r/indianapolis • u/mshamilton97 • 2d ago
Airport parking
Why is the Indianapolis airport parking garage almost always full? Is it due to construction? If so, does anyone know when that should be completed?
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u/Jordanlf3208 2d ago
I’m a park and walk truther
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u/Fuzzzlord Broad Ripple 2d ago
This. I do the same. Don’t mind the walk and exercise before sitting in a cramped plane seat for hours.
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u/Smart_Dumb Fletcher Place 2d ago
Have you done it since the hotel construction? Just wondering if that has changed anything.
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u/Jordanlf3208 2d ago
I flew out about a month ago, they just lead you down a different path now but not much different
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u/carissaishere 2d ago
Me too but it’s been full the last two times I’ve been to the airport. Might be construction, might be fall break?
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u/carissaishere 2d ago
Me too but it’s been full the last two times I’ve been to the airport. Might be construction, might be fall break?
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u/carissaishere 2d ago
Me too but it’s been full the last two times I’ve been to the airport. Might be construction, might be fall break?
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u/zero-degrees28 2d ago
I fly multiple times a month and this has been a serious issue for the last year. Construction has played a huge role in it with half of certain floors closed off, not to mention extra areas blocked for only valet parking, that entire garage expansion has been dedicated to valet - expected that to help, didn't know it was going to be valet only. Even the park and walk has been heavily restricted with all the solar upgrades etc.
I really wish the airport would communicate something to all the ParkIND card holders as we are clearly the regular travelers and it would be nice to have some understanding of there plans, timelines etc.
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u/Hoosier-Sexy_Beast69 2d ago
These last couple weeks were Fall Break. Use FastPark. You can earn free parking.
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u/exdeletedoldaccount Fletcher Place 2d ago
I don’t know how it compares but you can also earn free parking with the airport parking loyalty program. Fast park is probably better but just so people are aware
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u/legohax Carmel 2d ago
I travel for work two or three times a month, I do valet parking every time, I’ve been doing it for years and maybe earned three or four days of free parking. It’s absurdly, pathetic and nearly useless.
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u/exdeletedoldaccount Fletcher Place 2d ago
Yeah I just checked and I’ve been parking there for years in economy lot and have maybe earned 1 day. Lol I guess the biggest benefit for me is the receipts going to my work email
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u/richardlqueso 2d ago
tbf, when the sign for a level outside says “full” — it’s not actually true. It’s trying to limit how long you spend looking for a spot. A level can be full and have a bunch of open spots.
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u/mshamilton97 2d ago
Exactly! I headed right up to level 5 and found a spot. It took a couple of minutes, but I did find one.
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u/Generic_On_Reddit 2d ago
I don't know the answer, but I fly once or twice a month for the past 2 years: while it is nearly always almost full, I have yet to encounter it actually full. I go straight to level 5 and I get a spot in the first row I try every single time. I don't spend more than 30 seconds finding a spot once I've entered the level.
Level 3 and Level 4 basically always have a full sign though, so they are definitely near capacity almost every time I've been there.
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u/unabashed_nuance 2d ago
Construction is definitely part of it. I think that hotel is supposed to open in December 2027.
Doesn’t matter though. Whenever that construction is done they’ll find another project to screw up airport parking. It has been wonky for 2 years now.
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u/wontwomany 2d ago
This. 2+ years and no end in sight. Probably the same crew that keeps 465 under perpetual construction.
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u/unabashed_nuance 2d ago
Look no further than local and state legislators for the crew keeping 465 under perpetual construction. Budgets gotta be spent. What better way to spend our money than rewarding contractors who donated to your campaign.
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u/UnknownBinary 1d ago
They'll fix airport parking right after they fix the moving sculptures in the parking garage.
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u/thtrtechie 2d ago
Fall break is the current problem.
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u/mshamilton97 2d ago
I get that. I traveled in late August after school started and it was the same way. That time I was surprised.
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u/Gold_Audience_1662 2d ago
The signs say it’s full every time I’ve been there, but I go ahead and find many open spots on the same level connecting to the walkway. I’ve never had any issues finding a spot, regardless of what the signs say
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u/Ok-External-5750 2d ago
I just got home from NYC yesterday and used Fast Park, which is always my fave. The driver did say that their lot was also full due to kids being on fall break. They’re currently reservation only.
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u/Neiliobob 2d ago
Fastpark or the hotels in Plainfield will let you park and take the shuttle for not much $.
