Carpark Exits: How hard can it be?

[El Presidente]

We left Danli in pouring rain and the trip to Palmerola International Airport took a good three hours. I tried working in the back of the Toyota Landcrusier while Maurizzio Fangio practiced Tokyo drift on roads with potholes that could swallow a Prius. Hamlet being an old hand,made the sign of the cross before he jumped in. We arrived at the airport shaken but in need of a solid drink at the suprisingly good "Priority Lounge". Palmerola International Airport is only a few years old and very easy to get through even taking into account Honduran idiosyncrasies that really do make me smile 

2 + hours into Miami International and all we had to do was find Hamlets car and we are on our way home. I am staying at his place for a few days before heading back on the weekend. 

Hammy dropped me off at the airport Saturday 29th while he went and parked in the Flamingo carpark.  Remarkably, the car today, for some reason, wasn't to be found anywhere. Maybe it is because he was exploring the Dolphin carpark. Thankfully, after talking to a security guard, a cleaner, a barista, another cleaner and finally someone who I thought was a vagrant, we were shown the light and the car was found. Hallelujah!

Hammy started explaining to me the new carpark system where you don't need a ticket, you only need to tap the same credit card you came in on (at the exit) and off you go. Nothing can go wrong from here.....could it. In pointform 

• It didn't work. 
• cars piling up behind
• he had no physical ticket. 
• he called for assistance over the speaker. 
• Speaker advisor said he came in on the 20th and now owed $850 USD
• Hamlet blows up
• Cars continue to pile up behind. 
• Hamlet calls for a supervisor. 
• Supervisor comes. 
• It is now 30 minuttes
• Supervisor requests the initial boarding pass to confirm entry day. 
• Hammy blows up. 
• I calmly go to my phone and show him our flight itinerary. 
• He calls his supervisor to see if this is sufficient. 
• Hamlet calls for the supervisors supervisior to come immediately. 
• Itinerary accepted.  $750 USD rescinded.  ? 
• $100 and out. 
• all up? 40 minutes thereabouts. 

I have never looked more forward to a rum and a cigar 

 

 

 

 

[Glass Half Full]

Flying is such a pain these days that it's overflowed into the airport car park!  

Luckily you two have made some excellent (and legal) cigars to enjoy and help put the unpleasantness in the past

[Corylax18]

53 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

We left Danli in pouring rain and the trip to Palmerola International Airport took a good three hours. I tried working in the back of the Toyota Landcrusier while Maurizzio Fangio practiced Tokyo drift on roads with potholes that could swallow a Prius. Hamlet being an old hand,made the sign of the cross before he jumped in. We arrived at the airport shaken but in need of a solid drink at the suprisingly good "Priority Lounge". Palmerola International Airport is only a few years old and very easy to get through even taking into account Honduran idiosyncrasies that really do make me smile 

2 + hours into Miami International and all we had to do was find Hamlets car and we are on our way home. I am staying at his place for a few days before heading back on the weekend. 

Hammy dropped me off at the airport Saturday 29th while he went and parked in the Flamingo carpark.  Remarkably, the car today, for some reason, wasn't to be found anywhere. Maybe it is because he was exploring the Dolphin carpark. Thankfully, after talking to a security guard, a cleaner, a barista, another cleaner and finally someone who I thought was a vagrant, we were shown the light and the car was found. Hallelujah!

Hammy started explaining to me the new carpark system where you don't need a ticket, you only need to tap the same credit card you came in on (at the exit) and off you go. Nothing can go wrong from here.....could it. In pointform 

• It didn't work. 
• cars piling up behind
• he had no physical ticket. 
• he called for assistance over the speaker. 
• Speaker advisor said he came in on the 20th and now owed $850 USD
• Hamlet blows up
• Cars continue to pile up behind. 
• Hamlet calls for a supervisor. 
• Supervisor comes. 
• It is now 30 minuttes
• Supervisor requests the initial boarding pass to confirm entry day. 
• Hammy blows up. 
• I calmly go to my phone and show him our flight itinerary. 
• He calls his supervisor to see if this is sufficient. 
• Hamlet calls for the supervisors supervisior to come immediately. 
• Itinerary accepted.  $750 USD rescinded.  ? 
• $100 and out. 
• all up? 40 minutes thereabouts. 

