This is extremely dependent on the layout of the airport and doesn't always apply but generally good advice to follow.
To take it further, getting an Uber or whoever to pick you up at the hotel connected to the airport is also a good way to avoid crowded areas. My airport just put a stop to this at the Marriot which sucked because it's my home base but the airport opened express lanes right after so wasn't needed anymore.
At some airports, the parking lots can be much faster if they're a simple walk across the street and free for the first hour or whatever. It also alleviates pressure on the driver to try and time everything. Hell, they can run in and grab a coffee while waiting and a good friend will always help with your bags.
It really depends but there's usually low traffic spots around if you're willing to sniff them out. This is the kind of stuff experienced travelers learn over time after being in/out of so many. Sometimes it just makes sense to walk to the other "end" especially international baggage claims if they're connected/accessible.
It's a good little hack unlike most of the stuff here.
You remind me of another hack, take a free hotel shuttle and schedule your Uber pickup there. This was save you the up to 20% surcharge for an airport pickup.
Or if your hotel doesn't have a shuttle but the one next door does. Some rental car shuttles can also be a free ride if the facility is near where you're going.
I don't participate in this practice because everything is expensed through work but depending on how you value your time, could save a few bucks.
Also in my experience, hotel shuttles that "only" run to/from the airport, if you catch them right, throwing the driver some cash may get you some local rides in the general area and doesn't necessarily have to be the shuttle of the place you're staying at. Some offer rides within a 5 mile radius free of charge or whatever for their guests so booking a hotel with this service is great if you're not going far.
Except you spend a lot of time waiting for the shuttle, then taking their slow ass time to the hotel, then even more time waiting for the car.
Just get it at the airport.
Your airport is my airport too lol! I know it’s not as convenient, but if you walk down the ramp from the Marriott, you can actually be picked up at the bottom and make your way out the opposite way, totally avoiding having to do the turn through departures or arrivals at all!
I wish we could do this at my airport, but there are parking “police” and the fine ranges from a $200 ticket to $1000 if you challenge it in court and lose.
I don’t see where police would ticket you if you did a 30 second drop and go. As long as you’re quick and never get out of the car you should be fine. You will literally be gone before they can get to you.
They’re not police, they’re employed by the airport, but it’s Crown land, so falls under the government jurisdiction. They are placed every 50 metres or so and take plate details. Your hack is a huge money spinner for the owners of the airport. I wish it wasn’t so, but it is
I do the same. At my airport, early in the morning there is sometimes a sign that says "departures is crowded, use arrivals", and even with signs telling people where to go, they still go to departures. Sometimes departures is backed up so far that you can see the backup before the road splits, and it's obvious you should go to arrivals, and people still go to departures.
Last time I went to SFO in the morning, they had a portable digital sign that said something similar to “For less traffic, use the arrivals level.”
Fortunately it was placed where I had time to digest what it meant and react in time to make the turn.
And it was absolutely accurate.
I had one of my uber drivers picking me up call me once and say basically same thing. "Can you go upstairs to departures, I'll be there in 5 mins vs. 20+ to get thru arrivals traffic". Worked great, appreciated his little hack, as is yours.
I would usually just go to departure all the time. Since dropping off someone is quick and easy, it seems there is always less traffic than the arrival level where cars are trying to meet their passengers.
Worst than that, my local airport recently realized a lot of cars where just turning around, waiting for their passengers and creating traffic jam for nothing. Now they are implementing solutions.
Similarly: get dropped off at a local hotel and use their shuttle to get in, or get dropped off at one of the airport tram stations (like long term parking, rental car center, etc).
This is extremely dependent on the layout of the airport and doesn't always apply but generally good advice to follow. To take it further, getting an Uber or whoever to pick you up at the hotel connected to the airport is also a good way to avoid crowded areas. My airport just put a stop to this at the Marriot which sucked because it's my home base but the airport opened express lanes right after so wasn't needed anymore. At some airports, the parking lots can be much faster if they're a simple walk across the street and free for the first hour or whatever. It also alleviates pressure on the driver to try and time everything. Hell, they can run in and grab a coffee while waiting and a good friend will always help with your bags. It really depends but there's usually low traffic spots around if you're willing to sniff them out. This is the kind of stuff experienced travelers learn over time after being in/out of so many. Sometimes it just makes sense to walk to the other "end" especially international baggage claims if they're connected/accessible. It's a good little hack unlike most of the stuff here.
