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A car drives away from the parking garage at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. The airport recently instituted two parking programs for travelers - a rewards program and an reservation program for a spot in the garage.
(The Republican file / Michael S. Gordon)
By HARLAN LEVY
Special to The Republican
WINDSOR LOCKS — Two programs have gone into effect at Bradley International Airport making it easier to park there, courtesy of the Connecticut Airport Authority and Standard Parking Inc., the parking operator.
The first program is a new “Frequent Parker Program” called “Auto-Pilot Rewards.” It started on Oct. 1, and already, more than 500 customers have enrolled.
After you enroll, which costs nothing, each time you use a parking facility at the airport you accumulate Frequent Parker credits that give you free parking days.
Like the EZPass program for highway tolls, you get a rectangular plastic card which you hold up to the reader at the entrance to the garage or outside lot entry point. That opens the gate, and you park. When you leave, you flash the card at one of the unmanned toll booths labeled “AVI” and your credit card gets charged and you get the parking credits. Also, using the AVI toll booths means you can exit quickly.
The system automatically calculates your time in and out and credits you with one point per dollar spent. The daily rate in the long-term part of the garage is $24 for every 24 hours. When you collect 240 “long-term” points, you get to park free for one day anywhere in on-airport locations. If you’re in the short-term part of the garage the rate is $28 per 24 hours, and you will need 280 “short-term” points for one day of free parking in any on-airport parking places.
“With the use of an automated pass, customers don’t have to pull a ticket when entering one of our parking facilities and they are able to bypass the cashier lanes when leaving,” Standard Parking Vice President Chuck Voase said.
A second parking program, “ClickAndPark.Com” is an online reservation program that allows customers to reserve “Premium Parking” in the garage. Customers can reserve parking on Level 3 of the garage, in an area that is located closest to the pedestrian walkway that leads to the ticketing level of the terminal.
After making an online reservation, the customer will receive a parking permit, customized directions showing the best route to the Bradley parking garage, and how to locate the designated Premium Parking area.
That costs $2 per day, the minimum charge, in addition to ordinary parking fees.
To make the reservation, visit www.parkbradley.com