Relax - Flat-fee parking at airport to end soon

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Flat-fee parking at airport to end soon

By Irene Tham , The Sunday Times | Tue, Jan 12 2010

Introduced on Nov 14 last year, the special rate ends on Jan 31.

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Changi Airport's weekend flat-fee parking has been reeling in families on outings, but this lure may end soon. Introduced on Nov 14 last year, the special rate ends on Jan 31.

The promotion allows motorists to pay just $2.50 for the first three hours of parking at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on weekends and public holidays.

After the third hour, the usual fee - four cents per minute - applies.

Without the flat-fee deal, and based on this regular rate, three hours at the airport will cost a motorist $6.43.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) said it has yet to decide if it will extend the promotion, which has proved popular with some Singaporeans.

Come month's end, 'we'll take into consideration visitor feedback and fine-tune our carpark charges where appropriate', a CAG spokesman told The Sunday Times.

'The special rate was introduced to encourage more families to visit the airport to enjoy the activities lined up during the festive season,' she added.

Indeed, the airport has been a favourite hangout for Mr Melvin Tay, 39, and his family since he discovered cheaper parking there in late November.

The country manager of a local health-care firm has since taken his family to the airport at least six times on weekends to dine and shop.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, he also stayed longer at the airport - up to three hours - to allow his two children to play on a giant inflatable castle at T3, put up as part of the airport's festive decor.

'Cheaper carpark fee is the lure,' said Mr Tay.

Mr Christopher Lee, 37, also spends about three weekends a month now at the airport with his family. He used to go there once every two to three months.

'I used to find the parking fees high. But now I have more reasons to dine and shop there,' said Mr Lee, a reinsurance broker.

CAG said that the five weekends that followed its parking promotion saw total takings at all commercial outlets located in the terminals' public areas rise by 7 per cent, compared with sales during the five weekends prior to the promotion.

Mr Henry Tan, 31, The Coffee Connoisseur's marketing communications manager, said that the chain's two T3 outlets were more crowded in December than before.

But the CAG spokesman also noted that the school holidays and festive season could have contributed to increased retail spending.

While flat-fee parking benefits some, others who make a quick trip to drop off or pick up passengers on weekends and public holidays end up paying more.

As reported in The New Paper on Dec 16, Mr Tan Song Mong, 34, a customer service officer, had complained: 'Does this mean I have to go to the airport and hang around just to make it worthwhile if I am just picking up or dropping off passengers?'

The CAG spokesman declined to say if a pocket- friendlier compromise will be made to accommodate visitors making a quick weekend or public holiday trip there.

Meanwhile, Mr Tay is making hay while the sun shines.

Asked for his reaction if parking fees at this national icon were to rise, he said: 'I will try to avoid going to the airport and make every trip as snappy as possible if there is no more cheap parking.'

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.

Readers' Comments

Simple. If a vehicle parks less than 30 mins, charges at 4 cents/min. If a vehicle parks more than 30 mins but less than 3 hs, charges at $2.50. If a vehicle parks more than 3 hrs, charges at $2.50 no. of mins after 3 hrs at 4 cents/min.

Anthony

by Posted, posted on 13 01 2010, 14:17

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