new faces, is visible. The airports are packed. The shops are open. The restaurants are filled with people.

On my flight just a few days ago, the captain of the plane apologized that we still have to wear masks. He added, “I trust that we can see your faces in all their expressions soon.”

Some airlines already have abandoned the need for masks. Such as SAS within Sweden. “Virgin Atlantic changed its mask policy on March 16, allowing customers to choose if they wear a face covering, including on flights to Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Masks must still be worn on the airline’s flights to or from the U.S. as well as for passengers 12 and older on flights to and from Delhi, Islamabad, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lahore, Lagos, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv.”

Read further about other airlines here: April 4, 2022 – These Airlines No Longer Require Masks on Flights

Besides masks, if we have to wear them or not, and packed airports, the key to the air travel is parking or transportation, to and from the airport. It is how we get to the airport and leave it upon landing, that can make the trip enjoyable or a nightmare.

For me, with uber costing at least double or even triple to the pre pandemic prices, parking at the airport or the airport adjacent garages, is the solution. I believe I am not the only one making this choice, since from the people I spoke to, many decided to drive and park vs taking a tnc.

Thus, here we arrive at our June 2022 Parking Today Airport Issue: It is all about the first and last impressions with the parking experience we provide as a parking industry.

If you have an inspiring or descriptive story about airport parking from you perspective, and would like to submit an article for this issue of PT, please send it to me at astrid@parkingtoday.com.

The deadline is April 20th. However, to assure that we can fit in your article, I need a commitment asap. Please write to me and we schedule a call to discuss further.

Additionally, this issue is a once a year opportunity to showcase your technology and your products that make air travel uneventful. Therefore, please contact Brian Bullen at brian@parkingtoday.com to create the highest visibility for the solutions you provide.

I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for your interest and collaboration.

Wishing for all of us, the friendliest skies during this spring break time and on the way to PIE 2022 in Reno, NV.

Have a blessed new week.

Sincerely,

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

 

 

 

 

Ready for takeoff – LAX’s new parking structure and ParkNews.biz Oct 12th – 18th, 2021 

October 18, 2021

 

 

Ready for takeoff – LAX’s new parking structure and ParkNews.biz Oct 12th – 18th, 2021

 

 

 

Hopefully air travel is in full swing.  At least at LAX.  This Tuesday, LAX is opening their new 4,300-stall LAX Economy Parking structure, the first major aspect of LAX’s Landslide Access Modernization Program.

“The $294 million parking facility is four stories tall, 1.7 million square feet and features smart parking technology that allows for pre-booked parking and intuitive wayfinding.It also has the infrastructure for nearly 1,600 parking spots to have electric vehicle charging capabilities, and more than 500 chargers will be installed in the first year. … As the third-largest airport in the world, LAX is a global crossroads where dreams take flight and we welcome the future of our city with open arms,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti.” Read further here: Oct 18, 2021 – New 4,300 Spot Parking Structure to Open Tuesday at LAX

I said “hopefully” air travel is in full swing since the latest delays and cancelations by Southwest affected myriad travelers, including one of our colleagues and his lovely wife.  “November 22 is the deadline by which all federal employees must either be vaccinated against Covid-19 or submit to frequent coronavirus testing, per President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate.” From Forbes Article on ParkNews.biz: Oct 18, 2021 – How Unvaccinated TSA Employees Could Put A Fork In Thanksgiving Weekend Air Travel

According to the same article: “Online searches for holiday travel are up 105% in the last month, compared to just 51% over the same period in 2020, according to Hopper, which predicts that high demand will cause airfares to increase 40% between Halloween and the week of Thanksgiving.”  And: “A shortage of TSA employees for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays would surely mean longer lines at the airport. But Pekoske told CNN he is “very hopeful” that there will not be worker shortages and said the agency is “building contingency plans” just in case.”

Hopefully, planes, trains and automobiles won’t be affected by any of this, and we all will be able to visit our Families for Thanksgiving as well as attend or exhibit at IPMI 2021 in Tampa.

