Will Rogers World Airport

[WitWhy]

The lights for parking in the garage are nice but not knowing the garage only has roof top parking until you're pulling into the garage is annoying. Wichita has an electronic sign showing the number of spots available in each parking lot before you get to said parking lots. Anything like that in the works for OKC?

[catch22]

The lights for parking in the garage are nice but not knowing the garage only has roof top parking until you're pulling into the garage is annoying. Wichita has an electronic sign showing the number of spots available in each parking lot before you get to said parking lots. Anything like that in the works for OKC?

They should install a metal roof on the top floor of the parking garage. Problem solved.

[brianinok]

They should install a metal roof on the top floor of the parking garage. Problem solved.

Like.

Anyone have any idea what the garage situation will look like on Tuesday morning about 8:00 to 9:00? It's the day after Memorial Day.

[LakeEffect]

They should install a metal roof on the top floor of the parking garage. Problem solved.

How about Solar while we're at it?

I had this same earlier-warning thought Monday morning when I pulled in and had to take a roof spot. Josh, I should I have mentioned this to you when I ran into you!

[LakeEffect]

Like.

Anyone have any idea what the garage situation will look like on Tuesday morning about 8:00 to 9:00? It's the day after Memorial Day.

I pulled in at 7:40 am on Monday and took one of the last few roof spots... so you'll be likely getting one of a few spots if any are available.

[Jeepnokc]

I pulled in at 7:40 am on Monday and took one of the last few roof spots... so you'll be likely getting one of a few spots if any are available.

I usually have really good luck when you are heading down towards exit. People don't go that far alot of times

[s00nr1]

Definitely agree with some sort of notice needing to be placed ahead of the garage if there is only rooftop parking available. The only real reason I pay more to park in the garage is for the full coverage of my vehicle this time of year -- rooftop really defeats that purpose.

[gopokes88]

Garage is going to be full all day everyday till Labor Day. The garage and security line the past few 530am flights I've been on has been insane. Business traffic + summer vacation.

[Josh Ryan]

How about Solar while we're at it?

I had this same earlier-warning thought Monday morning when I pulled in and had to take a roof spot. Josh, I should I have mentioned this to you when I ran into you!

Very interesting.

[Josh Ryan]

The lights for parking in the garage are nice but not knowing the garage only has roof top parking until you're pulling into the garage is annoying. Wichita has an electronic sign showing the number of spots available in each parking lot before you get to said parking lots. Anything like that in the works for OKC?

That is a functionality we have included in our new parking access control system and it is included in our signage package, as well. I don't have a timeline on construction of the signage package though.

[Josh Ryan]

Definitely agree with some sort of notice needing to be placed ahead of the garage if there is only rooftop parking available. The only real reason I pay more to park in the garage is for the full coverage of my vehicle this time of year -- rooftop really defeats that purpose.

ABM does put out roadway signage when this happens, but it can be easy to miss. The plan now is that the new roadway signage package will have digital messaging capability to inform garage parkers about availability.

[Josh Ryan]

Like.

Anyone have any idea what the garage situation will look like on Tuesday morning about 8:00 to 9:00? It's the day after Memorial Day.

Garage parking is going to be hit and miss throughout the summer. We also have some construction coming up that will impact the number spaces available. Sorry, can't give you a definitive answer.

[Josh Ryan]

Garage is going to be full all day everyday till Labor Day. The garage and security line the past few 530am flights I've been on has been insane. Business traffic + summer vacation.

We have seen a huge rush to start summer travel. This is my fourth summer here and I don't remember it being so well defined when the past three summers started.

[s00nr1]

ABM does put out roadway signage when this happens, but it can be easy to miss. The plan now is that the new roadway signage package will have digital messaging capability to inform garage parkers about availability.

Thanks Josh! Makes it easier than having to go back around to park in the general lot.

[brianinok]

We have seen a huge rush to start summer travel. This is my fourth summer here and I don't remember it being so well defined when the past three summers started.

Good problem to have. Time to add another garage or raise the price. Simple supply and demand.

Or maybe even peak and off-peak pricing. Summer and holidays more expensive-- a couple dollars more per day. Something like that.

[BoulderSooner]

Good problem to have. Time to add another garage or raise the price. Simple supply and demand.

Or maybe even peak and off-peak pricing. Summer and holidays more expensive-- a couple dollars more per day. Something like that.

they should absolutely app on another garage section of the same size ..

[gopokes88]

Like.

Anyone have any idea what the garage situation will look like on Tuesday morning about 8:00 to 9:00? It's the day after Memorial Day.

It will empty out Monday and Monday night while vacationers come back but Tuesday morning business traffic could fill it up.

[catch22]

they should absolutely app on another garage section of the same size ..

They should tear down the short term garage, and build a 10 story garage in its place. If they keep adding 5 story garages they’ll go all the way to 54th lol.

[cjohnson.405]

Would the parking situation be helped if WRWA offered Valet parking at a higher price and move those cars offsite? Maybe allow the offsite parking companies to manage the valet parking and WRWA charge the companies a fixed or by car rate? Every sizable airport I travel to offers valet parking and I would definitely pay more for this option.

[stile99]

Would the parking situation be helped if WRWA offered Valet parking at a higher price and move those cars offsite? Maybe allow the offsite parking companies to manage the valet parking and WRWA charge the companies a fixed or by car rate? Every sizable airport I travel to offers valet parking and I would definitely pay more for this option.

