In the bustling city of Seattle, Washington, I found myself standing on the curb for a rather lengthy 28 minutes. Finally, I managed to squeeze onto the shuttle bus and made my way to the main terminal of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This experience led me to grumble aloud to those around me about why people often dislike off-site car rental facilities at airports. It also made me recall Cleveland's decision to return their car-rental facility at Hopkins back to the main airport campus, which I was thinking about while waiting in Seattle. And waiting. And waiting. The line to board the shuttle from the consolidated car-rental center to the main terminal at SEA was almost as long as a football field. I witnessed three buses come and go before it was my turn to board. Thankfully, I had arrived at the airport with plenty of time, otherwise, I might have missed my flight. Unraveling the Airport Car Rental Conundrum
Seattle's 2012 Off-Terminal Car Rental Facility
In 2012, Seattle made the decision to relocate its car rental facility off the main campus. This was done to create more on-site parking for local travelers. A spokesperson for the airport mentioned that typical wait times for the shuttle from this off-terminal location are between 5 and 10 minutes. However, my experience that day was far from typical, with a wait that seemed to stretch on forever. The construction at the space-constrained airport might have contributed to the extended wait. Long-term plans do call for the possibility of adding a people-mover to connect the rental car facility to the main terminal, which are about two miles apart.Cleveland's 1998 Off-Campus Car Rental Facility
Cleveland moved its car rental facility off-campus in 1998 to make way for airport expansion. Twenty-five years later, airport officials are now in discussions to move it back as part of a multi-year, multi-phase $3 billion plan to rebuild the airport. This is not an inexpensive endeavor, with early cost estimates putting the price tag at about $220 million. A good friend of mine was in town for a wedding in August and shared his experience of waiting in a long shuttle line at the Maplewood Avenue rental car facility. He was so concerned about missing his flight that he ended up calling for an Uber. The city added a new $6-per-day fee on cars rented at the airport in July 2023 to fund the relocation of the facility, and so far, it has raised $11.8 million. Bryant Francis, director of port control for Cleveland, said that conversations with rental-car representatives are ongoing, and he expects the move to happen by the end of the decade. Research clearly shows that travelers strongly prefer car-rental facilities that are on the main airport campus. Moving the rental car facility, he believes, "would greatly heighten the experience of users. It would be a great step forward."The Impact on Travelers
For travelers, the location of the car rental facility can make a significant difference. Waiting in long shuttle lines can cause stress and anxiety, especially when trying to catch a flight. In Seattle, giving oneself plenty of time to return the rental car and shuttle to the terminal is highly recommended. In Cleveland, the decision to move the facility back to the main campus is seen as a positive step to enhance the travel experience. Whether it's in Seattle or Cleveland, the convenience and accessibility of the car rental facility play a crucial role in the overall travel experience.
