Seven airports hiking parking fees with drivers forced to pay up to $168 per day

DRIVERS should prepare to shell out a pretty penny to park at the airport, as major spots across the US are ramping up daily fees.

Seven airports have jacked up their parking rates so far this year, and one location is charging as much as $168 a day.

3

Denver, Colorado, is among the growing list of cities rolling out higher fees, with changes taking effect on Wednesday, May 14.

Now, garages cost $35 a day, which is a $5 increase, and a premium reserve spot is $45 a day, which is also a $5 increase.

Economy lots were jacked up $2 a day to $20 and the Pikes Peak Lot also saw a $2 increase with a new $10 daily rate.

Anyone who is reserving short term parking at Denver International Airport will have to spend $168 a day.

Airport officials said the move follows a 44.5% spike in shuttle and parking management costs over the last three years.

They say the new rates are on par with what other large airports charge, and the extra revenue will help bring in new flights.

DEN expects to generate more than $3 million a month from the hike.

Part of the cash will also go toward airline competitiveness and improving the airport’s parking facilities.

The Premium Reserve lot is the only one seeing a rate decrease.

DEN hasn’t raised parking fees since 2022.

ATLANTA AIRPORT

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, parking rates jumped nearly 200% at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on May 1.

South and North hourly decks now charge $10 an hour and up to $75 a day – up from $3 and $36.

The International Hourly Deck shoots up to $100 a day after the first 24 hours.

Rates for daily decks, economy lots, and park-ride lots also jumped, with ATL Select covered lots now priced at $20 daily.

“Since August of 2017 to now, the consumer price index was over 34%,” assistant airport manager Tyronia Smith told CBS local affiliate WANF.

“It’s really catching the rates up with where it should be based on economic conditions.”

BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

In Birmingham, 400 airline crew members will lose their $1-a-day deal at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport by year’s end.

They’ll now pay $10 daily to park in the economy lot – a 900% increase.

“Ending the program is a necessity as we look to restructure parking rates that have not been increased in 16 years,” airport CEO Ronald Mathieu told Alabama Real-Times News.

Hourly parking at BHM will increase from $24 to $26, daily from $12 to $17, and incremental hourly rates will double from $1 to $2 starting July 1.

AUSTIN AIRPORT

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport raised rates on May 1 as part of its “Journey with AUS” expansion project.

Garage prices rose by $3 across the board, with the red garage now $35 daily and $7 hourly.

“We’re building our new yellow garage, so all of these changes are just to meet the demands of that project,” airport spokesperson Samantha Rojas told Fox local affiliate KTBC.

The economy lot at AUS remains $12 a day.

PALM BEACH AIRPORT

Palm Beach International Airport raised parking prices for the first time since 2009 on February 1.

Long-term now costs $14 daily, short-term $21, and premium $34.

A valet service starting in spring is set at $39 per day, higher than Fort Lauderdale’s $30 valet.

RICHMOND AIRPORT

Richmond International Airport will also hike prices starting July 1.

Hourly parking jumps from $24 to $40 a day, and daily rates climb from $12 to $15.

Economy parking will rise from $7 to $10 per day.

Valet service will now be $30, up from $25.

RENO-TAHOE AIRPORT

Reno-Tahoe International Airport raised its long-term garage rate from $16 to $22 per day on April 7.

Surface lot fees increased to $18 daily, while hourly parking now adds $3 per extra hour.

The price hikes come as part of Reno’s billion-dollar MoreRNO expansion, funded in part by $238.2 million in bonds.

3