Friday, September 5, 2014

NAIA Terminal 3 - Covered Parking


The opening of Ninoy Aquino International Airport  (NAIA) Terminal 3's covered parking is a welcome development in the operations of T3. Suddenly, T3 seems to have spread itself wider. In fact, upon my recent arrival from Davao, I noticed a much longer walk to get to the baggage claim. Think KLIA2's long walk to the immigration.

Why would anyone use the open air parking in front of the terminal when you have a more convenient parking area that's probably cheaper - and safer, for that matter. There's ample space and it's way way easier to maneuver your vehicles here. Moreover, you only have to walk a few steps to get to the arrival/departure area because the building is essentially contiguous to the airport terminal.

The spacing of cars/vehicles are quite uneven though. There's more-than-enough space at the sides (really wide space to open your doors), but spaces elsewhere are quite tight. The parking building has 5 levels. The top 2 levels (4 and 5) are allegedly reserved for the officials and employees of the airport, but this is yet to be verified.

TROLLEYS

Trolleys aren't allowed here. If you're coming from the arrival hall, you can take a trolley into the parking building but you'd have to leave it at the corner space provided (left of the doors, see photo #7, blue arrow). The concourse are mostly one way. Two moving vehicles hardly fit the main driveways.

FEES

Entrance fee is PhP40 which gives you 23 hours to stay in the building. After the 23rd hour, you'll be tasked to pay PhP300 (talk about exponential raise). If you lose the ticket, you'd have to shell out PhP400. This means that if you clock in at 11 PM today, you may stay as long as 10:59 PM the next day without paying additional tariff. Recently, they've increased the rate for lost tickets to P500.

OVERNIGHT AND EXTENDED PARKING

For those who plan to leave their vehicle in the covered parking overnight or for several days, no prior permission needed. Just go straight to the parking building. Inform parking authorities (security guard/cashier) about your extended parking, get their names (for reference), keep your parking stub (given upon entry) and expect to pay PhP300 per night (per 24 hours) plus PhP15 per succeeding hour. That means, If you're planning to park your car for 5 days, then expect to pay PhP1,500 plus PhP15 per succeeding hour. If you have further questions, call (63-2) 877-7888 and ask to be connected to Collection Department, the department that answers queries about the multi-level, covered parking.

NO MOTORCYCLES and BIKES

I asked the Collection Department about this. No, they do not have space for motorcycles and bikes - and do not allow them in the covered parking. There's an open parking in front of the terminal for that.

SHUTTLE BUS TO OTHER TERMINALS

If you're planning on parking your car at Terminal 3 even though you're flying out from, say Terminal 4, there is a Shuttle Service that parks at the Arrival Bay 8. this shuttle ride is free of charge for ticketed passengers. It will charge a minimum fee of PhP20 for nonticketed guests. The ride has a 24-hour service (though I honestly doubt if it really runs 24/7 specially during wee hours). Make sure you allott enough time to cover the usually-moderate-to-heavy traffic characteristic of the roads between terminals. this shuttle ride provides an option aside from the taxi ride.

NO CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS

The covered parking does not accept credit card as payment, and all payment transactions will be on a strictly cash payment basis.

MEDIA

This was asked by one of the readers so I asked the Collection Department about their policy concerning media practitioners. Media people who do not have tickets are NOT allowed to enter the departure hall unless they have prior permit from the management. This has to be arranged prior to the visit and is subject to requirements. The "no ticket, no entry" policy at the departure hall is strictly implemented.

AVOID MARY GRACE CAFE

And just so you avoid delays, if you're taking a meal or snack at the Food Court, we feel we need this special mention. Avoid Mary Grace Cafe. The place is messy, the servers take forever to serve you and they forget orders.

SECURITY

There are security guards who are quick to tell off drivers who double park (and there are a number). Vehicles HAVE to park to load/unload... unless you feel quite special not to park.