In other ParkNews.biz news, ParkMobile comes to Portland State University.  You can read it here: Oct 18, 2021 – PT Plus: ParkMobile Partners with Portland State University to Provide Contactless Parking Payments on Campus

Additionally, the London borough of Haringey has installed 101 upgraded on-street contactless pay and display (P&D) machines from Flowbird technology to improve payment options across the borough.   Read it here: Oct 18, 2021 – London borough improves parking options with Flowbird technology

Going back to travel, Parking Today is excited to be at SWPTA conference in Las Vegas next week.  If you haven’t registered yet, register here: southwestparking.org/events.  It is Oct 25-27th, 2021, at Golden Nugget, Las Vegas.  And as always it looks like it will be the best in every possible way.

Looking forward to see you in Las Vegas.

Thank you and have a blessed new week.

Sincerely,

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

 

 

Peaceful flying and airport parking – ParkNews.biz June 15th – 21st, 2021

June 21, 2021

 

 

Peaceful flying and airport parking – ParkNews.biz June 15th – 21st, 2021

 

 

If you are about to take an American Airline flight this June or July, your flight might had been cancelled.  And the problem isn’t just the weather but work force shortage.  Read it here: June 21, 2021 – American Airlines canceling hundreds of flights through mid-July in part due to labor shortages.

 

“The first few weeks of June have brought unprecedented weather to our largest hubs, heavily impacting our operation and causing delays, canceled flights and disruptions to crew member schedules and our customers’ plans,” Shannon Gilson, a spokesperson for the airline, told CNN. “That, combined with the labor shortages some of our vendors are contending with and the incredibly quick ramp up of customer demand, has led us to build in additional resilience and certainty to our operation by adjusting a fraction of our scheduled flying through mid-July.”

 

 

Thus, if you are traveling before July 15th, you might get your flight changed.  AA says they will notify you.  AA plans to cancel 50-80 flights a day.  However, it all should be back to normal in time for PIE 2021 in Dallas, TX.

 

In the meantime, it isn’t just AA facing challenges.  In this article from NYTimes, June 21, 2021 – Airlines struggle to cope as travel picks up and storms force delays, it says: “Summer getaways are testing the limits of the country’s air travel system as airlines and airports try to restore operations that were decimated by the pandemic.

Nearly 10,000 flights were delayed in the United States on Sunday, as travel surged and airlines contended with bad weather and other disruptions.

Among the nation’s largest airlines, Southwest Airlines had the most delays, with 30 percent of flights running late, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. At American Airlines, 25 percent of flights were delayed, compared with 23 percent for United Airlines and 21 percent for Delta Air Lines.

The slowdowns came as travel reached new pandemic heights: The Transportation Security Administration screened 2.1 million people at its airport security checkpoints on Sunday, the most since early March 2020.”

 

The rebound in air travel is much welcome yet, tempers flare.  Possibly, since people are fed up and confused, there have been numerous incidents of passengers behaving badly on their flights.  “Reports of disruptive and sometimes violent passenger behavior are on the rise — so much so that a group of major airlines and unions asked the Justice Department on Monday to crack down on such conduct.

“These incidents pose a safety and security threat to our passengers and employees, and we respectfully request that the Department of Justice commit to the full and public prosecution of onboard acts of violence,” the group said in a letter to the attorney general, Merrick Garland.”

 

In addition to the inflight behavior troubles, there is also a challenge with parking.  Especially since Uber and Lyft have become not affordable any longer.  According to June 21, 2021 – Parking is a nightmare right now at Atlanta airport — but that could soon change,  at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the nearby lots were full on Friday.  Other cities are experiencing the same dilemma with lack of parking.  The good news is that the lots shut down during the pandemic, are slowing reopening.  And we do need these parking options.  This past Sunday, June 20th, 2021,  air Travel hit was the highest since March 2020.  TSA screened 2.1 million people.

 

Hopefully, the logistics of summer travel will be solved very soon.  With enough workers to assist the travelers, planes flying full and on time, tempers calm and plenty of parking for us all.

 

Have a blessed new week.

 

Thank you,

 

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

 

TravelCar celebrates one year of partnership with Air France

July 18, 2019

TravelCar celebrates one year of partnership with Air France

TravelCar, an Air France partner since July 2018, makes life easier for travelers on their way to the airport with a parking reservation platform.

