Letter: Airport parking is highway robbery

Graphic by Lori Deaton

I agree with Jim Meiring’s comments on airport signage [“Thumbs-down on Airport Parking Signage,” July 18, Xpress]. We paid $220 for 10 days of parking because the long-term lot was full. When we complained to the person taking (robbing us) of our money, he said there were large signs saying to use the covered parking, and he also was condescending about it.

It’s bad enough that traveling by air is not so much fun anymore, but to add insult to injury, parking is highway robbery. When is the long-term lot ever open anyway? The last three times (since the garage was built), it’s never available. We are flying out of Asheville in December and won’t park there. We will stay overnight in a hotel where we can leave our car for free and get a restful good night’s sleep out of it.

— Eileen Janowski
Waynesville

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received the following response from Tina Kinsey, director of marketing, public relations and air service development: “AVL is the second-fastest growing airport in the country. We have been responding to this growth in many ways, including constructing the new five-story parking garage. We understand that passengers may prefer one parking option over another; however, it is impossible to guarantee availability. It is true that the Long-term Lot has been full many times this summer, and passengers must choose another option (Short-term or Garage). We post pricing for all parking areas at the gated entrances, and we include an alert on our website that the Long-term Lot can fill quickly. Coming soon is an automated car-counting system that will communicate in real time the available spaces in each of our parking lots and garage. We will also continue to promote courteous, helpful service. We thank our community for flying local and for their patience as we continue to respond to unprecedented growth.”

Kinsey also notes that more info on airport parking can be found at avl.mx/588.

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8 thoughts on “Letter: Airport parking is highway robbery

  1. Jay Reese

    Parking lots take up a lot of valuable land and exasperate environmental degradation. For far too many years motorist have been placated with cheap parking at the detriment to our transportation system and the land it occupies. Fortunately those days are changings as governments and corporations realize the problems associated with underpriced parking. Asheville has a dedicated bus line to and from the airport and if that is not practical you can always ask a friend or use some other from of rideshare to get you to the Airport

  2. Stan Hawkins

    If you have never flown out of Bristol or Tr -Cities Airport, perhaps you should give it a try. It is a beautiful drive to Bristol Va area and their short term parking is maximum of $14 per day. By my calculations, the same ten days would have saved you $80. The last time I parked there, space was plentiful in each area. Check it out – https://triflight.com/

    I know; there will be those who will complain about the time and cost of fuel in this here option along with dollars leaving the area. And certainly there are fewer flight options. But, if you like a little freedom and “sticking it to the man” from time to time, this might be a way to get some satisfaction. For those in North Buncombe area, the fuel cost differential is not that great.

    • luther blissett

      Really stick it to the man by storing up all your trash until you have to fly and drop it off at the landfill on the way to Tri-Cities.

      The economy lot at GSP is $5 a day and you have more flight options. The Airport Authority has created a rod for its own back here: as I’ve said before, it’s only a matter of time before someone sets up a private lot somewhere along Airport Road with a shuttle to AVL.

      • Jay Reese

        While the individual may save a little money going to another airport there is a external cost to all of us when people are driving those longer distances. When you factor in the external effects of the extra cars on the road with its impact on the environment and the health of the driver it’s only logical to utilize the local Airport. By using the publicly funded bus that serves the Airport you will save even more money.

      • Stan Hawkins

        GSP; glad you believe in more competition for how to receive services. Freedom feels good.

        • Jay Reese

          You aren’t free to destroy the environment so you can save a few dollars. Just keep it local

          • StanHawkins

            Freedom to pay my money for discretionary services rendered at a place of my choosing, while obeying the laws is a right I enjoy. I also enjoy the freedom to ignore someone claiming ownership of my freedoms.

            Quite naturally, I enjoy the benefits of the environment very much as I enjoy my other freedoms. Shopping for good prices for services is a good practice, I highly recommended it. Having an allegiance to “local” is a nice theory, even more so when good stewardship of resources is prevalent when paying local taxes and fees.

            Thanks for the advice anyway.

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