Some FAQ's about WAV

We get first time parkers at Westwind Airport Valet every day. It can be an experience if you are not familiar with what valet parking service is. We get some questions more frequently than others, and we get questions that are firsts for us as well.

Read on and get some answers to some FAQ's, and find out more about what a typical experience is when you park with us here at WAV.

Do I need to have a reservation to park with you?
No. You are not required to have a reservation. But we do recommend that you make one. Reservations are free make. They reserve you a spot, save a few minutes upon check in, and allow us to be extra prepared for your arrival.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
Not a problem! Westwind Airport Valet is open 24/7. If you have time amid all the chaos to call us and let us know that you are delayed or cancelled, we appreciate it on our end. But either way, there will always be someone here to pick you up on your return.

Where will you pick me up when I return?
When you return, as will be explained again below, just give us a call and we'll send someone right over to collect you and your luggage.

WAV Pick up and Drop off Locations

If you look at the image above, it shows an aerial view of the Dayton International Airport. Depending on the number of fans, and the vehicle being used, drop off and pick up will occur at the inner or outer lanes. The first two stars highlight our drop off area. This entrance to the Dayton International Airport is directly in to the ticket counters. Pick up will occur at the opposite end of the terminal by baggage claim. The two highlighted areas at the baggage claim end of the terminal are located at the VERY end of the terminal. Again what lane we pick you up at will be relayed to you upon your return call. A yellow fire hydrant is located on the outer lanes of traffic where we pick up at for a visual reference.

What is a typical experience like at Westwind Airport Valet?

Here's a run-through of how your experience will go.

You pull into our lot and proceed to the right side of the building. There are signs that direct you if you get a little confused. Once on the right side of the building you will pull to the first garage door. It also has signs reading "Valet" and "Enterance". If the door is closed, a few seconds will go by while they automatically open. From there, please pull forward and to the right as to allow other fans to pull in behind you. 

Once you are in our building, this is where our world class white glove service takes charge. While one of our employees gets your return information and any services you would like done, a chauffeur will transfer your luggage from your vehicle to ours. After than, we take you directly to the Dayton International Airport. The whole process from the time you pull in to our facility to the time you step foot at the terminal is about 5-7 minutes. 

While you are gone, we will perform the services you have requested so that they are complete by the day you return. If you have requested a service and your return information changes, please update us. The more time in advance we know, the better we can assure that the service is done. 

When you return, we simply ask that you have both collected all of your luggage and reached the exits before you call.We are not permitted to wait at the Dayton International Airport for excessive amounts of time. We understand the luggage is coming out and you expect your bags to be the next ones off, but history has told us that bags can get lost, misplaced, seized, broke, taken, you name it. So while you think it may only be two minutes until you have your bags, please do not be offended when we ask that you call us back when you have bags in hand before we send someone over. 

Once you are back here, checking out with our desk attendant is all you have to worry about, as the chauffeur will again transfer your luggage from our vehicle to yours. If it's cold out, we will start your car and have it heating. If it's hot out, we will have it started and cooling off for your return. We also provide a nice cold refreshing bottle of water to every one of our fans. The return process, as the arrival process, takes minutes. 

While your here, you can also enroll in our WAV Rider program. It allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for every service we offer. We only require that a Credit Card be left on file. This too is a perk of the program, as the Credit Card is run when you call to be picked up, and when you return, there is no need to come in and check out. A copy of the receipt will be waiting for you in your vehicle.

That is a typical experience of valet parking with us here at Westwind Airport Valet. Believe it or not, we have been told that is can be so seamless and easy that our customers almost forget what they're doing or where they're going. If you do happen to forget something, we'd be more than glad to retrieve it from your vehicle and bring it over to you before your flight. 

Hope this provides some insight as to what world class white glove service you can expect when parking with us. If you have any other questions, you can check our website out to learn some more, or call us.

Hunting Season: Traveling with Firearms

Hunting season is here. And it is there too. And over there. And down there. It's everywhere. Which makes traveling to those opportune hunting areas a weekend priority on a lot of lists. Some travel local, a short drive. Some travel long distances, halfway around the world. Others are somewhere in between. No matter where your final destination is, traveling on an airline with a firearm can be a serious thing.

Firearms have been making the flights right along side the humans who use them for about as long as passenger flights have been operating. It is perfectly legal for someone to travel with a secure, unloaded, cased and locked, legal firearm. The most daunting part of the whole process, happens before you even start to pack for your trip.

The TSA has rules and regulations for traveling with a firearm. As well, each airline has rules and regulations for traveling with firearms and ammo.

Some things to expect when traveling with a firearm:

Make sure you read the TSA guidelines as well as your airlines guidelines
Some airlines don't allow you to transport ammo and weapon in the same case.

Do not get a "TSA lock"
You can put more locks than a state prison on your case. But you should be the only one who can open them. Ever.

Get a good case
We all know that sometimes that souvenir you packed to bring back to your Aunt Jean of a hula girl doesn't always make it. Don't risk ruining your hunting trip by chancing something happening to your beloved firearm or equipment by packing it in a cheap case.

Listen to Announcements, Ask Questions
Every airport is different and each airline is different. While one might put your gun case on the conveyor belt, another airline or airport may require you to pick it up at the airline counter. Listen to the announcements, as they will often say "firearm cases" can be claimed here. Also, don't hesitate to ask the desk employee when checking in where you can reclaim your firearm when landing.

Have a little patience
The TSA has to do their job. The airline personnel have to do theirs. No matter how quick you get checked in and on with it, your flight will still take off at the same time. And when traveling with a firearm, it may take some time. Remember there will be papers for you to fill out about the firearm, ammo, declarations of being unloaded, etc. And then the TSA will have to check the case and contents. Patience. Hopefully that big 18 point bad boy you've been baiting and feeding all summer and fall hasn't been shot by the neighbor who's on his first hunting trip.

With a little research, things should go smoothly. Just remember, research first. When traveling with a firearm, in a crowded airport, on a plane, things can go south quickly as I'm sure you can imagine. Don't let that happen. Best of luck to all you hunters out there this season!

Everything At Your Fingertips

Automated kiosks. Computer check-ins. iPhones. Smartphones. Tablets. Getting a boarding pass, checking in, getting information, or checking a flight status is all available with a few simple clicks. Whether those clicks come on a computer or a phone, the airline industry has embraced the technology advances with open arms.

Airports now offer automated kiosks, apps on your smartphone, and websites that allow you to do everything you need to do, from the comfort of ... wherever. And now, you don't even have to be present to check in on your flight. Several airlines have an option that allow you to automatically be checked in and receive your boarding pass hours before your flight.

Every day there seems to be something that comes out that seems to streamline the process of getting from point A to B. Even here at Westwind Airport Valet, we have embraced the ever changing world of technology.

We offer several QR codes for our airport parking business that will take you straight to our reservation site, where you can make/change/cancel your reservation. All from the comfort of wherever you happen to be at the time. Other codes take you to our Facebook or Twitter pages, where after a few simple clicks, you can get one of the offers from our airport parking fan pages.

The airlines, the airports, the airport parking, and other travel companies are all becoming more and more available on the various platforms that streamline the process. From the QR codes that offer a quick scan option, to apps that allow you to book, check in, and cancel tickets, to an automatic check in, everything from airlines to airport parking is becoming easily available at your fingertips!