TravelCar, an innovative partner for Air France customers

 

Since airfrance.travelcar.com, Air France customers access quickly and in real time more than 4000 parking offers in 330 airports and cities served by the French airline, in France and internationally.

This platform materializes the privileged alliance between the leader of parking reservation and Air France. Whether for a leisure or business trip, Air France customers have access to a simple and intuitive offer that meets their needs. With just a few clicks, anyone can quickly book the offer of their choice to save time and leave light-hearted.

 

“TravelCar and its simplified customer pathway are an ideal solution to offer car parks in all the cities served by Air France. We are very satisfied with this new partner which has greatly improved the customer experience since the launch in July 2018”

explains Delphine Barault, Head of Business Development & Commercial Partnerships at Air France

 

The car parks offered by TravelCar are secure, at attractive prices and offer many value-added services to travelers: airport shuttle, valet service, 24/7 customer service, gas fill up, washing, emptying, etc.

Air France customers benefit from a tailor-made, innovative and unique offer before, during and after their flight.

 

Travelling more serenely

 

Getting to the airport requires some organization and it is stressful for travelers to find the ideal mobility solution and the best value for money. If the journey is not anticipated beforehand, it can represent a substantial budget item. In order to improve the travel experience, TravelCar and Air France have set up this partnership to allow users to easily book a parking space at the airport and in more than 330 cities served by Air France.

 

“Gaining the trust of a major airline like Air France was a real challenge! We are delighted today to have brought together on the same platform all parking solutions that can meet the needs of Air France’s business and leisure customers in more than 60 countries,” adds Elodie Picand, Head of Marketing at TravelCar

 

TravelCar is the only platform in the world to reference all parking solutions that exist: official airport car parks, valet parking solutions, parking around airports served by shuttles, hotel car parks …

With a wide range of parking spaces ranging from the most economical to the most premium, TravelCar simplifies passenger mobility and covers most of their needs. This innovative service is available in the 22 busiest airports in France and provides support for travelers on their journeys. Since its creation, TravelCar has grown steadily and established partnerships around the world. TravelCar now boasts more than 1.5 million active users in more than 60 countries with a network of 2,000 car parks and more than 5,000 tour operator partners around the world.

 

About TravelCar

 

Founded in 2012, TravelCar is revolutionizing mobility for travelers.  Agile and dynamic, TravelCar has quickly become the worldwide leader for parking solution due to its unique and innovative booking platform which allows users to search and book parking options at airports, train stations, sea ports, and city-centers.  Travelers looking for parking can easily compare prices, view locations on a map, read reviews and more in order to choose the offer best for them.  In addition to traditional paid parking offers, TravelCar also developed a sustainable and eco-responsible parking solution allowing car owners to save money on parking fees by renting out their car to other travelers while they are away. Available in 30 languages and with a strong network of 5,000 plus partners, TravelCar has more than one million and a half active users and continues to grow since its acquisition by PSA Group.

For more information: www.travelcar.com

FORMER HOLIDAY TAXIS BOSS TAKES THE CHAIR AT PARKCLOUD 

February 12, 2019

 

 

 

FORMER HOLIDAY TAXIS BOSS TAKES THE CHAIR AT PARKCLOUD 

 

 

 

 

The Board of European airport parking leader, ParkCloud, has named industry stalwart, Peter Hilton, as its first Chairperson.

 

 

Having spearheaded global growth in his previous role as Chief Executive of worldwide transport company, Holiday Taxis, Peter will now take up the newly created role, acting as an intermediary between shareholders and providing oversight of the actions taken by top-line decision makers.

 

A significant senior asset with a wealth of industry insight, Peter will fulfil his duties as chair in a predominately advisory role, with founder and Managing Director, Mark Pegler, continuing to head up the day-to-day operations of the business.

 

Speaking about his appointment, Peter Hilton commented:

 

“ParkCloud has built up impressive momentum within the rapidly changing online travel market, establishing a strong reputation as one of the leading independent aggregators of its kind.

