Fortunately, for the busy traveler airports realized some time ago that it needed adequate airport parking to accommodate them.
As a result today, in larger airports, there are variety of parking options available.
Thus, they are able to take care of those who are going on a short trip, a long trip or just meeting someone.
These large airports have an open parking area and a covered parking area.
For the traveler, the open parking area is much less expensive.
It is farther away from the terminal but there is a shuttle every few minutes for transport.
The covered area costs more but it is possible to walk directly to the terminal, under a roof at all times.
This is especially convenient in bad weather.
In addition, there are handy carts available to use for transporting one's luggage.
Some airports have realized how difficult it is to meet passengers at a terminal at the specific time.
Due to planes sometimes arriving early and sometimes late it is difficult to predict the exact time.
Previously, if you did not want to pay parking fees this resulted in your driving around or parking in front of the terminal and blocking others, which was not allowed.
As a result of this problem many of the airports now have 'waiting areas' where, when you are doing a pickup, you can wait until you receive a cell phone call that the passenger has arrived.
There are also parking companies that are stationed near the airport where you can park your car and then you are driven, by a van, to the terminal.
This parking is usually a little cheaper than the regular airport parking.
However, there is not overhead cover for cars parked in these locations.
In order to save money a number of these large airports have installed machines where you can pay your parking ticket using a credit card.
This has eliminated long lines at the checkout stations where there was often a very long wait.
It is still possible to pay at the checkout but the majority of passengers are now using the machine.