rilloaggie said:

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terradactylexpress said:

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Also the QR code is impossible to get a phone on

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Heaven help you if the machine won't scan your QR code at entry and you follow the directions and take the ticket. When it's time to leave you then get waved over to the booth with an employee who has to write out a ticket with all your information and sign it before she then walks around to open the gate for you. Especially fun when it's 5am and the employee who's capable of accomplishing this is nowhere to be found and you get to wait for them to return.

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We've had trouble with the machines reading our ticket and/or QR code several times at EcoPark. It's why my BF doesn't like to do the pre-pay. At entry, usually whoever is on duty will just come let you through the gate. It's annoying, but no big deal.

But we were leaving the airport a few trips ago, and at the exit our QR code from the pre-pay wouldn't scan. Employee came over and had absolutely no idea what to do. We wound up having to pay again (at a higher rate) to get out of the lot, and then I had to follow up with EcoPark customer service. They refused to honor the discount, and just refunded my pre-pay. So we didn't get any of the benefits of paying ahead, and just had more hassle after we got home.

The discount isn't much, but I definitely felt scammed. And I wonder how many people have trouble with the machine and just never call to get their pre-payment refunded.

This thread helped me Saturday.

Wife flew into terminal E.

I parked at A and took the subway tram.

We took the tram back and only had to wait for one tram beyond the first one that showed up and got crowded, had no issues with traffic leaving the garage, but did have to insert my credit card twice in the machine to leave.

That being said, it would *almost* be worth it when picking up someone to go to The Parking Spot, take their shuttle to go get your passenger, and go back and get your car, assuming you didn't park at A or B and take the tram.

No way would I do C,D, or E

TX04Aggie said:

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Yep. I reserve in B every time and I get the how was your parking experience email and I light them up on how terrible and embarrassing the process is every time. Im a regular parker in the garages and it is amazing how many times theyve just come and opened the gate for me because their ancient machines arent working properly.

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I watched and now know where the open gate switch is hidden.

Is it even necessary to scan the QR code when you enter the garage? Don't dick around with trying to scan in. Just punch the ticket button.

Ducks4brkfast said:

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Is it even necessary to scan the QR code when you enter the garage? Don't dick around with trying to scan in. Just punch the ticket button.

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It wouldn't give me a ticket. It just wanted my credit card.

Ducks4brkfast said:

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Is it even necessary to scan the QR code when you enter the garage? Don't dick around with trying to scan in. Just punch the ticket button.

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Tried that. Last time parking in C it wouldn't scan the code on my phone. Running late to a 7AM flight so I punched the ticket button and hauled ass. Ended up having the same issue a poster above had. When it's time to leave it won't scan the QR code because I "never entered". So I had to get a damn gate attendant to write down all my info and press the magic button. Huge PITA. Im leaving for a quick RT to MSY tomorrow. I reserved in C again but this will be the last time if I have parking issues again… and let's hope a gate attendant doesn't get their foot ran over again lol.

TX04Aggie said:

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Yep. I reserve in B every time and I get the how was your parking experience email and I light them up on how terrible and embarrassing the process is every time. Im a regular parker in the garages and it is amazing how many times theyve just come and opened the gate for me because their ancient machines arent working properly.

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I mean… why would they change anything when you keep coming back?

Yeah that checks out. A couple months ago I couldn't get the QR code to work entering but also had to get let out by an attendant when leaving. Didn't put two and two tegether. Also I've never had to write down or give any info when the exit doesn't work. The parking lady aways kinda fake tries to get my qr or credit card to work for about 15 seconds then just lifts the arm up.

A few months ago the kiosk I was at wasn't working so had to push the call button. They made me reverse and try a different kiosk, which of course wasn't working either. It's like they were acting like they've never seen someone have issues before.

Haha good point! It is the better of the worst options for how I travel at the moment from this cluster of an airport.

Not as annoyed as the people in line behind you.

JDUB08AG said:

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The level of anger I experience at the exit kiosks is next level. Every. ****ing. Time.

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This. I swear my BP goes up as we approach one.

In the grand scheme of things, something like this shouldn't make me so angry, but lately it's EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. And I definitely feel like there is no incentive to fix the problem because you are captive and they will get their $ (or you won't get out of the garage/lot)

The pre-pay made thing me mad because taking a customer's money twice and then making the customer do all the work to get a refund is borderline stealing.

Not to mention, of all the times in 14 years I've used the HOU garage, I've never had a single problem.

Sea Speed said:

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TXTransplant said:

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Not as annoyed as the people in line behind you.

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I would not have done well in that backup discussed on the last page.