I have never looked more forward to a rum and a cigar 

 

 

 

 

I've always hated parking at the Airport. It got to the point several years ago that an Uber to/From the airport wasn't much more than a weeks parking, outside, not even in a garage. The extra few bucks is more than worth it to avoid all the BS. There has also been a huge spike in Vehicle and Catalytic Converter thefts in the Denver airport parking lots. Apparently they aren't policed at all and half the cameras at the check out gates don't work, so they cant tie a credit card to a license plate # to save their lives. In all fairness to Hamlet, the entire system leaves huge room for improvement. 

[El Presidente]

1 minute ago, Corylax18 said:

 In all fairness to Hamlet, the entire system leaves huge room for improvement. 

Cory, he sincerely appreciates your support 🤣

[LizardGizmo]

I've always wondered this: 

has anyone ever been in a well-designed parking lot/car park?

it's one of the only 'places' that I've not found even ONE EXAMPLE, in the world, where I've been blown away by a wondrous design concept and execution. I've been in amazing bridges, tunnels, buildings, offices, shopping malls, roads and on/off ramps for highways, car dealerships, ice cream shops, everything...! It's obviously the last step when a property is designed and it must be designated to the lowest moron on the totem pole at the firm.

Really shocking. Next round in the big simulation, the creator(s) must fix this.

[targa88]

Local airport here as a different system.

Parking lot off site. Drop your car off - then they shuttle you to your terminal. Typically less than 10 minutes.

Upon your return. Hand them your ticket or reservation number. Shuttle back to the parking lot. Pay and go.

Ultimately it has worked and cheaper than in the airport parking.

Bonus don't have to remember where your vehicle is parked!

[Cjake75]

We always do off site shuttle service. Typically a lot less than on-site and the vehicle is parked in a garage. Never wonder where you left the car. We also have it washed and a nice feature is in the winter the car is warmed up!  The cold is always brutal after being somewhere hot in February. 

[Fireball]

Whenever I go to a car park and use the credit card instead of having a ticket - what you described is how I always envision it working out when I try and leave.

Anymore though, the lot prices have gone up so much I just hire a driver.

[99call]

On 8/2/2023 at 5:24 PM, El Presidente said:

He calls his supervisor to see if this is sufficient.

Having worked in the catering industry for a good few years, this kind of mentality really boils my piss.  Asking for a bill, to be told by staff "I don't do that" then walking off to the co-workers with no intention or thought of responsibility to tell them "table 5 wants their bill". WTF!!!!???  I just don't get it.

We are at a very strange point in history where we are halfway between Automation and Antiquation.  It's like a terrible inbetween... where you are being asked to bathe in the splendid warm glow of the future, but instead of a Teasmaid that serenely brews us the perfect morning cortado, It's spaying molten hot milk on our nutsack, and grinds coffee into our slippers, and finishing with a classic "Have a nice day". but delivered in HAL9000's. "Daisy, Daisy" demented voice

I'm going to coin the word  "Autoquated",  which basically means something that is advertised as "new and improved", but is basically a 100 times shitter than what went before it. 

[Corylax18]

Hey, at least Hammy didn't pull out an Axe and start swinging it at the machine arm. Coincidently, a United Airlines Pilot did exactly this they day you started this thread. Apparently he "reached a breaking point", I would say so. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/united-airlines-pilot-accused-destroying-parking-lot-barrier-ax-denver-rcna100597

[El Presidente]

..........that's the guy I want at the front of the plane 

[99call]

21 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

Hey, at least Hammy didn't pull out an Axe and start swinging it at the machine arm

There has got to be a shit 'Bruce Lee-ism". for a man prepared to wield and axe, but one who is also not prepared to sharpen it!!!"     this is like a bad 'Falling Down' sequel .

Also doesn't this perfectly reflect, that if you act like a mad man in a janitors uniform, you get shot in the face.   You wear a pilots uniform you get conversed with and verbally pacified, and trusted to hand yourself in. 

[Greenhorn2]

I never park at the airport. I always get a motel that will shuttle you to the airport, leave your car at the motel for no charge, and pick you up at the airport and drop you off at your car at the motel. Best money ever spent.

[Duxnutz]

On 8/18/2023 at 1:21 PM, El Presidente said:

..........that's the guy I want at the front of the plane 

Conveniently sitting next to another axe, the crash axe.