Parking at 1st level leads you straight to the arrival hall of the terminal. There's a security and an X-ray check upon entry into the terminal. Place your coins, wallet, keys and cellular phones on a canister and allow them to pass through the X-ray. If you're meeting an arriving passenger, then you'd have to walk a few meters to the greeting area. Very convenient. If you're parked at the 2nd or 3rd level, you may use the elevator situated at the extreme end of the main terminal, just before exiting to the parking building. Take note though: The elevator buttons are marked LA, LB, LC, LD, LE instead of numbers (photos # 8 and 9). This is means LA is level 1; LB is level 2, and so on. (Sigh! That was hard.)

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Entrance to the covered parking building from the ground level entrance (arrival level).

Some have generous space while others are a tight squeeze.






Red arrow points to the main hallway of T3 (this one's the arrival hall). Blue arrow points to where you should leave the trolley. Green X is part of the parking building.

4 elevators servicing the terminal.

Elevator buttons aren't marked with numbers but letters., thus Levels A to E.



The departure hallway area just before heading towards the parking building exit (to the left).

Hallway directly leading to the parking building. There's an X-ray machine there for incoming guests from the parking building.

Straight out of the plane, you walk into the building and before going down the escalator on your way to the baggage conveyors, you see the Well-Wisher's Area above which is mostly empty. Most greeters wait at the exit hall of arrival level, instead of here because you'd have to walk your way back to the arrival hall to meet them anyway. Unless you're extremely excited to see your arriving guest, that is. 

Two payment booths at the exit. Pay PhP40 within 23 hours of stay.

Upon exit, you head straight out facing Resorts World's parking building (below) and out into the highway (going right).




63 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is it allowed to park for 4 days?

eye in the sky said...

I can only assume that it is, BUT you should inform them upon entry. There will clearly be fees involved (I think it's P300 once you go beyond 23 hours). It is imperative that they've been given due notice just to avoid any problems.

Anonymous said...

Hi!Is it possible to leave a car for 7 days? How much the charges would that be in this case? Thanks for the info in advance.

eye in the sky said...

As said in the reply to an earlier query, it is possible but I don't have information on the rate. One thing's sure, you have to inform them if you're planning on staying for more than 23 hours. P40 is the flat rate for parking within 23 hours. Beyond that, you are charged P300, and P400 for a lost parking ticket. I am not sure if the same rate applies for a 7-day parking. I suggest you give NAIA3 a call for that.

yellahfellah said...

Is it possible to park here and then proceed to the Departure Area (with your baggages)? I assume that Arriving passengers can bring their baggages to the multi-level parking (using a trolley) up to a certain point.

eye in the sky said...

Yellahfellah,

Yes, it is. You can park then secure a trolley found at the entrance to the main terminal and take your baggage with you inside (there's a security/xray check, of course). There's the elevator (and stairs) to access the departure or arrival area.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this informative piece. Can I access or directly park my car here from the "Departure Area" or access is limited from the ground level (Arrival Area)? TYVM.

eye in the sky said...

From the departure area, there's no path that leads to the entrance of the covered park. You have to exit the terminal compound and turn right to the main road across Resorts World, find a U-turn somewhere, then enter once again through the arrival area (ground level) where the entrance is. :) Yup, access is limited.

Anonymous said...

Hi! Do I need to make a reservation to park for 4 days or do I go straight to the parking area and just inform the guards on the day of my departure?

eye in the sky said...

Information provided by "Collection Department" (where inquiries about the Covered Parking are entertained) - No reservations necessary for this. Just go straight to the Covered Parking, inform the guards on the day of your departure, and expect an overnight fee of PhP300 per day. Since you mentioned 4 days, that will be PhP1,200 + PhP15/hour for every succeeding hour. This is a direct quotation (and computation) from the staff where inquiry was made.

I have to emphasize though that it is imperative that you inform the parking authorities (guard, cashier) about this 4-day stay and be sure to get the names of the persons you informed - just to be on the safe side.

Eric said...

Very informative. Thank you for sharing.

eye in the sky said...

You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

hi, im meeting a an arriving passenger and its my first time in naia3 arrival area. apology for asking a very specific details but i hope you could help me.

so when i got to enter the arrival entry where will I find the covered parking entrance? where is it located left or right? though i may ask it from the guard but just wanted to be ready thats why im asking.

also, i will be waiting for a couple of hours upon the arrival of the person i will be meeting so where can i stay. I believe there is a foodcourt and some stores there, but are they open to anyone? im was just thinking that maybe its only for passengers?

eye in the sky said...

