lanejohann

Hi folks!
Need to get to Newark airport from Westin hotel Times Square. Flight to Calgary is at 7 am ...need to be there 3 hrs ahead I'm assuming...maybe 2 at a pinch but I'll shoot for 3 as our agent recommended.
So that means we are aiming to be there at 4am...

When should I book the cab for? I've been trying to email the hotel to ask but I'm having difficulty with their form.
I'm assuming it's no big deal and the hotel will book a cab no probs. Right?
No probs with luggage etc... Cabs can handle it all or do we need to specify? 3 adults 3 bags 3 carry on
Thanks!
Just want to be sure!

nytraveler

You can't book cabs in NYC - they don't respond to phone calls. You need to book a car service - such as Carmel or Dial 7. Likely to cost less than a cab which charges extra outside of NYC - and you can usually get a coupon on their web site.

And you need to tell them how many people/luggage and if you want a regular car or a limo (much more and IMHO a waste of money).

I would not think you need to be at the airport 3 hours early for that flight - think there will be no one there at 4 am but do check with your airline. One hour is plenty to get to EWR then.

Be aware you have to pay tunnel toll plus tip (20% is expected) on top of the fare.

vincenzo32951

Talk to the hotel concierge when you arrive.

lanejohann

Lol Vincenzo!
Of course! Thing is I'm getting antsy...have to be psychologically prepared!

Thank you my traveler..keep forgetting about the tipping thing..so that's another reminder to keep cash on person...or can I pay by card? You'd think...
Had no idea that you can't call a cab so thank you for that!

travelgourmet

The Westin can take care of this, and that is easily your best option. Nothing to worry about. If you are antsy, call or email the concierge and ask them directly.

And 3 hours ahead of time is way too much time. I'd even say 2 hours is too much time and aim for closer to 1.5. If you are nervous, push it to 2, but never 3.

nytraveler

Sorry but 3 hour in advance is often necessary for international flights when the airport is very busy or you could still be in security line when the planes takes off. But for a flight to Canada that early in the am agree that 3 hours seems a lot.

With car services you can pay everything including tip on your credit card (they will ask you how much to put on the payment pad) but you have to tell them that when reserving you will pay be credit.

doug_stallings

Of course you can book a cab in advance. One of the big companies in NYC will work well for you, either Dial 7 or Carmel, and you can do this yourself, which I'd recommend so you can have your choice of companies and get the price you want to pay (Carmel is cheaper than Dial 7 if that matters to you). Both have online booking. You'll pay about $75 to get to the airport with tolls and tip. I'd aim for about 4:30 am to leave the hotel, so you arrive 2 hours in advance; if there's no major traffic pile-ups (and there shouldn't be at that hour), it's about a 25 minute trip. I'd strongly recommend checking in online the night before so all you have to do is to print out a boarding pass and drop your luggage in the morning. Then you should have enough time for security.

travelgourmet

Sorry but 3 hour in advance is often necessary for international flights when the airport is very busy or you could still be in security line when the planes takes off.

If the concern is security, then whether it is international or not is irrelevant. It is the same process at American airports whether domestic or international. The only reasons to show up any earlier for international flights are the shorter cutoff times for checked baggage and the possible earlier boarding times for larger planes. The baggage cutoff is still at T-60 (vs T-45 for domestic) and the plane is not a jumbo to Calgary. Not much difference in total.

I would never target getting to the airport any earlier than T-90. Even if I were super nervous, I'd consider only T-120, max. T-180 is way too much with the possible exception of flying to/from Israel.

nytraveler

Sorry - Carmel and Dial 7 are NOT cabs - they are car services - mostly black sedans. Cabs are either bright yellow or lime green (upper Manhattan and outer boroughs).

Although regulated by T&LC car services have different rules/regs - for instance are NOT allowed to pick up passengers on the street - only come when called.

lcuy

Local semantics and pricing methods aside, both involve a car that takes you somewhere for a fee, or what most people outside NYC think of as cabs. In NYC, if you hail on the street, it's a cab. When you arrange it on the phone or online, it's a car service.

For the OPs situation, I'd arrange a car service and plan to arrive no more than 2 hours before the flight. This will still allow a decent cushion for any traffic issues.

tomfuller

Go to a hotel near the airport (whatever way) before 10 PM and wake up within 2 miles of the airport.
https://www.priceline.com/stay/#/sea...ype=POI&page=1
Car service is probably cheaper for 3 people than a train or taxi.

J62

Times Square is only 15 miles form Newark Airport. You are suggesting relocating their last night in NY & staying at a Newark area hotel, just to save 13 miles??

That doesn't rate as a good idea in my book... ymmv.

lanejohann

Oh thanks for more advice!

It was my agent who to,d me 3 hrs when I called a couple of days ago
I wonder is it different for residents of usa and Canada ?


Tom I'm with you! Lol
I'd seriously relocate ..but we've already scored a great deal at the Westin ...

(Sometimes...no...alllll times..I'm sooo tempted to sleep at an airport hotel..even the night before in Sydney my home town
My sensible husband won't let me..but that's what I'd love to do
And yes..I'm the sort who has practice runs at packing a month before departure)

travelgourmet

I wonder is it different for residents of usa and Canada ?

Not in any meaningful way.

vincenzo32951

My FIL was a lot like the OP when it came to travel, stressing over every detail, and making sure we were two weeks early for every arrival/departure, even if it was just a dinner reservation.

We stopped traveling with him. I think he and we are a lot happier.

JanetKMR

I am one who likes to get to the airport much earlier than many people. I don't mind waiting. I hate feeling rushed.

Underhill

travelgourmet,

If you ever fly out of the Charles de Gaulle airport you will need to violate your T-90 formula or risk standing in the security line while your plane takes off.

nytraveler

Sorry - but I have seen security lines at both EWR and JFK that take more than an hour to get through. but not at 4 or even 5 in the am. (We get the short lines since we either do first or pay extra for the easy security/early boarding).

So I would never arrive for an international flight at 90 minutes to departure.

travelgourmet

travelgourmet,

If you ever fly out of the Charles de Gaulle airport you will need to violate your T-90 formula or risk standing in the security line while your plane takes off.

I've flown out of CDG several times. I've never shown up more than T-90.

One thing I've noticed about security wait times is that people really, really, really like to exaggerate them. If security lines really took "more than an hour" with any regularity, nobody would ever get on their flights. Not saying it doesn't happen, but it doesn't happen with the kind of frequency to justify all the fear-mongering and advice that people waste their time showing up 3 hours early for international flights.

nytraveler

How many flights do you have to miss to make getting to the airport early important?

For me, once is too much!