CAR PARKING Printing the airline ticket can be done at home, from a hotel, remote
kiosks throughout the terminal building or in the elevator lobby of a parking facility. The infrastructure requirements for a ticket kiosk is power and Cat IV cable; which is not a signifi cant investment if you consider the added customer benefi t and reduction in congestion to the ticketing hall of the passenger terminal building. Technology currently makes it possible to purchase an airline ticket on
your cell phone and proceed to the gate without a printed ticket, but many are still concerned about the reliability of cell phone service throughout the terminal building and don’t take advantage of the service. If you like, you could put this down to fears about the ‘can you hear me now’ syndrome. Another consideration during the planning phase is the ability to
incorporate Remote Baggage Check-In drop locations with baggage take-away belts at alternative locations to the kerbside baggage drop-off counters. Some of the alternative locations for consideration should include hotels, convention centres, cruiseline ports and parking facilities. Destination airports such as the Las Vegas McCarran have incorporated
Express Check-in with kiosk support to enable remote baggage-drop service at four hotels on the Las Vegas strip, the Las Vegas Convention Center and at major rental car facilities. Orlando National Airport (MCO) estimates that 20% of its passenger
check-ins now occur remotely, which allows passengers to spend less time at the airport and more time visiting their destination. Although the technology is available for printing RFID tags at remote
locations, the logistics and liabilities require co-operation and close co-ordination between the airport, the tenant, the airlines and the TSA. In pursuing more of these opportunities, Republic Parking System is
currently in the planning stages of an airport landside parking and rental car development that will provide checked-baggage ticketing functions and a checked-baggage drop-off area before entering the terminal building to allow passengers to proceed directly to the passenger screening checkpoint. Chris Howley, executive vice president at Republic Parking System,
airport operations for the Standard Parking Corporation notes that such systems have become more affordable and much easier to deploy. “These systems contribute to gas/energy savings and improve customer
service by reducing time spent searching for available parking,” Reiser comments. “Newer guidance systems are using high resolution digital cameras to monitor every parking space and allow customers to search for their car on customer-friendly kiosks by license plate, make, model and/or colour of car.” The Space Locator Systems also provide security monitoring and eliminate
the need to manually perform a license plate inventory as the information is stored and constantly updated electronically. Another trend is the introduction of Reserved/VIP Parking areas in airport
garages. Reservations to secure a space in the VIP Parking area can be processed online and these revenues are collected in advance. This product offers customers a guaranteed prime parking space at a premium rate, in a dedicated parking area. This product offers a high-level service option for frequent customers, while improving revenues with minimal overhead. Remote Airline Ticketing to print an airline ticket from alternative locations
to the passenger terminal building has recently become much more common, even to the infrequent traveller. Remote ticketing allows passengers with carry-on bags to avoid the ticket hall in the passenger terminal and to proceed directly to any of the passenger screening checkpoints.
says that they are working with a clean slate to incorporate several different facets of the terminal check-in and return functions merged in a parking structure environment to simplify the travel process throughout the fl ow of the facility. “This is a step beyond what is occurring today, but given advanced
technology, we feel it will meet the needs of future technology and growth of these facilities. Incorporating rental car, offi ce space and other services within the parking structure will create future terminal facilities that have a linear, expedited fl ow from arrival through the boarding process,” enthuses Howley. Every airport has unique features, goals and budgets for development.
During the planning stages, recognise the demographic trend of the country’s population with aging ‘Baby Boomers’ who are becoming more comfortable with technology, ‘GenXers’ who are always searching for more integration of technology and ‘Millennials’ who were born into technology. The proper evaluation and integration of technology between parking
facilities and the passenger terminal will reduce congestion in the terminal and improve the airport passenger’s experience. Technology integration allows the airport parking facility and passenger terminal to perform as a more effi cient intermodal facility.
About the author Alan Pramuk is a division vice president and partner of Gresham, Smith and Partners. For more information about this article, please submit questions or comments to
al_pramuk@gspnet.com.
AIRPORT WORLD/AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2010 77
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