If you're facing the terminal from outside the arrival area, you enter (on foot) at the right-most entrance. Once inside, the car park is at the left-most part of the building, at the opposite side of the entrance.

However, if you're driving and parking, the car park entrance is at the extreme end from the entrance road (right side of the terminal building) - you drive straight ahead to the end of the the road then turn right to the parking entrance. There's a booth there for your parking ticket. You pay upon exit.

Most areas in Terminal 3 are open for non-ticketed guests, EXCEPT the check-in/departure hall. This means you can actually roam a huge chunk of the place while waiting: window-shop, chug a cup of coffee or tea; browse your phone in one of the cafes; say a prayer at the terminal chapel; get a massage or a haircut at an airport spa; dine at the many shops even during the wee hours; withdraw local tender or exchange foreign money, etc. Most shops are open 15 hours or longer, several of them 24 hours a day. The airport isn't dead even after midnight.

eye in the sky said...

Needless to say, there is an entrance from the parking area straight inside the terminal because the're contiguous structures.

Anonymous said...

Hi thanks for the very helpful info. so when i drive i will enter the arrival entrance and pass thru the front of the airport where arriving passenger exits. until i got to the end then right and finally there's the carpark entrance.

eye in the sky said...

Yes, that's it.

Anonymous said...

hi. sir ask ko lang tase one time may inihatid po dyan kami sa naia3 doon po kami nag park sa covered parking dahil puno na po yung sa labas

tapos po non inihatid na po namin siya sa parang entranace door doon din po sa loob ng covered parking . yung pagaka pasok mo po yung may x-ray mchine at nag elevator na kami pataas

halos po lahat ng signage na nakita ko sa picture dito sa site na ito ay kaparehas din doon sa naia3 pati narin yung mga ibang pictures tulad po ng covered pariking kung saan kami pumarada.

ak ko lang po jung arrival or departure entrance ang aming pinasukan. dahil nung inihatid na po namin siya ay doon din po kami lumabas sa ccovered parking

eye in the sky said...

I am not sure I get what you're asking. Anyway, the entrance to the terminal where the Xray is is the Arrival Hall. If you walk straight ahead without using the elevator or taking the stairs, you'll reach the area where guests arrive. This is the meeting area of the arriving passengers and their "sundo". If you used the elevator, then you went to the "Departure Hall" for the check in of departing passengers - at the 2nd level. I hope that's what you're asking for?

Anonymous said...

i guess thats what i asking ..... thanks a lot :)

eye in the sky said...

You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU SIR!!!

eye in the sky said...

YOU'RE WELCOME!!! :)

Taga South said...

Thanks! Very informative ! I dont need to take a taxi anymore. Matipid pa for people who are leaving far from the airport.

eye in the sky said...

True. It's a better, convenient option than taking the taxi. :)

Jer said...

Sir, in your reply dated May 2, 2105

Am I right that you said departure is at 2nd level?

Then can I correct this that it should be 3rd level or LC for the elevator to go to departures check in counter? or am I missing something.... Thanks a lot for your blogpost, very helpful....

eye in the sky said...

Jer,

Of course you can correct me. But the official levels of the main terminal building is this:

1st floor/ ground floor - arrival hall;

2nd floor - departure hall.

3rd floor - shopping mall/food plaza.

There is a mezzanine between the 1st and 2nd floors where the administrative offices and the chapel are located.

If you follow the elevator buttons, it would seem like there's 5 floors, but there's none. There are actually just 3. There are 5 buttons there. But if you look at the labels, there are only 4. So this flooring is strictly for elevator use only. For all intents and purposes, there are just 3 floors. ASk the guards where the departure hall is, and they will say "Nasa 2nd floor, sir." Even the escalators go straight to the departure hall, you have to use the stair if youre headed to the chapel.

Saying that the departure hall is on the 3rd is misleading. It is at the 2nd level. In fact, even when you're coming from the road outside, the leveling is very distinct and clear. There's the road that goes straight to the arrival area, and there's an elevated ramp that heads to the departure area which is the second level, not the 3rd. :)

Anonymous said...

sir ask ko lng po kung puwede ka po makapasok sa departure are pag ssamahan nyo po siya sa loob . pag may kasama ka po na may ID ng MEDIA

eye in the sky said...

