Indoor Parking at Westwind Airport Valet

Indoor parking sounds self explanatory. Parking. Indoors. Assuming for the entire duration the vehicle is parked. Right? Well we thought so too. That's why when you park indoors with us, it is guaranteed to be parked inside our climate controlled, covered garage for the entire duration your vehicle is parked with us.

A few of our customers have pointed out that when they have paid for "indoor/garage" parking at other places, it was misleading. When you park at a parking garage for example, if you park in the outer spaces, your vehicle is left open to the elements that may trickle in. Not exactly what you expect, to come back to a snow covered vehicle when you are paying to park inside a garage.

With us, never worry about any of that as all the vehicles parked inside are completely sheltered from the elements outside, all of the time.

Take a look at the video to get a brief look at where our indoor parkers vehicles are kept.

What Makes Customer Service?

Sure, there are places that may offer a price that is lower than ours. If you are cost conscious then price may drive enough to not care about the quality of customer service you receive. But here at work we believe it is our customer service that keeps our wonderful fans coming back time and time again, and also enables them to spread the word of our business to others. 

So when people ask me how we keep almost all of our customers even after just one experience with us, I tell them it's not our price, or location, or any of that. It's our customer service. What makes our customer service so good? Well, I know that there are many, many attributes that make a great customer service, but to me there are a few things I find myself telling the employees up here time and time again. 

Smile! Sounds corny right? But believe me it does wonders. Being in the transportation/travel industry, things happen, flights get delayed, weather causes slow driving times, etc. and coming in to a facility to see the staff with a smile on their face and a warm "hello" at the beginning of a long week or the end of a long and tiresome trip, can help to ease that stress and tension. 

Yes we can! We offer a wide array of different services for our fans to take advantage of while they are gone. Every now and then we get a special request for something out of the box or not our typical service. We try to say yes as much as we can. Fans love to hear you say "yes" and they will remember that next time they tell someone about your company or come in to use your service. While saying yes is great, you should also know when to say "no" as well. Not everything is feasible to say "yes" to.

Communication is key! Communication with your employees, with your fans, with the community. Communication will allow you to understand how to better serve your fans by listening to what they would like to see, or listening to your employees on what works and what could be better. This keeps your customer service in an always evolving state to allow it to cater to the fans wants and needs.

The anticipation is killing me! We try our best to anticipate what our fans will want and beat them to it. By anticipating what your fans will want, ask for, need, or complain about, you can be better prepared to answer which in turn makes for good customer service. 

Let's get personal. I won't go into exact numbers, but we have several thousand fans that use us on a regular basis, and between everyone on our team, we know every one of them. Not just recognizing their vehicle, but their name, even where they fly out to, or that they always like a car wash, or their window doesn't roll down. The attention to detail builds personal relationships with your fans and makes them feel comfortable. The more comfortable a fan feels about your company and the people that work there, will keep them coming back. 

From beginning to end, great customer service anticipates what will happen, and while having a plan in place, still allows for flexibility to meet those unexpected needs. These few things are just what I believe sets us apart from the others in our area of the industry and allows us to retain so many of our fans even after only one time with us. What do you think makes great customer service?

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.

Sleeping in an Airport

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday this 2012 season, and is ready to welcome in a new year. Over the holiday's, I had several family members and friends travel in from out of state. Some drove and some flew in from various places. We didn't have the weather we usually have, that is until right after the holiday when everyone was departing back to the respective places. I dropped one of my close friends off at the airport, fully expecting they wouldn't make it out, due to the weather we had that day. Unusually, they were on one of four flights that made it out that day. Never crossed my mind that they would get stuck overnight at their connecting flight stop due to mechanical malfunctions.

This brings me to what this post is about, sleeping in an airport. People sleep in airports for various reasons. Some are voluntary, some are not. But either way, an airport is not a five start hotel. No, far from it. But if you will be staying in one, or are in the situation where you have no choice or don't want to cough up $100 plus dollars for a hotel, there are several things you can do to be prepared for that dreadfully long stay at an airport.

Be prepared. If you know beforehand the weather is going to be bad, expect there to be delays or cancellations.

Wear extra clothing. Airplanes themselves can be quite chilly and airports are no exception. Not only will wearing extra clothing help keep you warm, but that sweatshirt you have on can also double as a pillow for you to sleep on.

Soft ear plugs. This should be obvious.

Sunglasses. Believe it or not, some airports do not allow you to lay down or close your eyes. Sunglasses can be a clever way of disguising that, as well as providing the illusion of darkness to better help you sleep.

Have a way to wake up. Whether that be an alarm on a cell phone, or an alarm on a watch, make sure you have a way to wake up.

A breakfast bar/snack/food of some kind. Not everything in the airport is open all the time, and vending machines can be hard to come by. So if your sticking it out overnight at the airport, and you had counted on having that 16oz. prime rib for dinner but now are trying to make it on an empty stomach, that power bar or granola bar will come in handy. You can always buy a small snack too once you arrive, or if you realize that you may not take off, just in case.

A small blanket/pillow. These are not a necessity, if you dress with extra clothing much of that can be doubled as a blanket or pillow, but these never hurt. Also, don't be hesitant to ask the attendants at the counter for a pillow and blanket that the airline should provide. Just be polite and ask. Also, don't forget to return the items when you awake.

An electronic device for watching movies or listening to music. This goes without saying that you may indeed be in the airport for a long period of time, with no stores open to browse, television to watch, or things to do in general.

Look around at your surroundings. Security in airports post 9-11 has certainly become an issue of social mainstream. You should not feel as paranoid about your belongings, as everyone in the airport has had to pass through security and has a reason to be there. However, your personal items, such as passports, money, etc., should be kept somewhere that if you are to sleep, someone would have to wake you in order to get to them. Also, being aware of your surroundings includes knowing where your terminal is for the next flight. If you do not want to sleep sitting up, you may have to venture to find chairs that will allow you to lay down, and they may not be at your gate.

While some of you may be staying at the airport intentionally (afraid of missing the early morning flight, etc.), there are those that are going to be forced to stay. Remember as well, airport officials take the stance that an airport is "not a hotel." If it's bad enough, airlines will often try to offer discounted rates at local hotels for you to stay at. Some might even compensate you for the hotel. Others will offer nothing. Whatever your situation is, staying at an airport does not have to be an all-nighter. With a little forward thinking and preparedness, staying at an airport can save you money and not be a bank buster or stressful event.

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?