The Fast Lane | TSA PreCheck

There is nothing more frustrating for air travelers than a seemingly endless line at airport security. Fortunately, ditching the extra-long wait (and cumbersome task of unpacking nearly all of the contents of your carry-on) is slowly becoming a trend of the past. In 2011, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) launched the TSA PreCheck program as an intelligence-based approach to expediting airport security.

What is TSA Pre✓?

The Transportation Security Administration manages and operates an expedited security screening program, allowing certain travelers to move through security more quickly and easily when departing from participating airports in the U.S.

What does TSA Pre✓mean for travelers?

TSA PreCheck allows low-risk travelers to experience expedited, more efficient security screening at participating U.S. airport checkpoints.

• If you have a TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass, proceed to the TSA Pre✓lane
• Present your boarding pass and Government-issued ID to the Travel Document Checker
• Have the TSA Travel Document Checker scan your boarding pass barcode
• Remember, your children age 12 and under may go with you
• Keep on your shoes and belt, your laptop in its case, and your 3-1-1 compliant bag in your carryon.

Experience:

• Quicker transit through airport security screening
• Faster moving lines
• Improved travel experience

No Removal of:

• Belt
• Shoes
• Light outerwear/jacket
• Compliant bag and laptop from carry-on

How does TSA Pre✓work?

Travelers can become part of the TSA PreCheck program in one of three ways:

• Pre-enrolling on the TSA.gov site 
• By invitation through an airline's frequent flier program
• Admission into another Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler program (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI) 

Learn more about the four Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler programs that include TSA Pre✓Eligibility

Here at Westwind Airport Valet the goal is to provide our clients with safe and convenient travel arrangements. Don’t forget you can book your parking reservation online quick and easy by visiting www.westwindairportvalet.com.

Tips From The Insiders

There's no place more reliable to get inside information than from the people who actually work there. Valet parking is no different. When it comes to getting the most out of your experience, especially at Westwind Airport Valet, the employees are the one's who know what to do, and what not to do, to get the best experience possible.

Vehicle Issues

When you valet your car, make sure you mention any issues, such as a door handle not operating properly, or a window that will not roll back up once down, to the valet. We take every precaution with your vehicle, but we simply do not know it like you do. Mentioning things like this will not only ensure we do not further complicate your vehicles issue, but will also help us in parking and retrieving your vehicle when you return.

Reservations

While Westwind Airport Valet does not require a reservation, we strongly recommend you make one. This however, does not include calling 10 minutes away. A reservation is 24 hours or more in advance of your arrival time.

This does several things. It guarantees you a spot, locks in your price, and allows us to be properly staffed for certain times.

We will always have a spot for you to park, but with a reservation we can get information from the reservation, that you may not have time for when pulling in.

Did I mention that reservations are FREE to make? If you have several trips already booked, you can make a reservation for each one and put your mind at ease about where and how you'll get to the airport. You can make one through several different channels. You can call us, visit our webpage, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, even this blog has a reservation portal on it! All of these ways to make reservations are also mobile friendly!

Reservations are also very important during the winter months for indoor parking. While we have room to accommodate outdoor valet, our indoor valet spots are limited. This is a great example of how a reservation would guarantee you a spot.

Cutting It Last Minute

We understand that time escapes us all. Whether you got stuck at the office late, an accident clogged traffic up, or it was a last minute flight, things get rushed once in a while.

The way we operate is "customer service on demand." When there is a customer who needs transporting, we go. We try our very best to be fast and efficient but there may be times that you show up while we're "in transit."

We cannot get in your car and go to the airport, we cannot magically make another driver appear. We cannot leave the building unattended, and we cannot make others wait, because you are running close. So please understand there is not much we can do, and do not take it out on us. We are doing the best we can to provide our world class service to every one of you every time.

Not The Weather Man

We provide excellent white glove services. From a hand wash, to a steam clean, from an oil change, to light body work, we try to help with your automotive needs while you are gone. This does not include predicting the weather.

When you arrive at our facility, we politely ask that you give us a yes or no answer. "If it doesn't rain" simply leaves too much room for the unpredictable, and could wind up leaving a car washed when it rains, or dirty when it doesn't.

Think of this. You say you want a car wash only if it's not raining when you return. The weather says it is supposed to rain all day. It is raining all morning. You are due to return at 1pm. It stops raining at 12:30 pm. You return to a dirty and say it's not raining, but yet it was raining earlier and was supposed to rain all day.

Help us help you by deciding on yes or no. We'll take care of the rest from there.

Never A Bad Question

We offer a variety of services. We also try to help out with what we can. If you have a special request, please ask. While we cannot do everything, we will certainly check into our ability to help you out with something while you are away.

Please Respect Other Customers By Following The Directions

Here at Westwind Airport Valet, we run "on demand." We do not run on a loop, or at certain times. The airport is also not fond of us sitting curbside and waiting on passengers. That is why we politely ask that you have you luggage IN HAND AND BE AT THE EXITS before giving us a call.