As far as I know, the guards manning the departure hall have been instructed to only allow ticketed guests. Media personnel need prior clearance (and thus will be given passes) from the terminal authorities to gain access to the Departure Hall.

Gio said...

Thank you for posting this!!
Very Informative.

Question: Can I use my credit card in paying the parking fee?

eye in the sky said...

Gio,

Unfortunately, the covered parking does NOT accept credit cards for payment, this information coming straight from the Collection Department which handles inquiries related to the covered parking.

Anonymous said...

Sir, sorry if di ko nabasa yung comment about non-ticketed guest. So incase na magpark ako and wala pa ako ticket. How can I go to departure area from the covered parking? My ticket will be given by my agent at the departure area. Dala ko lang is duffle bag lng naman - Alvin

eye in the sky said...

Alvin,

Your agent will, in principle, not be allowed at the departure area unless he has a valid ticket AND passport himself unless he "knows" somebody from the terminal who would give him a "pass". However, there are many areas at the terminal (airport) which allows nonticketed people: the whole Arrival Hall is open to everyone, even those without tickets/passport; the shopping malls and Food Hall at the 3rd level are open to public. The chapel and waiting/viewing hall at the mezzanine (between the departure and arrival hall)are also open to nonticketed guests. You and your agent can agree to meet on these aforementioned areas, all of them accessible from the covered parking. I don't understand though why you cannot meet your agent prior to the day of your flight, but then that's your business. Safe travels.

Unknown said...

Hi, just want to ask, our departure terminal is at Terminal 4 but our arrival terminal is at Terminal 3. We decided to park our car at the covered parking. Are there better ways of transport from covered parking to terminal 4? Or do we have no other option but to take a taxi? Thank you in advance.

eye in the sky said...

Erickson,

There is an airport shuttle that parks at the Arrival Bay 8. This will transport passengers from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4. This service is free for ticketed passengers, but if there's a nonticketed passenger accompanying you, a minimal fee of PhP20 will be charged to the nonpassenger. This shuttle is supposed to be available 24 hours a day but I have my doubts re: "24 hours". This is one option other than the taxi. There has to be enough time allotted for travel between the 2 terminals because of intermittently heavy traffic between the terminals.

Unknown said...

Hi is the flat rate still at 40PhP good for 24hrs?

eye in the sky said...

Nicca,

As of July 12 when I was last at the terminal (3), that rate still stands. For an update, call 877-7888.

escargotiskuhol said...

Thanks for this post. Very informative! Two thumbs up!

eye in the sky said...

Thanks. :)

Unknown said...

is it safe to park at naia terminal 3...wla bang mangyayaring masama sa car namin kht 3 days sya n iwanan...can i get a guarantee with this matter

Unknown said...

sigurado po bang safe ang sasakyan nmin pag nag park kmi dito.. wla po bang mangyayaring masama sa sasakyan kht iwan sya ng 3 days?

eye in the sky said...

If it's a guarantee you want from me, then you won't get it from me. The point being, even if you park in Malacanang Palace or Central Bank, there is never a 100% guarantee that nothing is going to happen to your car. Suffice it to say that hundreds of people leave their cars for days, even weeks, in this terminal. I recently went to Tokyo and left my Adventure for a week. It was still there when I got back. Was I afraid that something would happen to it while I was away? Yes. There is never an assurance that it would be 100% safe. If you have the slightest of doubts in your mind of the safety of a place, then don't.

escargotiskuhol said...

Thanks for this very helpful blog post! I left my car there last week and was very satisfied by the convenience, security and rate. Highly recommended!

eye in the sky said...

You're welcome. :)

Anonymous said...

Additional question if i may, no need to drop the keys to them right? thanks in adavance :)

Anonymous said...

Hello,
Is it possible to park and sleep at the parking lot of terminal 3 with my family 1 day before my flight? Since they are only going to accompany me at the airport, we cant find a place to spend the night coz we cant afford hotels and lack of familiarity to the place. Hope you can help me.

eye in the sky said...

