Had to pick my wife up at the airport tonight in Newark. I have to do this fairly often, so when I know that she is arriving, I plan it so that I get there 10 minutes before, wait for her at the gate and we go straight to the car because she doesn't check luggage. I do this because there really isn't anything to do at the airport and I want to time the parking to specifically be under a half an hour. Under a half hour you pay $3, over 1/2 hour you pay $6 and incrementally more if you are there for more time.

I pulled into the parking plaza at 9:49 for a 10:00PM scheduled landing and received the text message that she had landed early at 9:53PM but that she wasn't feeling well and had to rush to the bathroom.

OK, no problem, its not that big a deal if we go over, but sure enough, without rushing, we get to the car and we get to the exit where you have to insert the ticket and then pay the clerk, but alas there are two cars ahead of us. But lo and behold they are quick and I insert the ticket and the time pops up as 10:19PM EXACTLY on the 9.....so I am expecting to pay the $3....

Nope, UP TO 1/2 hour apparently means if you're there for exactly 1/2 an hour you get to pay the $6.

Naturally I was annoyed because it was exactly on the 9, and there were two cars in front of me.

I hate getting hosed like that, but with my wife feeling ill I didn't put up a stink and just paid the six bucks....

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