We do this because we know luggage gets lost, planes can take a while to unload the passengers, and the terminals can be congested during certain times.

While we do our very best to be all places at all times, it's just not possible. So if you call when you are actually ready to leave, it will only take a few quick minutes for pickup if one of our vehicles is not already over there.

We really do enjoy what we do and value building relationships with those who travel and use our service often, as well as those who trying our world class service for the first time. We believe we have a service that is truly an experience in itself and are proud to show it off. Each and every time we hope that you get the most out of our service and look forward to seeing you next time.

Dayton Airport Among Lowest Fares

In a recent article on Monday June 2, by Rachel Murray of the Dayton Daily News, it showcased part of the reason the Dayton International Airport is growing at the rate it is: low airfare.

The Dayton International Airport is the second lowest in the state, only behind Akron/Canton Airport, and is 37th lowest among the top 100 largest airports in the nation.

Dayton, averaging a price of $371 per round trip ticket, is almost $140 cheaper than the average round trip ticket out of CVG ($510). The competitive market at DAY is what makes these prices among the lowest around.

Some of the downsides of DAY however, is it's lack of non-stop flights originating there. Most trips out of DAY include stops when traveling.

Some of our customers say the short drive from Cincinnati and surrounding areas is well worth the savings.

The affordable airfares, easy accessibility and location, and affordable parking options, such as Westwind Airport Valet, make this airport a favorite among travelers in this region.

Worry Free Valet Parking

Handing your keys to a complete stranger not knowing what happens after you leave the valet is a test of trust for anyone. How are the cars parked? Close or far away? Squeezed together or spacious and roomy?

Well here at Westwind Airport Valet, you do not have to worry about those door dings, or scraped bumpers, when you need parking for the Dayton Airport. 

As you can see from the image above, our cars are parked comfortable apart, leaving ample room for our valets to get in and out of your vehicle. This eliminates door dings, broke mirrors, and minor scratches that are often found at other lots who cram in vehicles to make use of every inch. 

You'll also notice that we do not have parking blocks. With many sports cars being valeted with us at Westwind Airport Valet, the parking blocks posed an obstacle to their low front end clearance. With the blocks removed, we no longer worry about the bumpers being scratched or torn off, as there is nothing there to damage them!

So while we may be strangers when you first park with us, feel relieved that we have measures in place to take excellent car of your vehicle. After a few times, no longer will we be strangers and it will feel nothing but natural when you come to park at Westwind Airport Valet.

What's In Your Baggie?

We all have our morning/evening rituals that we do in the bathroom before we head out. From face washing, to lather, rinse, repeat, lather, rinse, repeat, it's the comfort of these things that allow us to feel fresh, radiant, and willing to take on the challenges of life. But what happens when all these things that come together to complete your ritual aren't available? Like when you are traveling? Do you take mini one's of everything? Do you buy it all when you get there? Do you ship it to yourself?

We asked a few of our customers, who were traveling for reasons ranging from work to moving, what they packed in their baggies (we refer to baggies as what the TSA tells us is acceptable to carry our products in).

MOST COMMON
The most common things we found people packed was shampoo and deodorant/antiperspirant. Most hotels don't provide deodorant/antiperspirant (some will upon request). And the shampoo and conditioner that are offered while will do the job, did not meet the standards of most of our travelers, so they opted to take their own.

MOST UNCOMMON
The most uncommon items we found packed by those we talked with were hair spray/hair gel and facial cleanser.

"We're going to Florida for a week and I plan on being on the beach for 90% of the time. I am not really worried about what my hair is doing but more about how my tan looks." Deb, one of our travelers, said.

The volume of the baggies we got to look at varied from barely anything inside to barely able to close. It didn't seem to matter how long our travelers were going to be gone for, it seemed more about that routine, that ritual, that was done each day before venturing out. Those will full baggies seemed to be more attached to that ritual that those with less filled.

So, what do you take in your baggie?

You're Flying Through Where?

If you travel a decent amount, you have airports that you prefer to avoid, and those that you prefer to travel through. From long layovers, to multiple layovers, to congested concourses, to long delays, to subpar places to grab some food, to horrible customer service, there are those things that affect how we view the airports we travel to and from. What ones do you prefer to stay away from? Why do you chose to steer clear of them?

On our list, as you probably guessed, are the major airports. With our travel originating out of a smaller airport, most of our stops end up being at major airports, as we don't have the luxury of many one way flights. Atlanta, Charlotte, Newark, and Chicago top our list of airports we all try to avoid when making travel plans. As most of us have learned, we tend to have no problem leaving our regional airport; it's getting to our final destination from one or more of the aforementioned places. Not only do these airports experience delays, but the amenities such as food, customer service, to the vastness of the terminal, all play a role in adding to the headache that these airports cause. Usually once we experience a problem at one, the rest of the trip is expected to be about the same. A delay here causes a missed connection there, which leads us to a night stay in the terminal, and a chaotic morning sparing only minutes between touch down and that hour long meeting.

