What happened to Austin airport's frequent parker program?

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Recurrent passengers traveling out of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will have to wait to use AUS' frequent parker program amid its extended outage.

AUS' frequent parker program is an automated rewards program for travelers to earn points toward free parking, per AUS' parking guide. Membership is free for those interested.

KXAN received a viewer tip inquiring about the system and its longer-term outage. AUS confirmed to KXAN that airport officials paused the frequent parker program last summer due to "intermittent outages."

Along with the outages, AUS officials said a new system is needed since "the original one is no longer supported by that vendor."

SP+ is the parking management contractor for airport parking services at AUS. Airport officials said SP+ has managed the frequent parker program contract for the past eight years.

SP+ is working with its vendor to finalize a new web system to replace the previous version, per AUS. In the meantime, officials added program users can still accrue points and don't have to worry about them expiring.

As for when that new web system will be operational, AUS officials weren't able to give any definitive timeline.

"There is not an estimated date for a relaunch, but we are looking forward to sharing that information as soon as our vendor implements a new system," an AUS spokesperson said in an email to KXAN.

A spokesperson for SP+ said the Metropolis-owned company continues to support AUS as an ongoing partner.

KXAN requested contracts between SP+ and City of Austin leaders. Documents received noted the existing contract with SP+ for parking management and shuttle services began June 16, 2016, with a planned expiration date of May 31, 2025. KXAN asked AUS whether the frequent parking program issues will influence a contract renewal. We will update this story if it responds.

That total contract amount is roughly $115.6 million; to date, approximately $70.7 million of it has been spent.

Outlined in the contract was the total scope of SP+'s service work, with the contractual responsibility of "managing all parking facilities and parking services directly controlled by the [City's Department of Aviation], including customer accounts enrolled in the frequent parker program. "

Contract documents noted roughly 10,000 members utilized the airport's frequent parker program at the time of its creation. AUS confirmed 10,523 people currently use the program, as of June 2024.

Per the contract, the only reasons SP+ could be sanctioned are if it didn't comply with equal employment opportunity provisions required by the city, or if SP+ violated city code by "providing false or misleading information in Good Faith Efforts documentation," substituting subcontractors without approval or failing to comply with approved changes to the contract.

Under the contract as presented, SP+ isn't breaching the contract as it works to revamp the frequent parker program.