 

“I am delighted to be joining the team as chair at such an exciting time in the company’s development and look forward to supporting ParkCloud as it targets further expansion and emerging technologies to enhance the consumer travel experience.”

 

Mark Pegler, Managing Director of ParkCloud, added:

 

“Peter has long-standing experience in the wider travel market and his contribution as ParkCloud’s Chair of the Board will no doubt prove invaluable as we build upon our market coverage and diversify our offering for our global network of users.”

 

In addition to the appointment, ParkCloud recently announced that it has relocated its head office operations to a new UK city centre base, allowing for a more collaborative work space to accommodate the developing needs of the business.

 

To find out more about ParkCloud, please visit www.parkcloud.com.

 

 

About ParkCloud

 

ParkCloud, simply put, lets drivers book a parking space in advance, in the same way as it’s possible to do with hotel rooms, restaurant tables…and even a coffee these days.

 

When travelling, parking is usually the last thing on anybody’s mind, but research shows that as much as 20 minutes is wasted when searching for a parking space. ParkCloud aims to solve that problem by letting customers make a parking booking, whether they are getting on a plane, taking a cruise, catching a train, or visiting a city or event.

 

ParkCloud was founded in 2008 as an online parking reservation service and within the 10 years we’ve been operating our success and growth has been rapid.

 

Today we are an award-winning, global provider, working with car park operators across 42 countries to include them on our comparison search engine, which aims to give consumers the most user friendly, efficient service possible when they need it most.

 

This bookable parking network is also made available to travel industry partners to help complete the itineraries of passengers worldwide.

 

Winner of Queen’s Award for International Trade

http://www.parkcloud.com

 

INRIX: Have Holiday Plans, Will Travel: Record-Breaking 107 Million Americans to Celebrate Holidays Away From Home

December 15, 2017

 

 

Have Holiday Plans, Will Travel: Record-Breaking 107 Million Americans to Celebrate Holidays Away From Home

 

Motorists can expect peak congestion on Dec. 20 and 21 as commuters mix with holiday travelers

 

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 14, 2017) – ‘Tis the season to traditionally spend with family and friends and this year Americans are traveling in record numbers. AAA forecasts 107.3 million Americans will take to planes, trains, automobiles and other modes of transportation during the year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 1. This will be the highest year-end travel volume on record and a 3.1 percent increase in travel volume compared with last year. 2017 marks the ninth consecutive year of rising year-end holiday travel. Since 2005, total year-end holiday travel volume has grown by 21.6 million, an increase of more than 25 percent.

“More expensive gas prices are not swaying holiday revelers to stay home,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, Travel and Publishing. “In fact, across the board this year, travel has increased year-over-year for every major holiday weekend – Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving – and we project the same for the year-end holiday period. We’ve seen the strong economy and growing consumer confidence fuel holiday travel all year long.”

For the 97.4 million Americans traveling by automobile, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, in collaboration with AAA, predicts travel times during the holiday week could be as much as three times longer than the normal trip.

By the Numbers: 2017 Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast

· Automobiles: The majority of travelers – 97.4 million – will hit the road (a 3 percent year-over-year increase).
· Planes: 6.4 million people will travel by air, a 4.1 percent increase and the fourth year of consecutive air travel volume increases.
· Trains, Buses, Rails and Cruise Ships: Travel across these sectors will increase by 2.2 percent to 3.6 million.

Holiday Headache Hotspots

Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX expects drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion before the holiday week – on Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Thursday, Dec. 21 – in the late afternoon as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. For example, drivers in New York City could see travel times peak at three times a normal trip between 3:30 and 5:30pm.

