Kiss & Fly? Cell Phone Lot? Certainly not in Oz!

[serfty]

I was doing some research on JFK for a trip I have in November & I came across the following complimentary facilities offered by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at JFK:

Cell Phone Lot

If you are picking someone up at JFK - use our new free Cell Phone Lot waiting area. This new lot is located near the airport's entrance - just off the Van Wyck Expressway. All the terminals can be accessed from this lot in less than 5 minutes! With more than seventy spaces, the lot allows drivers to wait until their arriving passengers have disembarked the aircraft, collected their baggage and are ready to be picked up. ...​

Kiss & Fly

If you are dropping someone off at the airport, consider using the Kiss & Fly drop off and avoid airport traffic. Kiss & Fly is conveniently located at the AirTrain JFK Lefferts Boulevard Station where AirTrain service is free and travelers arrive at their terminal in just minutes.​

The Kiss & Fly is a new one on me, but I have also seen cell phone lot signs elsewhere in the US.

I cannot see any facilities like these being offered for free by the owners of Major Australian airports. Indeed, at MEL they go to great lengths to prevent drivers waiting until their arriving passengers have disembarked the aircraft without paying for parking.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Yes, when I am at Melbourne airport it reminds me of the Great Leap Forward in China where they have peasants keeping the sparrows moving until they die. Fortunately I live about fifteen minutes away, so a call from the tarmac is about right.

 

[NM]

At airports like BNE, it would be very simple to provide this facility. There is lots of empty space along the access road where such short-term waiting capability could be provided. And the airport could even sell right to caravan food/drinks vendors if they wanted. But of course they would need to improve the drive-by pick-up facilities as more people would be doing tat rather than parking in the short-term car park and walking to/from the terminal.

It would also be be helpful if they provided a large arrivals screen display board so people could be kept informed about delayed and expected arrivals times.

But as it would reduce short-term parking revenue, there is little incentive from the airport management to offer this service.

 

[Febs]

I cannot see any facilities like these being offered for free by the owners of Major Australian airports. Indeed, at MEL they go to great lengths to prevent drivers waiting until their arriving passengers have disembarked the aircraft without paying for parking.

At SYD (dom) I've never had a problem waiting a few minutes to pick someone up. Longer than that though, there are plenty of spaces to park for free and without hassle (for 1hr+ if you like), you just need to know where to look.

 

[SeaWolf]

At PER I've found the trick is to go and park up in the parking lots of the various warehouses and courier offices along the access roads and just wait there with a good book for your passenger to grab their bags and give you a call. I have noticed though that a lot of people just pull over onto the shoulder of the road and hope they don't get rear-ended by a dozey driver.

 

[Ric]

For Sydney Domestic or International, my wife uses the Krispy Kreme parking lot (of course she goes down and buy some donuts ). But for international, still have to go into the parking lot to pick me up and pay the $7.00 for a 5 mins pick up!!:evil:

 

[oz_mark]

At PER I've found the trick is to go and park up in the parking lots of the various warehouses and courier offices along the access roads and just wait there with a good book for your passenger to grab their bags and give you a call. I have noticed though that a lot of people just pull over onto the shoulder of the road and hope they don't get rear-ended by a dozey driver.

Hopefully doesn't happen. I suspect that one accident and there will be a crackdown on the practice.

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks for the tip Serfty. Heading over to JFK in November as well so some interesting advice.

When I get back from work trips, rather than catching a taxi home I often get family to pick me. They wait down at the Kingsford Smith memorial and as I land I give them a ring and they drive into the drop off/pick up area. Seems to work well for us.

 

[Ric]

littl flier,
This drop off/pick up area that you talk off......domestic or International? If international, where is it?
Thanks

oops....talking about Sydney here!

 

[futaris]

Kingsford Smith Memorial is on the same roundabout as the International Terminal. Just opposite the International Terminal, in BNE.

 

[littl_flier]

Sorry Ric, I was talking about Brisbane. I believe there is a Drop-Off/Pick Up Zone for both Domestic and International in Brisbane although I only ever use the Domestic for pick-ups.

Sorry Ric, can't help with Sydney.

 

[futaris]

I think you were addressing this to Ric, before.

Anyhow, I don't think there is any easy option for SYD. Probably just as easy to take the bus/train to somewher close, rather than pay the parking fees esp at International.

