90 Degree parking - turning eco parking on its head

Here's another great space-saving idea for the future of eco parking.

Quite literally turning the idea of environmentally friendly parking on its head is the innovative parking concept by Brazilian designer, Baita Bueno.

The designer’s “90 Degree” concept copes with the problem of over populated, car ridden cities, lacking in space as the demand for cars increases by making a car park bigger than it really is by parking vehicles on their fronts.

In an area the size of a regular parking space, the 90 Degree car park can accommodate not one, but three vehicles. And as well as saving space, hybrid and electrical cars can be charged at the same time.

This is because the purpose built car parks will house a myriad of solar panels, generating energy from the sun, linked to panels underneath the parked cars.

The green answer to parking - solar powered garages

Here's an environmentally friendly parking concept that has been designed by Tom Cahill.

His design for eco parking incorporates a glazed solar panel canopy which curve over parking lanes.

The canopy houses solar panels to collect energy from the sun to light up the concept car park at night. The canopy also has a green roof panel that collects rainwater as part of a stormwater retention system.

Could we see this as a solution to eco parking at Gatwick?

Which? report identifies dos and don'ts of booking airport parking

Consumer magazine Which? has published a report into airport parking and revealed the main dos and don’ts of how to get the best possible price.

The report found that passengers turning up on the day and paying the gate price can pay as much as triple the price compared to if they’d booked their airport parking in advance.

The Which? report found that 36% of air travellers drive themselves to the airport, and without pre-booking, these travellers can leave themselves ‘vulnerable’ to costly parking charges. Heathrow Airport’s own car parking was identified as being expensive, with prices of around £120 per week when arriving without a booking.

The report found that airport parking is often comparable to budget airlines in the sense that their cheapest parking options are those that are booked way in advance. The closer the booking is made to the date of travel the more it will cost. Another cost factor for travellers to consider, highlighted by Which?,  is whether they wish to park on or off site – with Which? revealing that off-site is the much cheaper option. Many travellers get confused about this terminology.

Well, to help clear things up, Help-Me-Park.com, Gatwick’s leading meet and greet car parking provider, can explain...

An on-site car park is an airport car park situated within the actual grounds of the airport itself, usually run by the airport operator. Needless to say, a premium price is applied to parking one’s car this close.

An off-site car park is an airport car park situated a short distance from the airport, run by a private car parking operator, where a courtesy bus is caught back to the airport. This Which? have revealed is a much cheaper option.

 In the conclusion of the Which? report it was revealed that Meet and Greet airport parking was by far the most convenient option for airport parking.

But what is Meet and Greet airport parking? Well, Meet and Greet parking, sometimes referred to as Valet parking, is when you drive your car straight up to the airport terminal building – as you would if you were dropping off a fellow traveller (whilst you drive to the airport the parking is off-site). Here you are met by a full insured driver from the parking company, after an exchange of paperwork you make your way into the airport, with the driver taking your car to a secure car park for the duration of your trip. On your return, you come out of the airport, being met again by the driver and your car.

This service negates the need for allowing extra time to your journey to drive to an off-site car park, and then waiting for a courtesy bus back to the airport.

Valet Meet and Greet parking is especially good for families when managing children and luggage is difficult. It’s especially good for time precious business travellers, as it is too for those travelling with heavy, bulky sports equipment. Disabled or less-mobile passengers also benefit from the service.

The advice from Help-Me-Park, Gatwick’s leading valet meet and greet airport parking provider, is to...

• Book the airport parking the moment the travel plans have been confirmed. This secures a company’s best price, not to mention the peace of mind that the parking is booked; and that’s one less thing to worry about!
• Another top tip from Help-Me-Park.com is always to book your airport car parking online, again this is cheaper than making same booking over the phone. 
• Combine this – booking online and in advance - for the very best price! 
• Always make sure the company you are booking with are a reputable and reliable operator 
• Ensure the company provides fully insured, mature and experienced drivers. 
• Always make sure the parking operator provides a land line contact number and 24/7 contact number.

Manchester Airport parking

Holiday Extras has added a new car park at Manchester airport - the Skypark Park and Ride.

The car park, which is situated 10 to 15 minutes from Manchester Airport's terminals, is a multi-storey, so cars will be kept undercover unless they're parked on the top floor.

Security is tight with the car park being protected by 24-hour CCTV and 24-hour patrols. In order to get their cars back customers have to show photo ID.

Belfast City Airport offers parking refund to bmibaby passengers

Following the announcement that bmibaby is to cease all flights to / from Belfast City Airport, the airport has offered a full refund of car parking fees to any passengers with bookings made after the date of the last flights.

bmibaby passengers with car parking bookings after 11 June 2012 should contact the airport on +44 28 9093 9093 to arrange a refund.

Full details of bmibaby flight cancellations can be found here: www.bmibaby.com/bmibaby/faqs/important_information.aspx