MEL - Free parking for pick-ups

[oz_mark]

About time

MELBOURNE Airport is introducing limited free parking near the terminal for people picking up passengers from today.


The airport has set aside 64 bays in the long-term car park, near the exit booth, to allow drivers to wait up to 20 minutes, free of charge, under a scheme it is calling ''Ring and Ride''.

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/free-parking-for-pickups-20111220-1p476.html

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[serfty]

"Ring and Ride"

Article in the HS as well: Pick-up zone takes off at airport | Herald Sun

Free for up to 20 minutes, $2 for 20-40 minutes, $4 for 40 to 60 minutes & $10+ for longer

Ring & Ride waiting zone - Melbourne Airport

Frequently Asked Questionshttp://www.melbourneairport.com.au/...AL-2439669d-25b1-447e-b325-179ce1bb4129-0.pdf

 

[SeatBackForward]

They did this in Sydney domestic too, limited free parking time spaces. Then they put up barriers and made the footpaths to the terminals in such a way that you couldn't safely park the car, walk to and/or from terminal, back to car and exit in that time period...

Call me cynical.

 

[oz_mark]

They did this in Sydney domestic too, limited free parking time spaces. Then they put up barriers and made the footpaths to the terminals in such a way that you couldn't safely park the car, walk to and/or from terminal, back to car and exit in that time period...

Call me cynical.

In Melbourne, the idea is not to walk to the terminal. It is to wait in the designated area until you get a call from the person you are picking up, then proceed to the pick up bays.

 

[serfty]

They did this in Sydney domestic too, limited free parking time spaces. Then they put up barriers and made the footpaths to the terminals in such a way that you couldn't safely park the car, walk to and/or from terminal, back to car and exit in that time period...

Call me cynical.

Melbourne has had 1 minute parking bays for a couple of year. There are about 2 of them - holding about 4 chars each they are at the very East and South ends of the covered inner walkway - about 150 metres from the centre of the terminal. IME they are generally occupied.

 

[djfuzz]

Melbourne has had 1 minute parking bays for a couple of year. There are about 2 of them - holding about 4 chars each they are at the very East and South ends of the covered inner walkway - about 150 metres from the centre of the terminal. IME they are generally occupied.

... and no effort is made to enforce the 1 minute limit. On the other hand, when they feel like it, booking people for immediate pickups in any other area is perfectly acceptable, so colour me cynical there too.

But this is a good move, I think - can't quite tell how you're supposed to get to the pickup zones within the allotted time frame given how packed the parking buses can be from time to time. Will have to see how it works out.

 

[nlagalle]

... and no effort is made to enforce the 1 minute limit. On the other hand, when they feel like it, booking people for immediate pickups in any other area is perfectly acceptable, so colour me cynical there too.

But this is a good move, I think - can't quite tell how you're supposed to get to the pickup zones within the allotted time frame given how packed the parking buses can be from time to time. Will have to see how it works out.

Hopefully with this and the fence barriers on the freeway we don't see the idiots parked on the side f the road waiting to cause an accident!

 

[blackcat20]

Melbourne has had 1 minute parking bays for a couple of year. There are about 2 of them - holding about 4 chars each they are at the very East and South ends of the covered inner walkway - about 150 metres from the centre of the terminal. IME they are generally occupied.

I've usually just parked in the Maccas carpark until Ive got the phonecall. It has a 20-30 min limit (from memory), and I wasnt the only one doing it. They do have someone patrolling the carpark who reminded me of the limit, but no issues otherwise.

 

[docjames]

I've usually just parked in the Maccas carpark until Ive got the phonecall. It has a 20-30 min limit (from memory), and I wasnt the only one doing it. They do have someone patrolling the carpark who reminded me of the limit, but no issues otherwise.

You and half the people waiting for arrivals. It's a PITA when you're trying to refill the rental car, just getting in and out of the servo is a nightmare .....

 

[oz_mark]

I've usually just parked in the Maccas carpark until Ive got the phonecall. It has a 20-30 min limit (from memory), and I wasnt the only one doing it. They do have someone patrolling the carpark who reminded me of the limit, but no issues otherwise.

Been there, done that, even bought a coffee from Maccas. Sometimes the carpark is full though!

 

[blackcat20]

Been there, done that, even bought a coffee from Maccas. Sometimes the carpark is full though!

True; its a small carpark...I assume to limit us ring and pick-up people. So it sounds like this new initiative will be good, assuming its done properly.

 

[serfty]

A son in law used to play the pokies at the Gladstone Park hotel while awaiting my call ...

 

[harvyk]

A son in law used to play the pokies at the Gladstone Park hotel while awaiting my call ...

Depending on his luck on the day it might be cheaper to just go to the airport and pay for parking...

As for the time allotted, 20 minutes makes sense. The one here in CBR is only 10 minutes. It can take that long to get your car into the car park, and leave again (given the "free" area is the furthest area away from both the entry and exit)

 

[VHOEJ]

Good move from MEL but to be honest, they will make money. SYD already has it for INTL terminal (finally........) and they obviously get people who overstay the 20 minutes. You just need to time the arrival - but McDonalds still must move the traffic because so many people don't just wait in the car park, they always go in to buy something.

At least Melbourne airport have that lane next to the taxis/buses etc where you can actually pick up people. SYD doesn't even allow you to do that.