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u/inthe317 2d ago
Last week the economy lot was full & we were able to park in the cell lot for free-they had shuttles running & numbered shelters.
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/throwaway18000081 2d ago
That’s not true.
All the rental car companies are limited to the first floor of the garage. Their cleanup/refueling stations, car wash, and parking lots are all down one road of the airport. Their overflow lot is next to the cell phone lot.
All day/night, teams of drivers are driving returns to the back, and driving clean cars to the garage basement.
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u/Foffpickle 2d ago
I may have been mistaken about how much of the garage is allocated to rental cars, but limiting them to the first floor doesn’t change my point. That’s still garage space unavailable to travelers, and it’s enough to contribute to the garage being full for a large part of the year. The airport can call it rental-car staging, but from a traveler’s perspective, those spaces still aren’t available. The airport’s parking setup is part of the problem, which is why I’d still choose FastPark.
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u/TheHorniestPartner Westfield 2d ago
It's crazy and the economy lot is very full too. It seems like half of Indy is parked at the airport.
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u/jlouderm 2d ago
I did that park and walk this week thinking to myself “they need to build a dedicated rental car facility on the west end of the property.”
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u/Stupefied_Gaming Fishers 1d ago
Economy lot was full last week, they redirected everyone to Economy Lot B, being the cell phone lot. Free parking. I believe it may still be happening as I saw the signs out on my return Wednesday night.
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u/Zakumadness 1d ago
Fast park option 1
Option 2 Make a friend in plainfield/Bridgeport/camby area and cheap uber.
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u/scrub_express 1d ago
It’s due to a few different factors but right now is fall break. The last few days have hit within the top 10 busiest days in airport history, and fall break just surpassed spring break for the busiest time of the year for IND. Another factor is the growth around Indy. The current terminal opened in 2008, and we have already outgrown it space-wise. The top floor of the garage is almost entirely employee parking. Also lots of construction among other factors
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u/CaptainAwesome06 Fishers 2d ago
On top of that, they converted a lot of the handicap spots to EV parking. Thanks, Indy...
If they were going to do that, I'm not sure why they didn't designate some of the other spots as handicap.
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u/PopularFunction5202 2d ago
I'm getting too old and tired to play the parking game; that is, parking someplace cheap that is inconvenient, so I try to use the airport garage. It has definitely gotten much more crowded the past two years. I have the available parking spaces page bookmarked so I can check before I arrive what the situation is. So many things about Indiana could be better if the government weren't holding the state back!
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u/letintin 2d ago
Can someone explain Fastpark's advantages/use?
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u/ovechkinspecial69 2d ago
You reserve your spot online and receive a QR code. When you arrive, they scan your code and tell you where to park in their lot. Every spot is covered. Then, a shuttle picks you up at your car and drives to the airport, which takes like 5 minutes. When you return, the shuttle picks you up the same place at the airport where it dropped you off. There is pretty much always a shuttle waiting at the pickup spot — I’ve never had to wait more than like 3 minutes. Then, it takes you directly to your car and you pay at a kiosk leaving the lot (no payment taken online at initial reservation). It’s all cheaper than airport parking (even economy) and WAY faster/easier. Highly recommend.
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u/letintin 2d ago
incredible. Thank you for taking the time to explain! Wow. We've always done economy and didn't even know there was this option, let alone covered/with shuttle.
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u/saikumar_23 2d ago
How is it less expensive than economy? Economy costs $9 flat per day incl taxes, but fast park appears $5–6 higher total cost for the same duration each time I look.
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u/ovechkinspecial69 2d ago
Fair callout — I seem to remember it being less than economy in the past, but just looked at my last receipt from September and it was $48.36 for 5 days, so about $9.70 per day. I know there is some demand-based variability but there’s also a 15% discount for AAA members and you can earn free days with an account. The convenience more than makes up the difference for me!
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u/Foffpickle 2d ago
I may have been mistaken about how much of the garage is allocated to rental cars, but limiting them to the first floor doesn’t change my point. That’s still garage space unavailable to travelers, and it’s enough to contribute to the garage being full for a large part of the year. The airport can call it rental-car staging, but from a traveler’s perspective, those spaces still aren’t available. The airport’s parking setup is part of the problem, which is why I’d still choose FastPark.
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u/calliemma 2d ago
The garage is cheap - for a short trip or business travel, there really isn’t a reason not to park in the garage.
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u/notthegoatseguy Meridian-Kessler 2d ago
FastPark > anything else