How much more?

[shawnw]

Would the parking situation be helped if WRWA offered Valet parking at a higher price and move those cars offsite? Maybe allow the offsite parking companies to manage the valet parking and WRWA charge the companies a fixed or by car rate? Every sizable airport I travel to offers valet parking and I would definitely pay more for this option.

Did you see the very at length valet discussion quite a bit above? If not that's cool, just asking. Only noting that this issue has kind of been beat to death and the answer from the airport rep (Josh) seems to be an unwavering "we'll continue to monitor this but we'll not be doing valet service any time soon in OKC"... something to that effect anyway... no matter how many times we say how great it would be or that so many other places are doing it or how much money they could make or how much we'd be willing to pay for this service. Not meaning to seem like I'm getting on your case for asking, please don't misunderstand.

[stile99]

no matter how many times we say how great it would be or that so many other places are doing it or how much money they could make or how much we'd be willing to pay for this service.

That's why I asked, how much? I guarantee you if the airport gets an answer that makes financial sense, they'll do it. If they keep getting people saying they'd pay, but not how much, then they won't. I'm all for moving the cars off-site. But the fact is you can't charge a premium for it because people will just say forget it, I'll just park off-site and take the shuttle. And how much planning do you want to be done? Do you want the valet service to send someone off-site when you show up and come back with your car sometime in the next half hour or so, or should they maintain a list of everyone's returning flight, and have the car waiting when your plane lands (taking up space, of course, and assuming the plane is on time, of course). These are things the airport needs to consider, and HAS considered. A small handful of people saying they would do it won't cover the nut.

[cjohnson.405]

Did you see the very at length valet discussion quite a bit above? If not that's cool, just asking. Only noting that this issue has kind of been beat to death and the answer from the airport rep (Josh) seems to be an unwavering "we'll continue to monitor this but we'll not be doing valet service any time soon in OKC"... something to that effect anyway... no matter how many times we say how great it would be or that so many other places are doing it or how much money they could make or how much we'd be willing to pay for this service. Not meaning to seem like I'm getting on your case for asking, please don't misunderstand.

I did not see the discussion above. Thank you for the note. I will go take a look.

[cjohnson.405]

That's why I asked, how much? I guarantee you if the airport gets an answer that makes financial sense, they'll do it. If they keep getting people saying they'd pay, but not how much, then they won't. I'm all for moving the cars off-site. But the fact is you can't charge a premium for it because people will just say forget it, I'll just park off-site and take the shuttle. And how much planning do you want to be done? Do you want the valet service to send someone off-site when you show up and come back with your car sometime in the next half hour or so, or should they maintain a list of everyone's returning flight, and have the car waiting when your plane lands (taking up space, of course, and assuming the plane is on time, of course). These are things the airport needs to consider, and HAS considered. A small handful of people saying they would do it won't cover the nut.

Ok, I went through the discussion and understand what has already been discussed.

___________________________________________

The simple answer is this:
1) There is enough demand with frequent business travelers for AA, United, and Delta to justify offering a service.
2) Outsource the whole thing when you start it up to test out the service, move the cars offsite, and charge your outsourcing partner a fee. WRWA is out no money and no resources (well, management, but you get it).
___________________________________________

1) There is enough demand:
- I am frequent business traveler and travel nationally. Parking is a tiny cost of my travel and hardly shows up on my expense report. The cost of parking at WRWA compared to my peers who live in other cities is very low, even half of some cities. I would easily pay $20-25/day for valet service and it wouldn't even be noticed as valet by the people who approve my expense reports. There are enough frequent business travelers filling up first class and the first 6 rows of planes that the demand is there. Keep in mind this is much higher margin business. So, 1 valet parker may count as 3 or 4 regular parkers.

2) Outsource for a few years as a trial run. If it's easy to do, what does it matter if it's far down the list? WRWA would be providing a service to it's most frequent users. Go to USAPARK and make the offer to them. They run valet parking 100% and move the cars offsite and pay WRWA a fee. USAPARK already does this many other other airports, hotels, and office buildings. They already have the business processes, technology, and assets - http://www.usaparking.net. This would be almost no investment for USAPARK and allow them to increase high margin business. You already have existing outsourcing models. Just use the same contracts and mark them up to account for parking contingencies.

Give USAPARK a few years, and if the demand shows, take back the service for yourself and make money at it. If not, let them continue. Because they are offsite and have such low overhead, it may make more financial sense for them to do it than WRWA.

Your revenue model is a risk/reward evaluation of how many cars get moved offsite versus fees paid to WRWA by USAPARK (or a % of their margin). If you charge lower fees, they can charge a lower daily rate and more cars get moved offsite. If you charge higher fees, they have to charge a higher daily rate, and fewer cars get moved offsite. Heck, USAPARK can make more margin and add convenience by offering add-ons for car washing, detailing, oil changes, fill up the tank, etc.

This is a no brainer for WRWA and for USAPARK. It contributes to solving parking issues for WRWA, gives WRWA another revenue stream, and provides a service to the most frequent users of WRWA.

Josh, if USAPARK doesn't want to do this for some reason, let me know and I'll start the service and hire people to park the cars at USAPARK. I'm actually serious about this. Just give me a slot where people can drop off near the door and I'll have a nice stand, well dressed and trained employees, and the technology to monitor everything. I'll pay you a percent of my daily margin.

[shawnw]

Love that response. Thanks for the details. Hope Josh chimes in soon.