Beware of “mine parking” at airports during summer vacation! 4 things to check” to protect yourself from theft

There are nearly 100 parking lots for travelers in the vicinity of Narita Airport. There are many different types of parking lots, but how do you know if you are in a “mine parking lot” or not? Here are some tips for your next visit.

1. Always “confirm by phone” even when making reservations online.

It goes without saying that you should be wary of any store that uses poor language or has a bad attitude. It is no exaggeration to say that the attitude of the customer is directly related to how the car is treated when it is in storage. Many people make reservations online because the prices are relatively low, but we recommend that you always make an inquiry by phone before using the service.

2. Be sure to check word of mouth.

You never know what kind of staff you will find until you get there. That is why it is important to check word of mouth. In particular, you should gather information paying attention to two points: “the attitude of the staff” and “the extent to which they voluntarily provide services that are not included in the price, such as the way they handle customers’ luggage and vehicles.

3. Check the vehicle storage area.

Most of the parking lots in Narita move vehicles to a fairly distant location after receiving them from customers. It is not unusual for the round trip distance to exceed 10 km. Try to confirm at least two things over the phone: “How far away will the vehicle be stored and how will it be kept?” and “Are there security cameras? If the company answers ambiguously, does not answer in the first place, or becomes angry, which is not likely, the possibility of a “land mine” is extremely high.

Keep a record of the condition of your car.

During the busy season, there are more parking lots that do not check for scratches. Even if a scratch is clearly scratched by a parking lot staff member, there are cases where the staff member will say, “We don’t know about it,” or “It’s none of our business,” and run away. To protect yourself, before leaving your car in the parking lot, take a picture of the area around the body of your car. It is best to wash the car before dropping it off so that the condition of the car can be accurately recorded.

I believe that the above precautions apply not only to the parking lot at Narita Airport, but also to other places. At the very least, we should try to protect ourselves so that our enjoyable summer trip will not become a disappointing memory. Please be careful not to hit a “mine parking lot.