Valet Parking at T3

As part of 'The mdviponds go to Cape Town - Part 2' we're thinking of cutting out the malarky of re-arranging our flights from MAN to LHR and driving down to LHR instead.

Never bothered before, so potentially a new experience for us. Valet parking at T3 looks tempting - 160 quid for 2 weeks. Is it worthwhile, or are there more cost effective options that don't involve an infrequent shuttle bus with sticky seats?

[Nottingham Nick]

If you are talking about the Purple Parking Meet'n'Greet service, I think it is great. It is certainly better then the mini bus trip from Southall.

Nick

I'm doing a variation for my New Year's Eve DXB trip. Driving to the Purple Parking car park on the way there, and then the minibus to the airport. For me, less stressful as I can turn up anytime rather than make an ETA and don't have to negotiate the terminals.

Coming back, the car will be brought to the airport.

Booked through the VS link as it was so much cheaper than holiday extras, etc, even though I'm not chasing miles anymore.

The cost - £67 for 12 days.

I would have thought if you've ditched the unruly hanglider and have no parents in tow the minibus transfer might not be as bad as you might think.

Regards
R3dV

We do what RedVee has just described everytime, and it's a great service. Suits us better to rock up to the car park at a fairly leisurely pace, 10 minutes on the bus, which usually parks near zone A, then the car is there for us when we're tired after the long flight home.

I used the valet service from Purple Parking a couple of weeks ago and thought it excellent. We've done the drop off at their base previously but I find it much easier having the car collected from the terminal rather than waiting to get on a mini bus and faffing with cases in and out.Return of the car was simplicity too - prompt delivery of the car to the short term car park.
DL

[Neil]

Can I offer an alternative? It is Quality Airport Parking (formally known as Q Park), they are located on the Bath Road, and you take your car there, you the get the free bus which takes literally 2minutes and then on arrival they bring the car to the airport for you.

I know it isnt fully valet, but the drop off procedure is so easy and close by and they are always a lot cheaper than full valet parking, plus they are quick at returning the car because they are located so close.

Me again

Looks like your dates with an each way valet pick up/drop off would be £88.88 with Purple Parking using the VS link (thats the red/silver one - don;t know if there's a better discount for Gold).

Regards
R3dV

To get to LHR and back, we usually rent a car for 24 hours with a oneway drop to get to the airport and then another booking to come back. I find that Europcar is usually cheapest and get an intermediate size car for about £50-60. Saves any worry about whether the car is OK at the airport, etc. Have done this several times over the last few years to LHR and never had any problems - even arriving early in the morning, there is usually a bus waiting at the rental car depot and they will take you straight away to whichever terminal you want to go to.

Even when we once had a 24hr delay in NYC, just one phone call and they rearranged the prepaid booking (at no additional cost) so that when we eventually arrived back, we could get straight to a car and on the way home.

I haven't checked costs but is it worth considering staying overnight at an airport hotel that includes car parking?

Good luck with part 2, we're all waiting with baited breath for the TRs.

Happy christmas

R-P

Thanks chaps. Interesting. I'd been looking here, to be honest, and hadn't previously been aware of Purple Parking, who are half the price of the BAA lot.

Don't want to be involved with 5-year-old/bags/cases/wife in tow (although not necessarily in that order) on a shuttle or minibus, so return 'valet' seems the way. How strict are Purple with arrival times - especially outbound - I wonder?

Thanks chaps. Interesting. How strict are Purple with arrival times - especially outbound - I wonder?

In my experience they aren't that bothered. On booking, for departure they will ask for an estimated time but are more concerned about receiving a 20 minute warning of your arrival. For return they will keep an eye on the flight number.

How strict are Purple with arrival times - especially outbound - I wonder?

If you're going to be wildly different then you'll need to let them know (you get a 15 mins/20 mins window due to the strict enforcement at LHR). I flew back early - dropped them an email before I left LAX (received an acknowledgement recepit)and no probs on arrival at LHR.
DL

I'm another Purple Parking fan and as others have said they just ask that you keep them informed if if you are going to arrive later than planned. It does seem to work very well.

[Nottingham Nick]

We have changed our arrival time a couple of times without a problem. On both occasions it was because we arrived a fair bit earlier than planned, due to light traffic. We just rang them when we were about 30 minutes away, and brought our ETA forward. They had someone waiting when we got to T3.

Nick

Other than having to endure a 3 and half hour drive down from God's Own County, this looks like rather a good plan.

RedVee (or anyone, really) - I take it there's a there a link on the VS site somewhere to get a better deal?

[Neil]

Yes, it is in the Flying club section, under membership benefits.

Another +1 for purple parking.

A couple of times I've turned up early and rung ahead and it wasn't a problem.

Another Purple Parking fan, plus you get 500 miles when you book valet parking through the FC page.