Staying Flexible in the Ever-Changing Sharing Landscape (Part 2)

The next stop on our three part series is to take a look at how we interact with what had previously been the #1 source of revenue for all traditional rental car companies and a significant source of reservations within the car sharing marketplace; your local airport.

Airport Access

Outside of the ever-present virus, another of the largest changes we’ve experienced in the past year is the change in requirements for pick ups and drop offs at airports. While many of the platforms are working with airports around the country, it is important to know what you can and can’t do at your local airport. Check with your Airport Authority for specific regulations on how they would like your sharing operation to operate. If you, like many other members of the sharing marketplace, experience a litany of regulations and restrictions governing how and where you can operate (and in some cases stating you simply CANNOT operate), get creative and look for ways to maintain your presence without violating their rules. Some great solutions include:

• Communicate effectively with your guest. Nothing ruins a great review faster than unrealistic expectations. Ensure that your listing and vehicle descriptions include airport processes and procedures. Your guest may not be familiar with sharing and the burdens placed on the vehicle(s) you have listed at or near the airport. Use your messaging protocols to keep them informed as to the pick up and drop process.
• Check with the operations center at the airport and ask specifically about the platforms you currently rent on. Rest assured, they will be familiar with any and all requirements and restrictions for the airport.
• Look into other options that may be close to the airport. While you may not be able to provide a physical presence on the airport property, you can still manage how your guests get to the vehicle. Look into locations just off airport property. Most any location with a large parking area will work. Communicate with the owners of the property and, with some creativity, you can create a solution which is not only convenient for your guests, but will keep you out of hot water with the airport.
• Keep in mind, there are a variety of businesses which already provide shuttle service to and from the airport. These existing shuttles are an excellent way to get your guests off airport and into your program.

Be proactive with your approach to how you manage your airport opportunities and do not choose to ignore their rules and regulations. The ramifications can be expensive and could lead to your business being banned entirely from the airport. There are ways to work within their rules and still maintain a fantastic and viable operation that is capable of catering to the lucrative airport market.

Regardless of your market: airport, local or a combination of the two, We can help. At CarSync, our focus is how to help you manage your sharing business more efficiently. Management tools designed to create a seamless communication stream with your guest are only a small part of our platform. We provide our users with an important edge over the competition in the form of fleet information (both physical and financial), technology via passive and active tracking assistance and more. Contact us via the link at the top of the page and let us show you the way to a profitable and more confident sharing operation.