“With record-level travelers hitting the road this holiday, drivers must be prepared for delays in major metros,” says Dr. Graham Cookson, chief economist & head of research at INRIX. “Our advice to drivers is to avoid peak times altogether or consider alternative routes.”Source: INRIX

Worst Days/Times to Travel

Metro Area

Worst Day for Travel

Worst Time for Travel

Delay Multiplier

New York, NY

Wednesday, Dec. 20

3:30 – 5:30 PM

3x

Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, Dec. 20

3:30 – 6:00 PM

2.5x

Washington, DC

Thursday, Dec. 21

3:00 – 6:00 PM

2.5x

San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, Dec. 20

3:00 – 5:30 PM

2x

Chicago, IL

Thursday, Dec. 21

4:00 – 6:00 PM

2x

Boston, MA

Thursday, Dec. 21

2:30 – 4:30 PM

2x

Seattle, WA

Wednesday, Dec. 20

4:00 – 6:00 PM

2x

Atlanta, GA

Thursday, Dec. 21

4:30 – 6:30 PM

1.5x

Houston, TX

Wednesday, Dec. 20

5:30 – 7:30 PM

1.5x

Detroit, MI

Thursday, Dec. 21

3:00 – 5:30 PM

1.5x

Travel Tip: Try to avoid traveling through major cities during peak travel times. The best times to leave are typically early morning or after the morning commute because the roads should be less crowded and you will have more time to get to your destination safely. If your schedule permits, traveling on the holiday itself often results in fewer cars on the road.

Pricey pump prices to decrease
The 90 percent of holiday travelers choosing to drive will find the most expensive year-end gas prices since 2014. This December’s national average price is $2.47 (Dec. 1-13), which is 28 cents more than last December. The good news is that AAA does expect the average to drop at least another five cents by year-end, saving motorists a few pennies at the pump.

Airfare and hotel rates trend cheaper, car rentals increase year-over-year

Holiday airfares are nearly 20 percent cheaper than last year. At $165, the average end of year holiday airfare for a round-trip flight for the top 40 domestic routes is at a five-year low, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. On average, 2017 airfares are 5 percent less expensive compared to 2016. Overall, competition, capacity over-expansion and lower oil prices are contributing to the decline. Travelers can also find savings at AAA Two and Three Diamond Rated hotels. On average, a Three Diamond hotel nightly rate is $156, a two percent year-over-year decrease. The Two Diamond nightly average rate is $121, a five percent decrease from last year.

Similar to Thanksgiving, car rental rates are more expensive on the year. At $74, the daily car rental rate increased 11 percent. This sets a new five-year record high rate for year-end holiday travel. The increase is on par with the rate increases seen at Thanksgiving.

Top 10 Year-End Holiday Travel Destinations
For a second year, Orlando, Florida, and Anaheim, California, top this year’s top 10 holiday destinations based on AAA.com bookings. Warmer weather destinations reign supreme in winter months with Cancun, Kahului (Maui) and Montego Bay gaining in popularity as holiday spots compared with last year.

 

1. Orlando, Fla.
2. Anaheim, Calif.
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Kahului (Maui), Hawaii
6. Montego Bay, Jamaica
7. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
8. Miami, Fla.
9. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
10. New York, N.Y.

Travel Tip: Airports will be busy and security lines may be longer than usual around the holidays. Travelers should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to the scheduled departure of their flight. During peak travel times, contact your airline for guidance, as it may be necessary to arrive even earlier. This time of year travelers need to also be aware of potential weather delays. Make sure to check flight status regularly before traveling to the airport. To expedite travel, AAA recommends enrolling in programs such as TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

Lockouts, flat tires to strand nearly one million motorists
The vast majority of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, and AAA expects to rescue nearly one million (901,600) motorists. Car battery-related issues, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA is called for roadside assistance over the holidays. For members in need of roadside assistance, download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP. For added convenience, Wazers can now request AAA roadside assistance directly from the Waze app by tapping the Report menu.

Before hitting the road, make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready. Stop by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America, for an inspection. In case of an emergency, be prepared by keeping a cell phone and charger with you at all times. Carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit and extra water.

Travel Tip: Get plenty of rest before setting out on a holiday road trip and schedule breaks every two hours or 100 miles to remain alert and avoid driving drowsy. Also, be aware of the dangers of driving distracted. Drivers should designate a passenger to serve as their official text messenger and navigator.

Download the AAA Mobile app before your holiday getaway
Before heading out on your year-end holiday road trip, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

With the AAA Mobile app, travelers can also find nearly 59,000 AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA’s is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Inspected & Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for amenities and services.

About the AAA travel forecast:
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. The London-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Markit 2017 year-end holiday travel forecast is available here.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About INRIX:
INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.