 

[kpc]

But for international, still have to go into the parking lot to pick me up and pay the $7.00 for a 5 mins pick up!!:evil:

I used (and still sometimes do) to pick up passengers from the DEPARTURE level, but they have now clamped down on this as well with patrol officers waiting to book you:evil:. It can still be done, but involves a bit of coordination and mobile phones!! The arriving passenger(s) wait at the very end of the DEPARTURE area, and even a bit beyond, and then call the pick up driver (who is waiting elsewhere)... the pick up car then pulls up, opens boot from within, pickup passenger(s) throws luggage into boot, and hops into car....hopefully, all done within 10 seconds and before the patrol officers can get to you!!!....then congratulate yourself on outsmarting Macquarie Bank again!!!:shock::evil:

 

[Ric]

I used to do that until a couple of months ago where we was told in no uncertain terms that we WILL be booked!!:evil:

But, maybe I will try your way of going beyond the normal drop off area. Only problem I see is that the Macquarie cops may be watching me while I am waiting for the car to show up and then get ready to pounce!!??

However, I did get one of the Macquarie cops early in the year who chatted with me while I was waiting at the departure drop off area. He was quite sympathetic with the situation and did actually said that he purposely turned a blind eye to a lot of other passengers getting picked up at the departure area!!

 

[serfty]

At BNE, The Kingsford smith is a reasonable option; My contact uses it occasionally - It's sometimes hard to actually find park. Several times a day or more the goons arrive and move everyone on with threats of being booked. I believe they record registrations, but have not heard of anyone actually beeing booked.

At SYD, you can park in the lot of the Airport Mercure to await the call.

As for MEL, turn left when you approach the traffic lights and head down past a roundabout or two. You can normally find a place to wait around there. I often get picked up underneath the Hilton especially when it's raining - follow the rental car return signs. (If challenged, act lost "")

 

[littl_flier]

At BNE, The Kingsford smith is a reasonable option; My contact uses it occasionally - It's sometimes hard to actually find park. Several times a day or more the goons arrive and move everyone on with threats of being booked. I believe they record registrations, but have not heard of anyone actually beeing booked.

Great tips Serfty.

I noticed on Wednesday night that there are signs that limit parking to 30 minutes. There were also Wilsons security cars hanging around but they didn't move anyone on while I was there. The car park is quite small (maybe 30 spaces) so in peak times it would be rather difficult. It's not often that I pick up family from the airport so I went for a drive down to General Aviation and noted there were quite a few carparks down there that could be used. I'm not sure what these are like during business hours though.

 

[Shano]

I often see cars parked along the side of the Tullarmarine FWY just on the city side of MEL airport, obvioulsy waiting for the call from the people they are collecting. The last few times I have been past, however, I have seen security vehicles forcing people to move on. This from a location some 2 or so km from the terminal. Pretty poor form really.

 

[wallacej]

Here are some of my tips, each requires the pax to call when they have their bags in hand, and meet at a pre determined position.

Melbourne - probably the toughest as it is so isolated and you cn be pounced on anywhere, but depending on what time you are picking up, there is a holden dealership nearby that you can wait in (after hours)

Sydney - Krispy Kreme, or go for a bit of a drive along that road and you will find a dog boarding kennel business.... bit of a park and a couple of trees, haven't noticed any no standing signs. Quick phone call when pax is out and off you go

Brisbane - Pretend you are visiting the kingsford (I think) museum, get the call and off you go.

Perth - park and wait anywhere... just watch out for dozey drivers..

AND IN ALL CASES - if you have a rental car, just pull into the return bays.. drop into the rental office, let them know you are picking up your partner... always more with honey approach, and have never had a problem with that... always lock it and take the keys with... just in case an over zealous agent wants to check your car back in

 

[tuapekastar]

I often see cars parked along the side of the Tullarmarine FWY just on the city side of MEL airport, obvioulsy waiting for the call from the people they are collecting. The last few times I have been past, however, I have seen security vehicles forcing people to move on. This from a location some 2 or so km from the terminal. Pretty poor form really.

Interesting, Shano.

Wonder who these 'security' vehicles are representing. If, as I infer from your post, this is on the Tulla, way outside airport boundaries, then I suspect the Victoria Police are the only people with any real authority to move you on, certainly not airport-related authorities...my suspicions, however, may be wrong, and I'm sure those 'security' people can call the cops if they wish.

There are endless lengths people will go to to gouge you (and, admittedly, endless lengths to which people will go to avoid being gouged).

 

[serfty]

In MEL, the powers that be have lined the approaches to Tullamarine Aerodrome with wire fences close enough to the road to the make stopping quiteunsafe. To reinforce this there are are them mentioned partols as well as regular signs indicating no standing etc.

As for the Freeway, it's a violation of law to park on the side of the roads unless an emergency.

I often work at MEL and, in reality there are many options - you just need to know where to look.

I mentioned a Hotel Car park in SYD, this is quite large with many parking spots; it's a very quiet area. It is a few years since I did this but most of the park is completely out of sight of the Hotel's front entrance/reception areas.