Unfortunately these airports are necessary evils in order to reach the places we're going. A lot of patience, some things to take up your time, and the forethought to fit in these occurrences into your travel plans, ultimately save you from chaos once you reach your final destination.

Check this out for a list of the worst routes to fly plus some that aren't so bad.

WAV Makes Staying Connected Easy

Westwind Airport Valet has opened it's very own “Customer Business Center” which is designed to provide its customers with a quiet, stress free, office-like environment for taking care of any last minute details prior to being whist away to the airport, or immediately upon their return. FREE Wifi is available throughout the facility, but the CBC enables our guests to make copies, scan documents, send faxes, re-charge their electronic devices, even purchase stamps if necessary.

We understand that in the rush of things, especially those last minute travel plans, things can get lost in translation. Our CBC is our way of trying to help our customers get done what they need to. In a time where everything is continuously moving, this is just another tool that allows for things to do just that. 

If you find yourself in need of doing some of those last minute emails, scans for a presentation, or mail that needs to be dropped that day, simply ask one of the employees for our WiFi password, a stamp, or where the CBC is in our office, and they will gladly assist you with your needs.

While You Wait...

Sometimes is seems the more layovers you have the cheaper your flight will cost. While it might take you all day to go from A to B, the price cut may well be worth it. But what about the 4, 5, sometimes more, hours you spend waiting in the terminal for that connecting flight? Wasted time or not? What do you do while you wait?

Having various conversations with our wonderful fans that use Westwind Airport Valet when traveling out of the Dayton International Airport, we have come up with several things that seem to prevail over others. Using that and our own personal remedies for the time in between, here is what we have.

1. People Watch
Have you ever seen someone doing something like screaming into their phone, and wondered "What is that all about?" Or witnessed a person with the look of total confusion and wonder if they are going to make their flight? It's interesting to watch a human being from an outside perspective. It lets us know that we can be attentive and oblivious at the same time.

2. Eat
Nom, nom, nom! Eating is always a choice with tons of places to pick from in airports. From the isle side vendors to the full sit down restaurants, there is not shortage of places to grab a meal. A little tip. Certain foods cause you to be drowsy after consumption. If you have trouble flying, try eating some of these foods before your flight to help you maybe take a nap or be in a more sedated mood when flying.

3. Read
Reading is a great way to pass the time while traveling. If you have a good book, a long layover, and a few flights, you might be able to finish the entire thing. Not only does it keep your brain active, so when you arrive at your final destination you're not "lost", but it allows you to focus on what you are reading and not be distracted by factors that can stress you out. I think it's safe to say that there is a bookstore in about every airport.

4. Drink
Make it a double! Some people head straight to the bar. Many people have the misassumption that alcohol will "calm my nerves" because they're a nervous flier. Actually alcohol is a stimulant and does the opposite of what you think it does. Most airport, TSA, and airline companies will tell you to try to avoid alcohol consumption before flight, but magically they all serve alcohol aboard the flight. Ironic? Of course you can drink enough to pass out if your that nervous of a flier, but try to find alternatives to calm your nerves.

5. Sleep
That flight at 5 a.m. comes quick. And if it was a last minute plan, or procrastination just took over, you might not have gotten that full nights sleep. So catch a few Z's while you wait. If you are a light sleeper, try putting some headphones in, with or without music playing, to drown out background noise. Just be sure you have a way of waking up, either by alarm, a travel partner, or someone who is waiting on the same flight as you. Asking someone around you if they will be so kind as to wake you up in 30 minutes etc., usually is not a problem for most travelers and can even be a great way to strike up a conversation.

6. Work
Most of us know it never stops. And just because you're traveling, does not mean that the work flow back at the office is getting put on hold just for you. Doing work while you are waiting is great way to stay ahead of the game and keep things on a level so you do not have an overload of to-do's when you get back to the office.

These are just a very few of the things you can do while you wait. After sitting for so long, getting up and walking around is a good way to spend the layover time and get some exercise. If the wait is long enough, see about checking out the local town, grab a shower, etc. There are plenty of options to chose from when waiting on a flight.

What do you like to do?

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!

Welcome to the WAV Blog!

Welcome to Westwind Airport Valet's Blog! Here you can come to read about promotions, deals, tips, tricks, and other tidbits about parking, airport travel, and more!

Westwind Airport Valet provides airport parking for travelers going out of the Dayton International Airport. We are locally owned and operated, employ a small group of wonderful employees and have the best fans in the business!

Our valet parking is nothing but the best. We provide covered parking or uncovered parking, valet parking only, and also a wide array of vehicle services such as oil changes and details.

With the airlines being a stress factor, parking at the airport can be just as bad. With Westwind Airport Valet, we take that stress out of airport parking. 


Make your FREE online reservation for Dayton Airport Parking with Westwind Airport Valet, “Park and Fly with a Limo Ride!”