Rommel,

It's a parking space, not a valet service. So... you take your keys with you when you park your car and leave.

eye in the sky said...

Anonymous from Nov. 18:

There are no restrictions to staying inside your car while it is parked there. Yes, you may sleep there. However, Terminal 3 now has a pod hotel, a lodge if you will. It's called "The Wings Transit Lounge" located at the 3rd level, the same level where the Food Court is. There is a Family Room that will cost you P2,500 inclusive of meals for a 5 hour stay. This is for a family of 4. If youre staying for 8 hours, the rate is P3200 (also for 4 persons) with P530 charge for every hour of extension. If this is too steep for you, yes, you may stay in your car without any problems from the parking management. The parking building is open 24 hours a day.

Anonymous said...

bless eve,marami po ba available slot parking?paalis po kasi ako bukas iiwan ko nalang ang service ko balik din po ng gabi.hindi na ako magsasama ng driver.thnx

eye in the sky said...

It's a 5-level parking building. There's more than adequate space for everyone. I have never encountered a full capacity parking even during peak travel seasons so it's easy to say that there's nothing to worry about availability of space at any time.

Navam Pakianathan said...

Hi I have a flight from Terminal 2. I would like to leave my car for 5 days in covered parking. Is there covered parking at Terminal 2? If not, can I leave my car in Terminal 3 parking and travel easily to Terminal 2? You mentioned free shuttle to Terminal 4. Is there any such service to Terminal 2?

eye in the sky said...

Navam,

I am not an authority on Terminal 2, but as far as I know, there's no covered parking in that terminal. Of course you can park your car in T3 (and leave it there for 5 days or more) and then take the shuttle bus to T2 for your flight out of the country. As far as I was told, these shuttle buses travel to all 4 terminals and supposedly leave the station every 15-20 minutes ("as i was told") but don't bet on their punctuality. Allot enough transit time because traffic between these terminals move on snail velocity. "Traveling easily" is not a sure bet.

Anonymous said...

Is the Multi-level parking open at 3am in the morning? Our flight is at 5am and we intend to leave our car there for a couple of days.

eye in the sky said...

It's open 24-7,

Navam Pakianathan said...

Thank you so much for all your valuable information. Here is some current info:
1. The parking charge is 300 peso per night. We parked early morning 28th and exited evening of 31st and were charged 900 peso. Very reasonable!
2. The transfer from Terminal 3 to 4 operates from 5 AM to 1 AM
3. While exiting the aircraft at T3, I noticed a sign that said: Passengers transferring to T2 this way. I'm assuming that there is a free shuttle to T2 as well.
4. Just dont forget that even if you are on departure, you must take the left lane into and through the Arrival Area to get to the Multi-level (Covered) parking. Just drive straight to the end of the Arrival lane and turn right. The board may say 'Parking Full' but ignore that. There was plenty of parking when we arrived on 28th Dec early morning.

eye in the sky said...

Thanks for sharing your updates, Navam. :)

bagwis said...

Thank you for the post. I will try this today and update it if there are any changes as of today.

Anonymous said...

I parked there many times and never informed anyone there that I will park or leave my car for couple of days or nights. No problem encountered.

One Valenzuela said...

Update: It is quite hard to park at the multilevel covered parking as of Dec 26 2016, guards are directing people to park at the open parking of terminal 3.

Unknown said...

Hi Sir,

Di ba nauubusan ng parking slots dito? My flight kasi is on January 27th pero never ko pa natry.. Always taxi ako.. While running thru the comments, it appears safe naman yung facility... my question lang is, never ba magkachance na bigla puno yung covered parking??? Appreciate if you can respond...

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

There's a new point-to-point bus service to Clark Airport with its pick-up point at T3 Bay 14 Arrival. I intend to take this bus service to Clark in the morning but will also be back in the evening. Can I leave my vehicle in the covered parking? Also, if I do use this parking facility, how do I get back outside so I can walk to the pick-up point? Thanks.

Unknown said...

gud pm po.. pwede po b mag antay near at the passenger exit point with my mountain bike..to pick up some padala..frm balikbayan person..tnx...

Unknown said...

Thanks