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Me either. There is a parking garage near my fitness studio that has had chronic problems over the past few years. I've been stuck in that garage more than once, and God Bless the person on the other end of the intercom who is subjected to my wrath every time it malfunctions. I got out of my car once to help another driver who just kept putting their ticket (or card, not sure which one) in the slot over and over and over and wouldn't call the attendant.

It finally got so bad that all summer the arm has been permanently in the up position. Which is how it should be, if they can't get the darn thing working properly.

I loathe to suggest it, but these machines are so terrible that IAH needs to actually go back to having live attendants in the booths. My memory of that process back in the late 90s/early '00s wasn't great.

Those attendants were awful, but honestly better than the current machines. I've never understood why IAH/HOU doesn't do the payment boxes at the elevators then you get ~30 minutes to exit. However, that would have failed miserably last Sunday night if you were trapped in the garage for hours on end.

MyMamaSaid said:

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I loathe to suggest it, but these machines are so terrible that IAH needs to actually go back to having live attendants in the booths. My memory of that process back in the late 90s/early '00s wasn't great.

Those attendants were awful, but honestly better than the current machines. I've never understood why IAH/HOU doesn't do the payment boxes at the elevators then you get ~30 minutes to exit. However, that would have failed miserably last Sunday night if you were trapped in the garage for hours on end.

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No attendants to get run over, no one getting trapped in the garage for hours on end.

the payment machines are garbage. hard to believe how bad they are.


i stopped parking at the airport a few trips ago in May. I uber to airport and have been lucky enough to get ride from wife on way home. if she was not available...taxi for sure.

JobSecurity said:

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It's never just one machine down either. I don't think I've ever seen more than half the lanes open. And multiple times that they were all down other than the attendant line.

Still prefer it over eco Park or anywhere else I have to take a shuttle. I'll take my chances lol

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Parking Spot was good when I used them a couple of weeks ago.

When I traveled weekly for work I used parking spot. But they got pretty bad. I'd do valet so I didn't have to drive around the parking spot lot forever pre and post flight. But still had times where I was waiting 30+ minutes at the terminal for a shuttle. Got so bad I stopped and even traveling personally I just pay at the terminal vs using my parking spot points.

This was 5+ years ago. But would be hard for me to use them again.

We've mostly defaulted to just taking a ticket when we arrive, too. Except my BF wants covered parking only, and during certain busy travel times, it's full.

You can't make a reservation for Ecopark in advance without paying. I think he caved and made one on our last trip, but he left me out of it and took care of it himself (usually, I book and pay for parking when we travel). I'm pretty sure he didn't want to hear me b/tching about how awful they are again.

Shockingly, when we exited the lot at 330 am, we were able to pay and go on our way.

We (knock on wood) have not had any issues with the shuttle. It's strictly the entry/exit kiosks that are a hot mess.

Y'all download the parking "ticket" into your wallet, right? I've never had an issue and park in A/B frequently. While I'm sure there are issues (I've had one or two in the past), I didn't think it was as bad as described.

Why use Parking Spot over A/B garage?

Ecopark covered is less than 1/2 the cost of A/B garage.

A week in Ecopark covered is $56-$62 (depending on if it's 1 or 2). The garage is $153.

Parking Spot is probably comparably priced to Ecopark.

Edit: Ecopark appears to be cheaper than Parking Spot; both are cheaper than the garage.

TXTransplant said:

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Ecopark covered is less than 1/2 the cost of A/B garage.

A week in Ecopark covered is $56-$62 (depending on if it's 1 or 2). The garage is $153.

Parking Spot is probably comparably priced to Ecopark.

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Parking Sport in 8am 8/16 out 5pm 8/18 is $47.65

The same dates in AB garage is $39.50 with $2 convenience fee.

Really?!? What website did you use? I went to the fly2houston site and it gave me the prices I posted above (both for the exact same dates/times).

That's why we never use the garage - because the prices are always much higher (at least on the site we use).

theparkingspot.com

Ducks4brkfast said:

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theparkingspot.com

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Looks like the differential gets much larger the longer you park. For your dates, the garage is only $37 on the fly2houston site. Ecopark is $27.

I did a booking for a full week (Thurs-Thurs). The longer you park the cheaper Ecopark gets relative to the garage.

I'll remember that the next time we are booking a short trip, though.

Yeah, I just did for a week each and it's now $148 vs $109

Ducks4brkfast said:

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Yeah, I just did for a week each and it's now $148 vs $109

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I swear, every time I put in the dates/times, it gives me a different price. It's like they took a lesson from Ticketmaster.

If you fly out anytime between thurs-monday and come back within those days and pre book, the garage is 50% off for weekend travel. I use the heck out of that deal.