Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Urgent Question Re Car At SFO LongTerm Parking

Urgent Question Re Car At SFO LongTerm Parking

Old Jun 24th, 2005, 10:48 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Urgent Question Re Car At SFO LongTerm Parking

I hope someone could offer a solution or a thought to a problem. About 3 weeks ago my SIL & daughter and I had to be at the NW counter at SFO at 5:00am. They were taking a spur of the moment flight to Rome. I had given them some of my FF miles so they could go in business class R/T. NW said I had to be at their counter at 5:00am to show ID etc., to prove I was transferring the FF miles to them for the flight.

All went well until we got to the LongTerm Parking Lot. We had a terrible time finding a parking space. Finally found one and noticed it was 4:45am. Got out of the car, saw the shuttle bus coming towards us, we grabbed their luggage and ran to the shuttle bus and did make it to the NW counter right at 5:00am.

After all the checking in etc. was done we took a big breath. Than my SIL said "does anyone know where in the parking lot we parked our car?". OMG, we had no idea!

Now daughter and SIL will be returning from Rome next Tuesday. We, of course, still have no idea where in the enourmous lot their car is parked. The thought of them wandering around that lot with their luggage trying to find their car makes me feel so bad for them as they will have jetlag, will be exhausted from all the problems they had to deal with in Rome (which is why they took the sudden fight) etc. Plus my SIL will have to get up at 4:00am the next morning due to his job.

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding this stupid problem? I have tried to think of something clever but so far haven't.
Thank you.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 10:56 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, I've good grief!!!!! I've done the same thing at the mall, but THAT lot isn't as big as SFO. Then of course, you try to walk around looking like you know where you are going and people driving in are going "neener, neener, you lost your car didn't you." Do they have an alarm on the car? I can activate mine from my key chain. Maybe they could activate the alarm and try to follow the sound? Of course they would have to be close enough to have it work but mine works fron a fair distance..I know because I've set it off by accident a few times. Or maybe something will look familiar to them once they get into the lot. Oh dear...what a darn pickle!!!!! Good luck to them.
crefloors is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 11:13 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Crefloors, oh good grief has been my saying every hour on the hour the past weeks, LOL. Your thought on the alarm in great except - they took their older car as they didn't want to leave the newer one in the parking lot. So the car at SFO does not have an alarm, unfortunatly. I too have not known where have I have parked at shopping malls and that is bad enough. Sure makes one feel a tad stupid and frustrated, doesn't it?
Hope you are doing well. Have a great weekend.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 11:19 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't quite understand. It sounds like you arrived at the lot together? In the same car? If so, how did you get home? If you took separate cars, as it sounds like you parked near each other, couldn't you have taken note of where their car was parked when you left? This is quite the mindbender for a Friday afternoon. Perhaps I should head to happy hour early to work this one out.
Brian_in_Charlotte is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 11:24 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wait, maybe the explanation is that you took BART or a cab home? If that's the case, the only thing I can think to do is to head over there with a friend in a car and drive around until you find the car and then somehow message to your daughter where it's located.

As it's an older car, maybe it won't take too long to locate. In any case, with 2 of you looking from the car, you'll find it a lot quicker than they will walking around with luggage. Good luck.
Brian_in_Charlotte is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 11:41 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LoveItaly, do you remember the name of the place you've parked? I tried to do a search for long-term SFO parking, there are several companies (parking lots?).

If you remember the name of the place, you can contact (call) them with the car license number, model, color. I am sure there are some agents who can help you.
FainaAgain is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 12:26 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Faina, you mean there is MORE then one LongTerm Parking Lot? Yikes!!! I know this. We were suppose to take the turnoff going to SFO at the San Bruno East (heading south from SF). Well we didn't do that and so took the next turnoff which is for SFO. Then followed the signs at SFO to the LongTerm Parking. Shuttle busses then take you to the terminals. I am sure it is the LongTerm Parking Lot that is shown on SFO's website. A huge parking lot.

Hi Brian, sorry I didn't make it clear. The three of us went down in one car. After my daughter & SIL got through security I later took the Evans Transporter back to Vallejo and then a friend in a nearby city picked me up and drove me home to the city I live in.

Your idea of going to the airport is good except it is impossible. Not only the long distant from my city to SFO but I have my 14 year old grandson who got shot in the eye by a 13 year old who was "playing" with an airgun and a 19 year old grandson who is without transportation as his car has broken down again and consequently I need to be his "taxi" as in picking him up and getting him to work, getting him home from work, to the grocery store etc.etc.

My daughter & SIL will be arriving from Rome this coming Tuesday so there is not any time to follow through on your suggestion although it is a very good one, and I sure thank you.

Faina, when my daughter calls I will get the license number and model. I just know the make and color at this point. I will call the airport at that point and see if they have any suggestions.

Just had a thought, wonder if the kids could take a taxi at SFO and have the taxi drive them to the LongTerm Parking Lot and drive them around until they find there car. Wonder if that is allowed. SFO has such strick rules and regulations regarding taxis.

If anyone elso has any thoughts I could sure use them. Thanks everyone.



LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 12:57 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buy a new car?

Little you can do right now, especially since you can't or don't want to go up to the airport. Just have your SIL & daughter tell the shuttle bus driver the truth and have him, her or somebody else drive you around the lot until you find the car...
rkkwan is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 01:12 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you pulled into the airport's official lot called "Long Term Parking" I doubt you're in one of the other companies lots off the airport grounds. Guess your best guess is to call the airport as you plan to and plead your case.

I know that the Atlanta airport photographs each license plate as it comes in. I'll betcha SFO does the same, but I'm not sure how that would help unless they can at least confirm which lot you pulled into.
Brian_in_Charlotte is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 01:22 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Brian, I bet SFO the same as Atlanta, never thought about that, thanks.

Rkkwan, a new car would be lovely I am sure but after last minutes airfare to Rome I don't think that is doable either, LOL. The price of the tickets were horrendous as you can imagine. But at least they got the flight they needed.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 01:23 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,873
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Actually I don't think you have a problem. I assume SFO has a system like up here at SMF - the parking garage keeps track of the cars in the different lots. I'm not sure if they do it via photos or by having attendants key in the info from hand helds in the middle of the night. But in any case they can probably tell them where their car is.
janis is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2005, 01:42 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Janis, I did not know any airport did that - thank you so much for the information. That would be a tremendous help!! I almost always use SMF now that I live in Vacaville but always take SuperShuttle so had no knowledge of the parking lot procedure there. I will get the license plate number etc. from my daughter and than call SFO. Thank you again!! I appreciate everyones help.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old Jul 1st, 2005, 01:56 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LoveItaly, so... how did they find the car?
FainaAgain is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
clarasong
Europe
50
Aug 25th, 2008 09:28 AM
michelecg
Europe
41
Jan 5th, 2007 06:05 AM
Pam1951
United States
9
Jun 27th, 2003 08:03 AM
Rachelle
United States
4
May 10th, 2003 06:08 AM
Keenan
Europe
6
Mar 19th, 2003 04:20 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -