Long Term Car Park Rage

[tuapekastar]

Well, I've just had my first experience of the above.

Parked at MEL LT Car Park near Stop C and made my way there. 6 or 8 people wairting, and a bus went by without stopping just as I got there. Full, I guessed. Waited 5 or 10 minutes, next bus comes along, sign says "Sorry, Bus Full" and on it went.

Meantime the crowd was building and getting restless. About 5 minutes later a third bus appeared, and mercifully it stopped. By this time the crowd at "C" was spilled out the back into the road.

I was well positioned to get on quickly and did so, and the driver did a good job of getting most of the people at the stop onto the bus.

He stopped at B to let one off (so to speak), but wouldn't let anyone there on, due to the overcrowding.

Then the fun started. As we were pulling up towards Stop A, the driver gave a sustained burst of the horn. Looking forward, there was a bloke standing in the road who wasn't going to move. Driver pulls up a foot from him, opens door, yells at guy to move, guy refuses, driver tells him to complain to the airport, but let the bus through. Guy still doesn't move and I can hear his female companions yelling something about "12 minutes", presumably their check-in cut off time. I don't know if these people had had buses sail through their stop previously.

In the meantime a passenger on the bus, who clearly had his own deadline to meet, told the driver that if the guy didn't move then open the door and "I'll get out and smash him" - his wife was sitting next to me imploring him to calm down.

Anyway, before long, guy "unblocks" the bus, and off we go. The driver apologised for the incident and urged everyone to make a written complaint to the MEL airport authorities, as he said it's common for them to try and provide this service on a shoestring, especially during peak times like holidays (he made particular mention of the massive carpark profits recently reported).

Now I can't say for sure, but it's been my perception that the LTCP bus services have been getting fewer and further between (and more crowded) in recent years.

I suspect I will write (I also suspect it'll do no good) - I'm not a 'complainer' by any means, but if you don't tell 'em you're upset, they won't know.

Anybody else experienced this 'rage', or have views on this service?

 

[Flashback]

tuapekastar, I would certainly be letting them know about it. Hopefully the more people that do, the better chance something will be done about it.

Given the massive profits they are making from parking in the first place they should not be providing such a sub par service!

 

[turtlemichael]

I understood that the LTCP operator had to pay each time a bus dropped off/picked up at the terminal.

If that is the case, could it be that the LTCP is unwilling to provide enough buses presumably for the reason that they more expenses they have to recover, the higher prices will be and the more likely customers will find an alternative?

Whatever, highly unsatisfactory.

 

[markis10]

I understood that the LTCP operator had to pay each time a bus dropped off/picked up at the terminal.

If that is the case, could it be that the LTCP is unwilling to provide enough buses presumably for the reason that they more expenses they have to recover, the higher prices will be and the more likely customers will find an alternative?

Whatever, highly unsatisfactory.

In this case I beleive the operator is the airport, as opposed to the Tullamarine operation down the road.

 

[Dave Noble]

What will get them to consider the issues would be people stopping using the facility.

Dave

 

[serfty]

I've done some sums for my travel this Easter and it came down to a choice of either $120 for a 13 days LTCP or rent cars to/from the airport using my corp discount for ~$125* - I'm renting cars.

[*$125 = $95 nett car hire + 2 x $4.30 "Tulla Pass" + ~$22 in fuel.]

 

[huwcar]

There are other LTCP options around the Tullamarine area - one I have used in the past (some years ago, actually) is "Andrews" although I'm sure there are others. Competition is good for the market!

In the case of 12 days parking, a quick search of the Andrews website quotes $120 for undercover and $95 for outdoor. They can also add other services like washing or servicing.

 

[coco50]

When I lived in Albury I always used to time an overseas trip which began the day of the AFL Grand Final (also NSW School Holidays). Anyway for some reason the LTCP was always full and you got LT parking at the STCP for LT rates. Great! The car under cover and you could walk to the terminal.

 

[Saab34]

Try parking at A:shock:. I ended up walking over to the Tiger Terminal in the end as it it only took 5mins, and the bus takes at least 15mins in peak morning.

My advice is to always park right down the end at F,G,H. They dont usually tend to be full up that way.

What will get them to consider the issues would be people stopping using the facility

Do they really care?. Those cars just dont stop coming in, the place seems to be bigger every time Im there. Unless they jacked up the prices, I cant see people not utilizing it.

 

[tuapekastar]

Try parking at A:shock:. I ended up walking over to the Tiger Terminal in the end as it it only took 5mins, and the bus takes at least 15mins in peak morning.

My advice is to always park right down the end at F,G,H. They dont usually tend to be full up that way.

I was wishing I had parked down there at F,G,H after about 15 mins of waiting. And I was really really hoping that we weren't going to have a situation where they just filled up at those stops while ABC just got more and more packed!

I may well switch to Andrew's or one of the others.

The AFL GF scenario is an interesting one!

 

[kyle]

Returned from QLD a few weeks ago to pick up my car at the long term carpark. Noticed at least 5 cars with their windows smashed! :evil::evil::evil:

Luckily mine wasn't one of them.

 

[MelUser]

There are a number of options to get around this:

- Qantas valet parking;
- Business parking;
- Long term undercover parking;
- Taking a cab.

 

[serfty]

There are a number of options to get around this:

- Qantas valet parking;
- Business parking;
- Long term undercover parking;
- Taking a cab.

The first three options are rather expensive; the last one? :shock: (I loathe catching taxi's at MEL - it costs just as much for me to get onto the SkyBus and go to the city as it does to take a taxi to Mickleham rd!)

 

[NM]

The first three options are rather expensive; the last one? :shock: (I loathe catching taxi's at MEL - it costs just as much for me to get onto the SkyBus and go to the city as it does to take a taxi to Mickleham rd!)

So you would add two more options:
- Skybus
- Rent a car

 

[Dave Noble]

Renting a car can be v good way to go imo. 1 day's rental plus petrol can be a v good option

Dave

 

[FL360]

Renting a car is a very good option, especially if you have corporate discounts, most of the time car hire company provide one way rentals. i.e.
SYD=>SYD CBD, MEL=>MEL CBD etc...

I have found if you have >3 people hiring a car from SYD intl, is better than the cab, the airportlink or families/friends pick up !

However, given the urban growth of Melbourne, especially suburbs at the +30km fringe of the CBD, for them LTCP is probably the cheapest option......

 

[dajop]

for them LTCP is probably the cheapest option......

That is at the heart of the issue, it is so popular is it is much cheaper than many other options. $47/day (or whatever it is in the STCP) is just not on the radar for most people. Multi-level long term perhaps. Or the offsite providers are quite competitive with the LTCP pricing.

Maybe one day a driverless train/monorail? Cough splutter. Choking on weetbix.....

 

[Mwenenzi]

I park at :: Jetport Parking - Home :: (red self park) for longer than 1 day Undercover, secure and quick pick up.

In the LTC often there are parking spots closest to the airport on the fence line. Most people turn left and head way down back. Parking close to terminal the also means can walk to the terminal instead on waiting for the bus.

Easter is one the busyest time for air port parking

 

[Groundfeeder]

Maybe one day a driverless train/monorail? Cough splutter. Choking on weetbix.....

Well you know Brisbane has the Airtrain, but it doesn't like to run after dark!!

 

[Dave Noble]

Perhaps some off airport competition would help

Perhaps bring prices more like places where one might expect to be expensive such as LHR can get off airport parking for GBP6 a day

Dave