Airport Parking Reinvented: Smart Solutions for Seamless Travel

By Don Abell, TEZ Technology
and Megan Leinart, Leinart Consulting
August, 2024

With millions of travelers passing through airports each year, the need for smart parking solutions continues to increase and is an area primed for continued innovation and growth. The evolution of parking technology at airports is transforming how people travel, from the moment they arrive at the airport until the moment they return home. Leading-edge technological advancements are disrupting airport parking operations in the best way, and are enhancing the overall travel experience. With an innovative solutions suite already in place at airports across the US, TEZ Technology continues to be at the forefront of shaping the future of smart parking solutions for airports, supporting our airport partners across the country with our fully digital, AI-enabled solutions for both valet and self-parking facilities.

Here's a look at some advanced airport parking technology trends, and how TEZ is supporting these advancements.

Smart Valet Parking Solutions

Valet parking has evolved from an exclusive luxury service to an essential, tech-enabled option for travelers seeking ease, expediency, and overall convenience. With many airports now offering smart valet services, where travelers can book, track, and manage their valet experience through mobile apps, they are embracing all the advantages smart parking solutions offer. These apps allow them to schedule pick-up and drop-off times, pay seamlessly, and even receive notifications when their car is ready. Integrating valet services with airport operations ensures travelers spend less time worrying about parking and more time enjoying their journey.

TEZ works with many airport clients to integrate our SMS Valet solution. It allows guests to check in, pay, and request their cars by simply clicking a link in a text. With SMS Valet, travelers enjoy an easy, stress-free valet service right at the curb, ensuring they are on-time and can relax before their flight. When they return, the valet staff will have their vehicle ready and waiting for them at the curb.

Integrated Flight Tracker & Status Technology

Today, flight tracking technology has expanded far beyond mere departure and arrival information and into sophisticated predictive data analysis and information platforms. Practical applications and integrations into smart parking solutions have revolutionized airport parking. Travelers can now sync their specific flight details with their parking, enabling parking providers to tailor services to each traveler’s schedule. This includes having a vehicle ready at the correct gate, extending parking time if a flight is delayed, or rescheduling pick-up for an early arrival.

TEZ's SMS Valet integrates directly with FlightAware for real-time flight tracking capabilities. FlightAware is a leading tracking and status solution that allows valet staff to track the flight information of each traveler so they can have their vehicle waiting when they arrive. So whether a traveler's flight is late, early, or even if they switch flights, their information is updated real-time within the SMS Valet. Once the traveler lands, valet staff can mobilize to retrieve the vehicle and have it waiting at the curb as the traveler exits the terminal, ensuring a seamless and convenient trip.

Digital Payments

The days of needing cash or waiting in long queues at parking kiosks are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Automated digital payment systems and options have streamlined the parking experience at airports. Travelers can now prepay for parking, use license plate recognition for seamless entry and exit, and receive electronic receipts—making for a much faster and convenient airport experience. This automation not only saves time but also enhances security and reduces operational costs for airports.

TEZ's TEXT2PARK solution offers travelers a way to pay for parking directly with their phone without downloading an app. It has streamlined the self-parking experience at airport lots and garages, allowing travelers quick scanning and digital payments options for an easy parking experience, making the typical airport parking experience far less time-consuming and stressful.

The Future of Smart Parking Solutions

In particular, the airport parking landscape continues to evolve at an accelerated pace, driven by the need to scale for greater efficiency, convenience, and security. As these technologies continue to evolve, travelers can look forward to more seamless and stress-free parking experiences at airports. By leveraging smart parking solutions, airports are becoming not just gateways to destinations but also models of modern innovation. TEZ will continue to lean into technology and innovation to help our airport partners create enriched parking experiences, streamlined parking operations, and ultimately, happy customers.

To learn more about TEZ’s fully digital parking management solutions suite, visit us today at TEZ Technology.