There used to be a thread regarding the Melbourne Airport parking hack but now it's closed for comments.
The last update in August mentioned that there is a 30-minute grace period both before and after booking times for any booking under 4 hours.
Has anyone tested it recently?
Is the grace period still 30 minutes before and after, or is it now only 15 minutes as stated in the terms and conditions?
Thanks in advance
You paid the drive-up rate so it's not relevant.
She paid $12 so she must have booked 1 hour only.
She stayed 3.5 hours so the grace period for her will be at least 2 hours before and after, not 30 minutes
Can you check with her how long she booked? thanks
I spoke to my sister in law last night.
She said she booked it for 1 hour ($12) and as I said before, we stayed there for 3.5 hours. Since she prepaid the booking, one would expect a surcharge to go through (being 3 hours plus) however, she informed me last night that she didn't have any extra charge.
So the grace period according to her was way more than 2 hours.
Hope this helps.
If you fail to book, park in the long term. The rates are the same if you book or you don't book! Catch the bus and away you go.
Far better than paying $45 for a few hours,
The rates are the same if you book or you don't book!
Late last year, I couldn't book (site said they were full), so I drove there anyway and there were quite a few spots still available for drive-ups.
Looks like it is now 2 hours before and 1 hour after. Used to be 1 hour on either side.
https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/parking-faqs
Can I enter the car park earlier or later than my confirmed booking time?
You may arrive up to two hours before your booked entry time. If you arrive any earlier than the time prior to two hours before your booked entry time, you will be charged at drive-up rates for your entire stay (noting that these rates may vary from the rates quoted via the online booking system) and you will not be entitled to a refund or credit on those charges. View Melbourne Airport’s drive-up rates.
You may enter a car park any time after your booked entry time, or exit a car park any time before your booked exit time, without incurring any additional fees. If you exit a car park before your booked exit time (as confirmed by Melbourne Airport via email), you will not be entitled to a refund or adjustment. There is a one hour grace period for exit after your booked exit time. If you exit more than one hour after your booked exit time, you will be charged for the extra time beyond one hour after your booked exit time at Melbourne Airport’s Overstay Tariff car park rates (noting that these rates may vary from the rates quoted via the online booking system) and you will not be entitled to a refund or credit on those charges. Click here for Melbourne Airport over stay rates.
The T&Cs say something different:
For an online booking for less than 4 hours, you may arrive up to 15 minutes before your booked entry time. If you arrive any earlier than 15 minutes before your booked entry time, you will be charged at drive-up rates (noting that these rates may vary from the rates quoted via the online booking system) and you will not be entitled to a refund or credit on those charges. Click here for Melbourne Airport’s drive-up rates.
It's crazy that they still haven't made the T&Cs consistent with their FAQs since the OG parking hack.
I think they do that on purpose :) and good luck in asking for a refund for the inconsistency reason.
this FAQ is outdated or they purposely don't update it :)
in the previous thread, people reported they arrived 1.5 hours early and were refused entry.
I have arrived more than 15 mins early (but not 1.5 hours) and not been overcharged. Maybe they leave it ambiguous on purpose?
When did you do that?
The last update in August from the previous thread is 25 mins early and all fine.
We need someone to test more than 30 mins early.
And yes, they definitely try to trick people. On the first page of the booking, there is a sentence "all bookings are eligible for 2 hour grace period" but on the second page, it says only for 4-hour bookings :)
@soan papdi: If start of 2023, it was still 2 hours free before booking time.
The upgrade to QR code and changes in grace period only happened in August.
Park in T4 and walk extra 5 mins, for a 2 week booking I saved about 200
I usually just need short parking ( 1-2 hours) for picking up friends and family.
right - you can wait in the free waiting area and then pick them up from the pick up zone, if they are happy to walk by themselves to the 2 min pickup area.
Where is this free waiting area?
@bhunter101: Just on the side if the road close to the airport. There was a sign saying waiting area.
leave Grace out of this
Did she complain to you?
I noticed these changes in the T&Cs when I went to pick up my parents around June this year. I was able to go in an hour earlier without a problem. Would be sad if they actually went ahead with the changes.
If we're talking about the Value (formerly Long Term) car park they moved from time based charging to day based charging (a flat $12 a day) so the grace period isn't relevant any more for this car park.
When I book this car park I use 00:10 for entry and 23:50 for exit regardless of when I'm arriving/leaving as it costs exactly the same and gives maximum flexibility.