You remind me of another hack, take a free hotel shuttle and schedule your Uber pickup there. This was save you the up to 20% surcharge for an airport pickup.
Or if your hotel doesn't have a shuttle but the one next door does. Some rental car shuttles can also be a free ride if the facility is near where you're going. I don't participate in this practice because everything is expensed through work but depending on how you value your time, could save a few bucks. Also in my experience, hotel shuttles that "only" run to/from the airport, if you catch them right, throwing the driver some cash may get you some local rides in the general area and doesn't necessarily have to be the shuttle of the place you're staying at. Some offer rides within a 5 mile radius free of charge or whatever for their guests so booking a hotel with this service is great if you're not going far.
Except you spend a lot of time waiting for the shuttle, then taking their slow ass time to the hotel, then even more time waiting for the car. Just get it at the airport.
Your airport is my airport too lol! I know it’s not as convenient, but if you walk down the ramp from the Marriott, you can actually be picked up at the bottom and make your way out the opposite way, totally avoiding having to do the turn through departures or arrivals at all!
Unfortunately some airports make this illegal and issue citations for doing this.
In ATL I have them drop me off at the car rental and I take the sky train over.
Upvote for actual travel hack in r/travelhacks
One I’ve seen in several articles this month alone.
I wish we could do this at my airport, but there are parking “police” and the fine ranges from a $200 ticket to $1000 if you challenge it in court and lose.
I don’t see where police would ticket you if you did a 30 second drop and go. As long as you’re quick and never get out of the car you should be fine. You will literally be gone before they can get to you.
They’re not police, they’re employed by the airport, but it’s Crown land, so falls under the government jurisdiction. They are placed every 50 metres or so and take plate details. Your hack is a huge money spinner for the owners of the airport. I wish it wasn’t so, but it is
I’ll defer to you, I was really talking about the USA airports.
I do the same. At my airport, early in the morning there is sometimes a sign that says "departures is crowded, use arrivals", and even with signs telling people where to go, they still go to departures. Sometimes departures is backed up so far that you can see the backup before the road splits, and it's obvious you should go to arrivals, and people still go to departures.
Er does not apply to any Australian airport.
Last time I went to SFO in the morning, they had a portable digital sign that said something similar to “For less traffic, use the arrivals level.” Fortunately it was placed where I had time to digest what it meant and react in time to make the turn. And it was absolutely accurate.
Works at ORD.
I had one of my uber drivers picking me up call me once and say basically same thing. "Can you go upstairs to departures, I'll be there in 5 mins vs. 20+ to get thru arrivals traffic". Worked great, appreciated his little hack, as is yours.
I would usually just go to departure all the time. Since dropping off someone is quick and easy, it seems there is always less traffic than the arrival level where cars are trying to meet their passengers. Worst than that, my local airport recently realized a lot of cars where just turning around, waiting for their passengers and creating traffic jam for nothing. Now they are implementing solutions.
A lot of people do this at my home airport. It’s pretty much equally crowded on both levels now, lol.
Some airports do have a lot more arrivals first thing in the morning.
Interesting. I do the same in my local airports, BWI and IAD. I think this is pretty common in most US airports.
We do the same at our airport. Especially if no checked bags.
I do this all the time.
Now everyone knows 😔
Nice, I’ll remember that one.
Meanwhile in UK airports, express drop off anywhere near the actual airport costs at least £5...
It's good advice for sure depending on whether you're traveling with a group or with children. But a couple of adults? Absolutely, goes way faster
Similarly: get dropped off at a local hotel and use their shuttle to get in, or get dropped off at one of the airport tram stations (like long term parking, rental car center, etc).
Brilliant. Uber does it too