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Airport cell phone lots serve a crucial purpose for airport authorities and travellers. They are designed to provide a convenient and safe place for drivers to park their cars while waiting for arriving passengers. By doing so, they help alleviate congestion in the airport’s pickup and drop-off areas and improve the overall flow of traffic in and around the airport.
Although cell phone lots have become a popular way for drivers to wait for their arriving passengers, there are several issues with current cell phone lots that need to be addressed;
- One of the primary concerns is the environmental impact caused by cars idling for a long time. Without an alternate shelter (temperature-controlled) location, drivers wait in vehicles with their engines running.
- Another problem is the lack of facilities, such as toilets, for those waiting to pick up. It can be uncomfortable to wait for long periods without access to basic amenities. Recurring delays even after flight arrival are not uncommon, which leads to extended wait time even for the drivers waiting to pick up.
- Finally, poor signage and unclear instructions make it difficult for drivers to navigate the lots, leading to confusion and frustration. How far away is the terminal from the cell phone lot? What facilities are available at the lot? One-way traffic only? Am I going in the right direction?
Ideal airport cell phone lot
To address these issues, an ideal cell phone lot would provide a separate building for waiting passengers. This building should include seating options, free wifi, and access to arrival flight information. The lot should also have ample toilets and hand-washing facilities to provide basic amenities to those waiting for pickup.
Furthermore, cell phone lots can also provide a source of airport revenue. Adding food and beverage options inside waiting areas would ensure passengers can refresh while waiting, and airports would generate income. Many airports already charge fees for parking in these lots and EV charging stations. Is there anyone? The additional amenities can help generate additional revenue, which can then be used to support the ongoing operations and maintenance of the airport and its facilities.
Take Away
In 2018, I urged drivers to use Cell Phone lots, and now the airport authorities can do better. The current airport cell phone lot issues can be addressed by providing basic amenities, easy navigation, and a comfortable waiting environment. By taking these steps, airports can reduce their environmental impact and improve overall passenger satisfaction.
What do you make of current cell phone lots at airports?
4 comments
I wish! Took me 2 hours to set it up with proper prompts to identify issues on hand, and possible solutions.
if they charged for the cell phone lot, i wouldn’t use it ever, I use short term parking for that
The surcharge would ideally be for additional amenities, like food, ev charging, etc. The actual lot parking has to be free, otherwise it defeats the purpose.
They already have such a thing! It’s called “short-term parking”!