We had a 6 am fly to New York's LGA the morning we left, and frankly I didn't feel like driving the 1.5 hours to RDU if we didn't have to. My father had been doing "Park & Fly" with a particular hotel in Raleigh which he discovered through a website online, but had particularly high rates the night before our departure. Luckily I found a unique way to save some cash, and get free parking without going through the usual way. There's a Holiday Inn that offers park and ride service less than a half mile away from the runways. Better yet, I went on to American Airlines and was able to book both a night before departure and the night we returned with AAdvantage miles. They also happened to be running a promotion that day which allowed us to book it for 30% less miles. So not only did we get the room for free, we also saved $85 in parking fees by simply advising them on arrival we'd like to leave our car with them. In the morning we took their free shuttle the short 5 minute ride to the airport, after printing out our boarding pass downstairs in the hotel, and walked straight through security and onto our gate.
On our return, we pulled out a business card given to us at check-in, dialed the desk and advised them we returned. When we got to the hotel pickup (zone 15) just outside of baggage claim, our shuttle was waiting with drinks and snack. In minutes we were back to the hotel ready to crash after 24 hours of flying from Cairo. It was the most pleasant way of returning I've ever experienced.
We did discover their breakfast buffet is about $12 a person but after eating Egyptian cuisine for four days it's rather pleasant to eat eggs and sausage once again. I highly recommend this hotel, and parking and flying with them.
Something to be aware of is that there are two Holiday Inns within about half mile of each other. An Express immediately off the overpass, and a full-service Holiday Inn on the same road a few blocks down. We stayed at the full service.
So to recap on how to park and fly for free.:
1. Book the room on AAvacations with your frequent flyer miles. (Holiday Inn at 930 Airport Blvd. Morrisville, NC)2. Show up the night before your flight, and check-in parking your car at the Holiday Inn lot.3. Check in requesting shuttle service at a particular time, and a wake-up call.4. Request a business card or program their phone number into your cellphone for your return.5. Wake up, go downstairs and print your boarding pass.6. Take a short 5-10 minute ride to RDU and onto your flight
It was a fairly nice room. 42 inch flat screen, two queen beds, and the usual assortment of bells and whistles like bottled water at check-in and etc. Definitely would do again.
