Parking changes coming to RDU, what you need to know
RALEIGH-DURHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (WTVD) -- Raleigh-Durham International Airport is making some changes to parking. If you've passed through RDU lately you've likely noticed the signs announcing the impending parking changes. They go into effect April 4.
"Well, we're growing and we've heard from our customers that they want a better parking experience at the airport," explained RDU Spokesperson, Andrew Sawyer.
So, now instead of choosing between hourly, daily parking, or park and ride, your options will be broken into three different distinctions: premier, central, and economy.
1.) ParkRDU Premier includes 1,000 spaces on the ground level of the main parking garage between terminals one and two. These are the closest, covered parking spots, and also the most expensive.
2.) For slightly less, ParkRDU Central offers 10,000 spots within walking distance to both terminals.
3.) And, the most cost-effective is long-term parking, still in the same spot, now called ParkRDU Economy. And, if you choose this option, you can now opt for an hourly rate as opposed to only daily (as was the case before.)
CLICK HERE FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE NEW SYSTEM COMPARED TO THE OLD (.PDF)
Overall the changes mean an increase in price, although there are some savings.
"So the rates are not an apple to apple comparison because we are changing that experience," warned Sawyer.
For example, now ParkRDU Premier will cost you $3/hour and $18/day. ParkRDU Central runs $2/hour and $14/day. And ParkRDU Economy, the former Park and Ride, is $1/hour and $6-$7/day. And, starting May 1st you can save on all of those prices by booking online, saving anywhere from 2 to 7 dollars.
And there are other perks to buying your spot in advance online.
"What that does is it guarantees you entry into the lot that you choose, explained Sawyer, adding that applies even if you arrive and there are signs posted that the lot of your choice is full. And, you can opt to go paperless, avoiding having to hang on to a parking ticket instead simply scanning a code on your smartphone.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
And, if you happen to park at RDU before the change goes into effect on April 4, but return after that, the airport says they will still honor the lower parking prices.
