Parking at an MGM property

On Saturday my spouse and I went to the Luxor, one of the MGM Resorts properties on the Strip where parking charges have been instituted. I knew I wasn't going to have to pay -- locals can park free through the end of the year, and I have a pearl-level players card, which also allows free parking. Belt and suspenders.

I had never played or parked at the Luxor before. Finding the garage entrance, which is behind the hotel, required a fair amount of guesswork. The signage is terrible. Strike one.

Three empoyees were stationed at the entrace/exit to the garage. This in itself indicates that the process is not self-explanatory. I showed one of the employees my players card. He stuck it in a slot in a machine and gave it back to me. No ticket, which concerned me a little. I asked what I would have to do to get out. Just stick the card in the machine, he said. Later I would find out that there is more than one machine.

After leaving the casino, approaching the garage, I saw a machine and a sign saying, "Pay for parking here." I didn't know whether this was the machine a should stick my players card in (there was a slot, apparently for credit and debit cards). I did insert my card, and the little screen said something like "card fully debited." I don't know what that meant. Maybe it thought it had a debit card and couldn't find any money in the account. Maybe it took all my points.

At the exit, I asked the empoyee if I had to use the "pay for parking here" machine. He said no, I would just have to insert my players card in the machine at the exit. He did it for me and we were allowed to leave.

I don't think it's possible to tell based on my experience whether the parking charges have reduced the number of people parking at the Luxor. The first floor of the garage had lots of cars, but was not full. I have no basis for comparing this to when parking was free.

One more thing: Throughout the garage, there are now signs hanging from the ceiling saying, "Have you paid for parking?" Besides seeming vaguely threatening, they are likely to be confusing, especially to drivers who have just entered the garage and might be wondering if they were supposed to pay at the gate.

For people are parking in that garge for the first time, the whole process is likely to be confusing. With "pay to park," MGM has managed to institute a policy that is both substantively and procedurally annoying.