After the loss of duty free when venturing to European Union countries that amounted for a high number of passengers travelling through an airport, all airports searched for other areas to improve revenue and airport parking was natural target.
When choosing where to park, especially in todays economic market it helps to compare the prices between on and off airport parking. The savings can be quite high especially when comparing to the airport gate price. The drawback to parking at an off airport car park is the transfer time to the terminal will take longer. When booking your hotel parking Gatwick, Heathrow car parking or Manchester airport parking you will be able to select from several off airport car parks as well as on airport parking.
Off airport car parks have come a long way since they first started out and are now professionally operated businesses adopting best practices in safety such as that granted under the Safer Park Mark Scheme which is an initiative of the Associations of Chief Police Officers brought in to reduce crime in particular the fear of crime in car parks. Apart from top levels of security these car parks operate constant transfers to and from the airport.
If a holidaymaker is short of time, parking on site may be the best option but if time is not of the essence the chepest parking will always be at an off airport car park.
Off airport car parks usually include the cost of transporting you to your needed terminal and this can be very useful if you are flying from a stressful airport such as Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester. Directing around these airports amongst a sea of cars with many travellers not knowing where they are going can be extremely stressful with cars changing lanes at the last minute or switching direction on the many roundabouts.
