Going out of the city for a business meeting? Or do you have a vacation booked to relax with your loved ones? You may need to catch a flight to reach your destination. This is where an important question arises: should you get an Uber or park at the airport?
Both modes of transportation can offer unique benefits. But at the same time, you may face some drawbacks. To make the decision easier for you, we have prepared pros and cons for airport parking as well as taxi, Uber, and other rideshare services.
Now, let’s compare the advantages and disadvantages of traveling via your own vehicle with car services. This way you can decide your best option: Uber vs airport parking. Let’s go!
Why Uber?
Last-Minute Preparations
Uber and other ride services tend to be efficient. When you book a ride, they provide an accurate estimate of when the vehicle will arrive at your door. Thus, you can make the most of this time.
During these last few minutes, you can ensure you didn’t forget luggage or important travel documents. Knowing how much time is left for your Uber driver to arrive, you can gather any items you might have forgotten.
Relaxed Travel
Booked an Uber to take you to the busiest airports? You can relax since the driver is responsible for getting you there. You can take a deep breath and focus on your trip without worrying about traffic.
The same goes for taking an Uber or ride shares back home after a long and tiring trip.
Once you get in the car, you can unwind. The professional driver will take you back home and safely drop you at your doorstep.
Flexibility
Life is unpredictable. Your travel plans may change for any reason.
What if your flight gets canceled due to bad weather? You may want to change your return flight to a different airport.
What if you suddenly need to extend your trip and change your ticket to a later date? You may end up accumulating a significant amount in daily parking fees.
So, it may be a good idea to get an Uber. It’s a cost-effective option and offers flexibility without worries about the daily rates of the airport parking lot.
Vehicle Safety
When you park your car at an airport, you may keep worrying about it during the entire length of your trip.
What if you return to a vehicle with scratches and dents in the airport parking? What if other drivers damage your car? Whether it’s a short visit or you’re going away for a long weekend, these thoughts can ruin your peace of mind.
On the other hand, you can avoid this stress when you take an Uber to the airport. Since your vehicle is parked in your garage, you won’t have to worry about its safety.
Thus, you can focus on your trip without thinking about potential damage to your car.
Drop-Off at the Terminal
If you drive and park your car at the airport, then think about its negative aspects first.
It’s not always easy to find a parking spot. Even when you book in advance, you may struggle to find one, especially during peak travel season. You may waste precious time driving around to find a vacant spot. And once you park your vehicle, you will have to walk some distance with your heavy luggage.
However, if you take an Uber to the airport, they will drop you right at the terminal. You can save time and easily walk in with your luggage.
Similarly, you can enjoy convenient pick-up when you return home. There’s no need to navigate the huge parking place with your luggage in search of your car. Instead, you can get in the ride from the airport gate and reach home.
Convenience Factor
When it comes to airport parking, you can take the airport shuttle to reach your terminal gate. But at times, the weather may be bad. For instance, it may start raining or get windy. Then you will face trouble standing outside with your luggage, waiting for the shuttle. But with an Uber ride, you don’t have to take this longer route.
Then you will have to sit in a tight space along with other passengers. Post-pandemic, many travelers avoid airport shuttles where you often have to deal with sick passengers who aren’t wearing face masks. But with Uber, you can travel in peace and the driver will drop you at your destination.
Further, airport shuttle drivers are in a hurry. So, they sometimes drop you at the wrong gate since they don’t know your travel details. Uber rides, on the other hand, know your destination. So, they make sure to drop you at the right terminal.
When Airport Parking Makes Sense
You may wonder whether you should park at the airport or Uber to the airport. An Uber ride is the go-to choice for many travelers. But airport parking can also offer some unique benefits.
Reliability
When you have an early morning flight, you need to leave your home in the wee hours. But Uber rides can be unavailable this early.
Not many drivers work during these early morning hours. So, you may have to wait for quite a while. If you don’t get a ride, you may miss your flight. This is when driving your own vehicle can save you the trouble.
You can steer clear of unreliable services and drive to reach the airport on time.
No Need to Wait for Your Ride
During peak hours, it takes longer to find a ride. And it becomes a big problem if you live in a remote area with limited transport options. With Uber, you have to wait for vehicle services to return home despite being tired.
But if you have your vehicle parked in a parking spot, you can depart immediately. Since you are in control of your transportation, there is no need to wait for a taxi. Instead, you can immediately drive yourself to your home.
Accessible for Kids and People with Disabilities
Families with young children may find it more convenient to use their own vehicle. That’s because they can properly install kids’ car seats. This ensures better safety measures for young children.
Further, individuals with disabilities may get uncomfortable in an Uber ride. They prefer driving their car which is modified to suit their needs.
Having their own car parked in the airport lot ensures seamless and comfortable travel.
Conclusion
Do you Uber or park at the airport? Personally, I prefer taking Uber or other ride services to travel to or from the airport.
Dealing with parking staff, potential delays, and the uncertainty of finding a spot can add unnecessary stress. And I have had a bad experience where the entire staff was on a break. I almost got late for my flight since no one was available to let me enter the parking space to park my car.
In contrast, the efficient process of requesting an Uber suits me better. I can avoid parking woes and comfortably travel in the Uber ride. This frees me from stress and lets me relax. And I don’t have to worry about increasing parking costs if I need to extend my return flight.
In the end, your travel choice depends on your needs and preferences. So, pick the option that works best for you.