No more free parking at BWI
Anyone who has tried to pick up somebody from Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport knows it can be a pain.
Wait more than a few minutes outside the terminal and you’ll get flashed by the lights of a police car, or worse they’ll write you a ticket. The strict enforcement is because of federal guidelines associated with homeland security.
The airport used to give people a half hour of free parking in the hourly garage to make it a little easier. But as of a week ago, that grace period has been eliminated. You’ll now pay $2 each for the first two half hours and $4 per hour after that.
The airport needs to raise revenue in this tough economic climate, said airport spokesman Jonathan Dean. The parking change is expected to bring $500,000 annually in additional funds.
Dean notes there is still a cell phone lot where you can wait if you’re picking up passengers.
But is that enough? Tell us what you think about the changes in parking at the airport.
Comments
My SO dropped me off and helped the baby and I to the gate on Friday and when he came out 17 minutes later, he was told he had to pay and was quite surprised.
It seems like they could have come up with a compromise - maybe the first half hour is still free, but the second is $2.00? It seem silly to have to pay for 17 minutes.
Posted by: Michelle | July 27, 2009 1:36 PM
Family trip on the light rail to BWI anyone?
Posted by: John | July 27, 2009 2:07 PM
What a boneheaded decision. Now they'll wonder why all of a sudden the traffic in front of the terminal has gotten so much worse. The cellphone lot is not a mitigator because you still have to drive somewhere to do the pickup after they call. Where do they find these people?
Posted by: Frank M | July 27, 2009 2:29 PM
Terribly disappointing. I love to meet friends and family inside, and help with bags. This forces me to be less hospitable.
Posted by: jalvani | July 27, 2009 2:43 PM
I will gladly spend $2 to meet my family at the gate. If they don't need to me met there, then I will wait in the Cell Lot.
Posted by: Jason | July 27, 2009 3:28 PM
I'm surprised they had it like that for as long as they did. I've been to many parking lots at airports, downtown areas, etc, both private and municipal. I've found that most lots will charge you the second you move your car past the ticket booth. This seems more like the norm to me.
Posted by: PK | July 27, 2009 4:39 PM
What a great PR move...not. Yeah, I'm sure those 50 spots in the Cell Lot will be sufficient now too.
Posted by: TH | July 27, 2009 5:00 PM
I was @ the airport this weekend to pick up an arriving flier. Fortunately, cell phone connections and minimal baggage made it possible for us to drive in and pick him up @ the curb.
Now, many more people will do the same thing, even when it's awkward, to save money. The $500k "new revenue" will go into airport police officers' pockets (good for them!) from all the additional traffic-control overtime this stupid, stupide policy will require of them.
The sad sack with no nose on his face will be the airport exec who dreamed up this nugatory and annoying scheme.
Posted by: eo | July 27, 2009 6:52 PM
Again, our friends @ BWI have shot themselves in the foot. Wait until you see the congestion at the passenger pickup on a busy weekend. They are just driving passenger to other airports.
Posted by: Lee Hinder | July 28, 2009 5:22 AM
Folks - it's $2, not $200.
Posted by: Peter | July 29, 2009 12:09 PM
Watch out for the next big BWI money-grab. Drove up this morning to drop my wife off at 7:15 a.m. (peak time, mind you), and after an excruciating 10 minute stop at the traffic light on Camp Meade RD, waiting on both incoming and exiting light rail trains (great scheduling there MTA!!) come upon the "Arrivals" ramp to find BWI Transport police with a speed gun pulling people over!! Youi have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! Someone should be fired for this policy
wow, how fast could anyone possibly drive over there? thanks for the tip. Andrea
Posted by: PGDell | July 30, 2009 2:31 PM