Hoping someone was able to test the 15min grace period for under 4 hour booking. Have to pick up family this Sunday and wanted to confirm before I book.
I just picked up friends 2 weeks ago, arrived 30 mins early, and left 25 mins late, all good, no charge
Need someone to test over 30 minutes
thanks, unless we hear from someone else, looks like I will have to give this a go on Sunday.
Will try 40 mins, if it doesn't work will circle back and try 30 (and report)
Alright… So booked for 3pm entry till 330pm
Entered at 2:25 using Qr code. No issues
Will update exit details
Thanks for the update but you just slightly exceeded 30mins so it doesn't count :)
Still need someone to do 45-50 mins :)
considering it is automated and not a manual discretion - I would be confident next time to reach there just under 60mins grace time
great! please report if you have any updates.
So, exit I didn't eventually needed to exceed. had to leave at 3:30 so nothing to report there
Just got back from the airport after reading the above.
Booked the parking from 0030-0100 for $8
Flight arrived early so entered car park with my QR code at 2332 and exited at 0019.
Only charged the $8 but arrived nearly 1 hour earlier than my allocated time. I’ll try it again next time but I’m happy with the price compared to the drive up price and I suspect at least an hour either side of your booking will be covered.
Sharing my latest experience, hope it’s helpful to someone. Booked terminal parking for 11:30-12:00, entered car park @10:54, left @11:19, was charged $8 so far which is the quoted price.
Update 24/12/2023:
Booking 1 hour 9pm-10pm
Entered 1: 7:55pm, not allowed with booking
Entered 2: 8:01pm, allowed
Exited : 10:30pm, no extra charge
My theory is a 1 hour grace period each way is allowed for under 3 hours booking. So your 1 hour booking is good for 3 hours in total.
the best is to book 30 minutes and get 2.5 hours in total
Have you tested with booking 30 minutes and 1 hour grace period either way? Thanks.
tested on 25/12 and it worked.
Any recent experience…T&C condition has been updated to 15 mins before and after entry/exit as grace period…
my most recent one was 25/12/2023 and it worked.
I may go to the airport this Wed or Sat, will update
Thanks.
How did you go @billy72?
I can confirm one hour for both before and after, hence best option is booking 30 minutes and getting 2.5 hours in total.
Need someone to test exceed one hour :)
I can confirm that you can still enter at least one hour before your booked time as of 29/01/2024 without being charged extra
Booked Time : 0030-0100(half an hour)
Entry: 2335
Exit: 0055
Not sure how much grace period you'd have after your booked time as I exited before my time was up
I can also confirm that you can still enter at least one hour before your booked time as of 1/03/2024 without being charged extra
Booked Time : 2000-2100(one hour)
Entry: 19:15
Exit: 20:15
I will be testing this again on 16/03
Can confirm this is working as of this morning (13/04)
Booked time 5.30am-6.00am
Entry time: 4.45am
Exit: 6.30am
Cost $8
confirm this is working as of 15/03
1 hour on each side
Can anyone test 2 hours before and after (a total of 4.5 hours) please? :D
Confirm this is working as of 20/03
Booked time 10:30-11:00
Entry time 9:45
Exit 11:10
Cost $8
Confirm this is working as of 03rd April
Booked time 01:30-02:00
Entry time 00:33
Exit 01:15
Cost $8
Confirm this is working as of 03rd April
Booked time 00:30-01:00
Entry time 11:45
Exit 01:15
Cost $8
Went last 4Apr thinking the 2hr before booking window is still on. Ended up dropping off in the 1min zone and waiting at macca's. I asked for help and I was told I am too early for my booking (didn't argue lol).
The good thing is I requested for a refund when I got home and it was approved. Refund came in after a few days.
I will go again tomorrow and will report if the 1hr window still works.
Was it still working when you went again?
Kind of got to my window when last went.
Booked 7:00 to 7:30
Entry: 6:53
Exit: 7:39
I don't know if this helps but recently, me and my sister in law went to Melbourne Airport parking.
I foolishly did not book. My sister in law did (bless her soul). We stayed exactly the same time (3.5 hours) and she did not plan to stay that long but welp, we did.
On exit, I paid $45. She paid $12. Now, recall $45 is for 2-3 hours for drive up rate and I stayed 3.5 hours.
So maybe, just maybe I still think the grace is still 30 minutes.