The Parking Spot Review : Airport Parking that Hits the Spot

About The Parking Spot

Since opening for business in 1998, The Parking Spot has grown to be a leading airport parking provider in the United States. Currently, The Parking Spot has 38 locations at 22 major airports. You’ve likely seen their eye-catching yellow and black spotted buses at your local airport — they’re hard to miss!

But should you use them for your upcoming trip and airport parking needs?

In our review of The Parking Spot we’ll dive into what they offer, what makes them unique, and if they’re the best option to use on your next trip.

The Parking Spot vs Other Airport Parking

There are a few key parts about The Parking Spot that makes it stand out from other airport parking options. Here we will go over what amenities The Parking Spot provides. As well as what makes them unique and go above and beyond what most other airport parking garages offer.

Parking Spot Options

Similar to other airport parking options, The Parking Spot has locations with covered and uncovered parking options. You can save money by choosing the uncovered option, and still enjoy many of the other amenities available.

However, if it is a hotter time of year, or you don’t want your car getting as dirty as it can outside, the covered parking is a great choice. Either type of lot you choose to park your car though, you will always enjoy well lit, and fenced in parking that is open 24/7.

Many of The Parking Spot’s locations also offer a valet service for even more added convenience. However, to take convenience to another level, you can also add a car wash to your reservation.

This is a big difference between The Parking Spot and other parking lots. If you choose to have your car washed or detailed, they will make sure that it’s done within 24 hours of your return. This way it is freshly cleaned for your arrival home.

Shuttle Service

The Parking Spot also offers the standard free shuttle to take you to and from the airport. These shuttle run regularly, with a max wait time around 20 minutes for pickup. Now, what I love about their shuttle service, and makes it so much better than most, is that you can request pick-up and track the shuttle location in real time on their app.

Being able to not only notify the shuttle that I am ready to be picked up, but also check and see how far away a shuttle is helps a lot. It makes the pick-up process go so much smoother than having to call and wait for an unknown amount of time.

Speaking of The Parking Spot’s app, there are many other conveniences that it offers to streamline your airport parking experience. Not only can you make your reservation online, request a pickup, track the shuttle locations, but you can also check-out seamlessly.

Simply check-out on the app when you’re at your car, then use the QR code it gives you to scan and then exit the lot. No need to find your check-in ticket then wait in line to pay at a cashier. They’ve made this part of your trip hassle-free.

The Parking Spot’s Spot Club Review

Spot Club is The Parking Spot’s loyalty program. It is free to join, and you can unlock higher reward levels by using their parking lots more often.

You should definitely sign up for the reward program when you make your first booking. There is no cost at any tier, and you instantly get access to their added benefits. The biggest benefits are waiving a $5.95 reservation fee that The Parking Spot charges non-Spot Club members.

You will also start earning your way to free airport parking with each day you reserve. Plus, the touch-less entry and exit via QR code are available from for members within The Parking Spot’s app. Also in the app for members is a helpful expense tracking feature.

The Spot Club Tiers

You unlock the Spot Club’s Gold tier when you’ve stayed 15 days and have 800 points earned. This gives you a free car wash, a free anniversary parking spot, 25% higher point earning potential, and more. Then with the highest tier, Platinum, is unlocked after 40 days and over 3700 points.

This gives you guaranteed parking spots, 50% higher point earning potential, and other premium perks. Plus, everything Gold members get. If you’re planning to park at The Parking Spot, signing up for the Spot Club is a no-brainer.

Ease of Use:

To be fair, the Parking Spot offers valet parking and you drop/pickup your car in a covered building so that is really nice in snow, rain and cold. Then you take a shuttle to your gate which runs every 5-7 minutes and takes about 10 minutes.

From Lot E though you take the tram which also drops you off at the gate so it is pretty much a wash convenience wise for the start of the trip. On the way home though, you have to walk a considerable distance to the shuttle pickup vs a quick walk from the baggage claim to the official tram.

Would I Use them Again?

For most of my travel, taking a taxi is simply faster and easier. However compared to the economy parking options at O’Hare, if I was less resistant to cold temperatures, being rained on, or had kids then suddenly the benefits of the Parking Spot become very nice.

When you add in the benefits such as cold water, newspaper, car warmed up, and the option to have your car detailed through their Car Care option, suddenly the equation changes. This is especially true for longer trips when the $5.05 per day difference adds up.