Parking at the airport, whether long or short term, can be a hassle. But the process is easier when you have important details at your disposal before you decide on your best option. Cheapflights.ca breaks down options, costs and important details for airports across the country in our guide to parking at Canadian airports.
TORONTO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL
Image: Dan Zen, Terminal Inside via Flickr CC BY 2.0
There are several options for parking at Pearson in terms of cost, convenience and location.
Express Park at Terminal 1 is for those waiting to pick up arriving passengers and good for stays of up to three hours. This lot costs $5 for 30 minutes with a $50 daily maximum.
The Cell Phone Lot is a free option for those waiting to pick up passengers, and it is a five-minute drive to both Terminals 1 and 3.
Daily Park, Value Garage Park, Viscount Station Reserved Lot and Value Park Lot all cost $3 for 20 minutes, but each has its own pros and cons:
Daily Park is very close to the Departure Hall and has a $30 daily maximum.
Value Garage Park is a covered lot closest to the free Terminal Link Train and has a $20 daily maximum.
The Viscount Reserved Lot is an outdoor parking lot close to the Terminal Link Train and has an $18 daily maximum.
Value Park, an outdoor lot, is best for long-term stays with a $15 daily maximum and is also close to the Terminal Link Train.
Offsite Park'N Fly lots offer shuttle service every eight minutes.
CALGARY INTERNATIONAL
Image: abdallahh, Aérport de Calgary YYC via Flickr CC BY 2.0
If you need to park at Calgary International you have various options to choose from depending on what you need.
Short-term parking is meant for quick pick-ups and drop-offs and is located on the ground level of each parking structure. The first 30 minutes are free, with each additional hour being $7.95.
Two long-term lots accommodate those needing to leave their cars for an extended period. These lots have a $10 hourly rate, a daily maximum of $27.95, a weekly maximum of $119.95 with each additional week costing $27.95. The most affordable option is the Economy Lot located north of Airport Road. It's not too far from the terminal building and there are complimentary luggage carts available. This lot has a flat rate of $11.95, a weekly maximum of $54.95 with each additional week costing $11.50. The maximum number of days you can park at the airport is 60.
If you're picking up or dropping off, the Cell Phone Lot is a free option.
Note that Wednesdays, Thursdays, holidays and long weekends are all considered peak periods so it's best to allow extra time to park. You can check parking availability via the Parkade Hot Line at 403- 250-7275 (PARK).
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL
Image: Ed Bierman, Vancouver airport via Flickr CC BY 2.0
Vancouver International has several options when it comes to parking.
The Parkade, if you the use self-serve payment option, costs $4 for 30 minutes, $8 for an hour, $28 for the day and $165 for the week. If you pay the cashier the cost is $4.50 for 30 minutes, $9 for an hour and $30 for the day. The weekly rate is the same no matter how you pay.
The rates for the Economy Lot are the same for 30 and 60 minute stays, but the daily rate is $20 if you use Express Pay and $22 if you pay the cashier, and it's $130 for the week.
The jetSet Lot is located on Sea Island close to the terminals and a courtesy shuttle runs roughly every 10 to 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. This lot costs $4 for 30 minutes, $15 for the day and $96 for the week.
Airport South Parking services small, regional locations and has an hourly rate of $3.50 and a daily rate of $10.50.
There is also a Park'N Fly lot, which offers an oil change service for an added fee too.
Vancouver International also offers a free Cell Phone Lot for pick-ups and drop-offs.
MONTREAL-PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU INTERNATIONAL
Image: abdallahh, aéroport de Montréal P.-E. Trudeau YUL via Flickr CC BY 2.0
Whether you're just dropping off or picking up, staying for the day or parking longer there are lots of options at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International.
Terminal parking includes the Short Term Lot, which is ground level parking and is about a three- to four-minute walk from the terminal. This lot costs $5 for 20 minutes and $35 for 24 hours.
The Multi-Level Lot is a three level parking lot ideal for short trips and is about a six-minute walk from the terminal. The cost per 20 minutes is also $5, but the 24-hour cost for this lot is $21.
ValetParc is the closest to the terminal and costs $35 for 24 hours. Simply leave your keys, your vehicle and your return schedule with the valet before departure.
There are also three Economy Lots:
EconoParc P5 is a six- to eight-minute walk to the terminal or 14 minutes if you want to wait for a shuttle ride. The costs are $5 for 20 minutes, $21 for 24 hours and $79 for seven days.
EconoParc (P6, P7, P9 and P9) is a 16-minute shuttle ride (the shuttle runs 24 hours a day) from the terminal. This one will set you back $17 for 24 hours and $72 for seven days.
AeroParc is also a 16-minute shuttle from the terminal and costs $14 for 24 hours and $69 for seven days.
Tip: if you reserve parking for the Multi-Level Lot, EconoParc P5, or AeroParc online you can save up to 30 per cent on stays longer than seven days.
Three Park'N Fly lots are also a shuttle ride away.
For more details on parking at other major Canadian airports, visit Cheapflights.ca
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