just leave key in ignition. The longest its sat in the cp is 2 weeks, never lost it yet, thereagain it looks a crap car fit only for the breakers yard, no worries about carpark dings either
Reminds me of holidays a long time ago. Went camping then went walking on the moors for a few days, leaving the car on the camp site. Definitely dubious about the car locks (I think that Ford had a grand total of about 16 keys to covers their whole range at the time) so we used to take the rotor arm with us - deter any casual thief anyway. The only problem then was getting the battery recharged after we got back and tried to start the car forgetting that we had taken the rotor arm out.
Generally speaking the automatic till is before I reach the car, so if I leave the ticket in the car, I have to go to the car first, and then return to pay and finally go to the car.
To answer the original question, I take the keys with me either in a pocket or on my office bag (actually a present from a UK aviation manufacturer). On the return flight I put the ticket on my wallet and the key in the pocket so I can move smoothly from the aircraft to the car.
There must be an easier way than this. Put the keys behind the front wheel of the parked car ? Place them on some suspension component ?
Go for it. It's been helping young enterprising chaps (and gals these days ) to borrow cars for years...Seriously? May as well leave them in the ignition and tape a 'Free car, take me; my owner doesn't want me any more' sign to the windshield. Do what I do; chuck 'em in your bag and then have to unpack the whole thing at the carpark entrance trying to find them when you return. It's even more fun when you work at the airport in question, because your colleagues can stroll past and view a fortnight's worth of dirty undies, duty free, tacky knick knacks and medication for Embarassing Travel-related Complaints.
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Course you could do what a friend of mine did once. Park the car in front of the FBO's office, with it running, locked, keys in it and leave on a five day trip.
We once had a ramp operator do that with a van at an aircraft bay (gate). It ran for about four hours and then caught fire. The airport fire service were Not Amused, and nor was the rep from the swanky international carrier whose aircraft was due for that bay and had to stand off while the fireys chucked a brick through the window of the van so they could turn the thing off and then bury it in foam.
The van operator was awarded the prestigious Airport Boofhead Of The Month Award, despite facing heavy competition from another guy who forgot he was driving a set of stairs and decided to nip down and park under the terminal (maximum clearance less than 2.0m) so he could grab a burger.
Last edited by Worrals in the wilds; 17th Jun 2012 at 13:24.
The carpark in which my car regularly spends its holidays is very brightly-lit, underground, with a human attendent present for all the hours its open, plus cctv, and steel shutters closing it when shut overnight. In fact I might as well leave the keys in the ignition, problem solved !
Buy Jeremy Clarkson's favourite car, a Hyundai Sonata, and leave the keys in the ignition. He has slagged those cars off so badly that no self respecting car thief would be seen dead in one.
My fishing buddy is totally opposite to me. When we travel I wear trainers, jeans and polo shirt. Boarding card in back pocket with passport, bit of cash and a couple of credit cards in front pocket. Car keys are always left at the car park reception. Travelled round the world many times with minimum of fuss and disruption.
My pal is completely the opposite. Cargo pants with six pockets, fishing vest with countless pockets, all with something "essential" in them. Every time he needs to show passport, boarding pass, lounge pass and yes, car keys, he is convinced he has lost them, all with the resulting queue building up behind.
Local scrotes obviously must have thought it was a set up.
There are areas here where holiday villas are left locked up, steel grills on windows and doors, and still get broken into. OTOH I know of two cases where the owners* walked off leaving front doors wide open, six weeks later the houses hadn't been touched. Must be the same thing.....
*Both cases where the owners had mental breakdowns, not that its relevant.
I have terrible worries about my key's, heightened by the fact that my (terrible but cheap) on line insurer made it quite clear that if my car got nicked with the key's, then they wouldn't pay out.
Like izod explains , surfing can be challenging. Keys tied and wrapped in condoms around the neck remain waterproof but lethal, keys on the wheel can, and do, result in vehicle theft.
Once tried leaving the door unlocked, with key under the back carpet, with trusty hound, Max, in charge. After a very long, wet and cold surf, came back to find said dog had managed to lock the bloomin' car.
Thank you RAC. Yes, you're admin is sh*te, but the lads on the ground are hero's.
I'm in of the "get a lift from the Missus" category now but when I used to travel more, I would just drive myself and park as opposed to having SWMBO play taxi twice a week.
Back then, I never really had a concern about the keys. I have a clip on my key ring that snaps into my Laptop bag so as long as I don't loose the laptop bag.....
Being only 20 minutes from LGB and SNA, it's not much of an hassle. Nice being greeting at the airport after a trip by the little missus too.
When I go LAX (30-40 minutes), I generally use a shuttle service.
Keys left in the car in Greece for 6 months when in Botswana. Left with landlord in Bots when in Greece. Did have the fuel nicked in Greece this winter though. Actually nothing is ever stolen here (small Greek island) it is just borrowed! Still waiting for the fuel to be returned
) to borrow cars for years...Seriously? May as well leave them in the ignition and tape a 'Free car, take me; my owner doesn't want me any more' sign to the windshield. Do what I do; chuck 'em in your bag and then have to unpack the whole thing at the carpark entrance trying to find them when you return. It's even more fun when you work at the airport in question, because your colleagues can stroll past and view a fortnight's worth of dirty undies, duty free, tacky knick knacks and medication for Embarassing Travel-related Complaints. 
