Pre-booking for cheap Dublin airport parking
19.10.05
Passengers will soon have to book parking spaces in advance at Dublin Airport. As the airport gets busier, the reality is if you want to be sure of getting cheaper parking in the first privately-run car park, you either book a space, or face being turned away.
QuickPark, located off the Santry Road, is the first car park to set up in direct competition with Aer Rianta. It has just launched a new online car park booking service online to ensure travellers get a space.
According to the company, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, the car park is usually full by 07:00 and there may not be space until lunchtime. Only those passengers who have booked a space online can be sure of getting a place.
While QuickPark charges €5 daily with an hourly rate of €1, the Dublin Airport Authority rates are €2.70 per hour and €30 for any period over eight hours in its short-term car park. The authority's long-term car park rates are €8 a day and €48 for a week.
QuickPark MD, John O'Sullivan, said he believed airport users were fed up with being charged the higher rates by the Dublin Airport Authority and driving around looking for a space. However, the success of the service for weary travellers means its occupancy rates are very high and they are sometimes full.
'If you want to be guaranteed your space you book it, otherwise you turn up and take your chance. Because of the way flights work, there are certain periods of the day when there is not enough supply to meet demand,' he said.
The system works by allowing travellers to pre-book their car space online at www.quickpark.ie using their credit card. The service then sends a PIN number to the passenger which they key into the car park entrance to gain access and to exit.
