Airport Shuttle Tips

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Airport Shuttle Tips

Tuesday, 08 July 2008

If you’ve ever stayed at a big hotel near a major airport, you may have taken an airport shuttle – one of those handy vans that pick you up at the curb and deliver you straight to the hotel for no charge. But you may not be taking full advantage of the free and low-cost shuttle services available when you travel. They may even be your best transportation bet when getting around your own hometown.

Independent airport shuttles operate at all the major hubs, and most of the smaller airports, too. Most operate like taxis, but with a major difference – because you usually share the ride with other people, the cost is much lower than a taxi. For a group splitting the cost, a taxi may be reasonable … but if you’re a single person traveling alone, it makes sense to book a shuttle.

The pioneer in the airport shuttle game was SuperShuttle, which started offering door-to-door transport in Los Angeles in 1983. Now nationwide, you can book a ride ahead and be picked up whenever you like (they operate 24 hours a day) either at home, at the airport, or at your hotel. The vans hold up to 11 passengers, and airport pickups will sometimes circle a few times to load up the van before departure – although most airports have strict regulations about how many times (usually three) an airport shuttle can circle before leaving. Children under 2 are free, and there may be restrictions on large luggage items like gold clubs or surfboards. But fares are $20 or less, and the company gets high marks in customer service.

Airport shuttles aren’t just for domestic travel, however. In London, you can book what’s called “Shared Arrival Transfer” at both London and Heathrow, checking in at a customer service desk and then jumping on a 10-seat luxury shuttle van. The service offers transport to the train station, or hotel drop off in virtually every part of London. The downside is that the vans aren’t handicapped accessible, and must be reserved 48 hours in advance. But they’re licensed to drive in the “bus-only” lanes, and service is both fast and affordable.

Airport shuttles are especially convenient and affordable in Las Vegas, where taxis are easy to grab but can be costly. Instead, book a shuttle to pick you up at McCarran International Airport, and head straight to your hotel – if you’re staying on the Strip, the fare’s just $11. Shuttles run all year ‘round, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

One secret that you may not know, however, is that you don’t have to be heading to a hotel to use a shuttle. Door-to-door service can cost less than a taxi to get you from home to the airport – and a lot less than leaving your car in the airport lot for several days. Let’s say you live in Phoenix, Ariz. and you’re going out of town for six days. To park at the airport will cost $10 per day, running you $60 to leave your car. There are local park-ride services within a half-mile of the airport that cost just $6 a day, but that’s still $36. A shared-ride shuttle service that picks you up at home and takes you directly to the gate? Just $13. That’s a significant savings.

The great thing about airport shuttles is that you book them like a taxi, and they’re there when you need them – but they cost significantly less than a taxi. So before you plan your next trip, take a moment to book shuttle transportation and get where you’re going for a lot less money.

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