Thursday, December 07, 2006

Park ‘N Fly, Return ‘N Wait

Pickups from Park ‘N Fly at SFO are few and far between.

The fact that I have an affinity card with Park ‘N Fly means that it’s in my own self-interest to park there. It doesn’t take much to get free days, and free off-airport parking is something I can always use. It doesn’t mean I like Park ‘N Fly, though. At least, not at San Francisco International Airport.

For a while, I thought it was just bad timing, but after several years, I’ve come to accept that Park ‘N Fly sends its shuttles around to pick up arriving passengers about 50% less frequently than its competitors. I can see two or three shuttles from Park SFO, Anza, PCA, and several other parking lots before one Park ‘N Fly shows up. Coming home from Montreal the other day, I called for pickup (it was after midnight) while I was still in the terminal. “Three to five minutes,” the attendant told me. I got out to the curb and waited 15 minutes and called back. “Thirty seconds,” I was told this time. Five minutes later, the driver showed up.

I sat down and said nothing, but the other guy who’d been waiting was seething. He expressed whaqt I was thinking: “I’ve seen your competitors’ shuttles go by three or four times. What took you so long?” The driver gave a song and dance about a passenger on his last run who had lost his ticket—which tells the drive the row and slot where the passenger parked—so they had to drive around looking for his car.

That may explain the delay on Tuesday night. It doesn’t explain the 75 or 80 other times I’ve waited at the blue-and-white striped curb for Park ‘N Fly to finally get around to making a run.

Maybe it’s not worth the free points. Next time, it’s probably going to be Park SFO for me.

Posted by Shel in • Airports
(6) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink

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  1. I can see that your experience was less than satisfactory and less than our desired level of service. While I can’t change what has already happened, I would like to ask if you might let me make it up to you. Park ‘N Fly is a good company, and we are really trying to get our Customer Service levels to the highest standards. Info like this helps us. I do apologize for the service you received, and would LOVE to have that drivers name, or any other drivers name that has treated you less than satisfactorily. I would like to send you some free parking too, can I do that? There is absolutely no reason for this kind of thing to be allowed. And we thank you for sticking with us this long.

    Caryn Healey, Sales & Marketing Administrator, Park ‘N Fly Corporate Office.

    Caryn Healey  on  03/06  at  01:19 PM

  2. You may be interested in what we are doing at http://www.ellejet.com.

    Flying private for the price of first class is now a reality.

    Ben  on  03/18  at  01:38 PM

  3. Next time, just do what I do - take a limo.  I know it’s more expensive, but the hassle is reduced by about 99% and I can just expense it anyway.  I use PlanetTran, they operate only hybrids, priuses.  I book online with them and they come get me on time, and they’re in the baggage claim waiting when I come home.  There’s wireless internet in the cars and they don’t accept tips no money changes hands in the car at all.. Okay, I feel like a serious pundit now, but I basically have just reduced 100% of my ground transport misery by using this company because I used to park like you or take the train or taxi.  They’re cheaper than a traditional limo.  Do it, man.

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  06/28  at  12:40 PM

  4. Hey Jacob ! Apparently they don’t want tips because they want but the company policies forbid any kind of tips… but you know, you can let them some tip wink

    Hamakua Coast Waterfalls  on  01/07  at  03:29 PM

  5. There’s wireless internet in the cars and they don’t accept tips no money changes hands in the car at all..

    Alex  on  01/06  at  10:33 AM

  6. Some storage companies offer a valet service. Notify them of your return, and your car will be waiting for you when you land. Very handy.

    Chris  on  11/01  at  04:00 PM

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