MIDTOWN EAST TO JFK....VIA, UBER, OR YELLOW CAB?
Oct 15th, 2017, 08:42 AM
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MIDTOWN EAST TO JFK....VIA, UBER, OR YELLOW CAB?
My favorite airport car service has apprently gone kaput, as I suppose have many others. So I am turning to my favorite travel board, and to my fellow residents, to ask: What is the best way for me to get to JFK tomorrow, leaving midtown East at 1:30-2:00pm for a 5 pm flight.
Apart from Carmel and 777, I am not familiar with any local car services, and it's been many years since I've used either of those. Anyone else have a reliable car service?
What about VIA and UBER? Anyone have an idea of what they charge; I imagine it is flat-rate. I would not want to drive around Manhattan collecting other passengers for the airport trip but would not mind sharing a VIA if we drive directly from my pickup to JFK.
Thanks!!
Apart from Carmel and 777, I am not familiar with any local car services, and it's been many years since I've used either of those. Anyone else have a reliable car service?
What about VIA and UBER? Anyone have an idea of what they charge; I imagine it is flat-rate. I would not want to drive around Manhattan collecting other passengers for the airport trip but would not mind sharing a VIA if we drive directly from my pickup to JFK.
Thanks!!
Oct 15th, 2017, 09:33 AM
#2
Well, I drove a taxi, a yellow Checker, in New York City in 1972 and always got people to the airport on time. But I guess that's dated information! 
Signing on because I'm curious what the answer is these days.
Signing on because I'm curious what the answer is these days.
Oct 15th, 2017, 11:46 AM
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Thanks to you both.
No hotel, I live here, but cabs do not pass my house often due to configuation of the streets...
I will call Carmel or 777; just wondered if anyone had any other favorites.
Price works out more or less the same between taxi and car service.
We do not pay tolls as we take a free crossing, so we pay the flat rate plus tip.
I was curious about VIA but do not want to have to drag my bags across one or two avenue blocks, which I have to do when I take VIA within Manhattan. (I recommend them, however, for a great price as compared to yellow cabs, if one does not want to take the train/bus)
No hotel, I live here, but cabs do not pass my house often due to configuation of the streets...
I will call Carmel or 777; just wondered if anyone had any other favorites.
Price works out more or less the same between taxi and car service.
We do not pay tolls as we take a free crossing, so we pay the flat rate plus tip.
I was curious about VIA but do not want to have to drag my bags across one or two avenue blocks, which I have to do when I take VIA within Manhattan. (I recommend them, however, for a great price as compared to yellow cabs, if one does not want to take the train/bus)
Oct 16th, 2017, 04:31 AM
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Dial 7 offers a flat rate that includes tolls and tip. That's my car service of choice. But I also use Uber. It's just difficult to arrange an Uber in advance. Prices are similar.
I'd never use Via since that's a regular taxi PLUS a service charge, which seems a rip-off to me.
I'd never use Via since that's a regular taxi PLUS a service charge, which seems a rip-off to me.
Oct 16th, 2017, 06:21 AM
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Yes, you can get an Uber price estimate in advance, just open the app and go through the steps of entering pickup and drop off locations, stopping short of actual booking.
Where I live, you can also order a Lyft in advance,'don;t know if that's available in NYC, but you can check the app.
You can also open the apps at around the same time for a day or two before your trip and check availability and wait time, so you'll know what to expect on the day. Wait times IME are usually 5 minutes or less, but this can vary, obviously.
< I live here, but cabs do not pass my house often due to configuation of the streets...>
When in NYC, I hail cabs when it's possible, but I use Uber and Lyft when there aren't any taxis around.
Where I live, you can also order a Lyft in advance,'don;t know if that's available in NYC, but you can check the app.
You can also open the apps at around the same time for a day or two before your trip and check availability and wait time, so you'll know what to expect on the day. Wait times IME are usually 5 minutes or less, but this can vary, obviously.
< I live here, but cabs do not pass my house often due to configuation of the streets...>
When in NYC, I hail cabs when it's possible, but I use Uber and Lyft when there aren't any taxis around.
Oct 16th, 2017, 07:45 AM
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The only benefits I can think of with UBER of another app service would be:
1. The vehicle might be larger, cleaner, and ride more smooth than an older taxi
2. Passenger would not have to find the taxi (in my case, this would mean walking almost an avenue block to a corner where taxis pass; mine is an unusual case for NYC because of the location of my apartment).
Doug: What is the service charge for VIA? I don't pay any when I use them within Manhattan, in a shared ride. Is there one with a VIA shared ride to airport? Again, I could not find the price info out online....
Anyway, I booked Carmel; I must have used them long ago cause they had my phone number and name..
1. The vehicle might be larger, cleaner, and ride more smooth than an older taxi
2. Passenger would not have to find the taxi (in my case, this would mean walking almost an avenue block to a corner where taxis pass; mine is an unusual case for NYC because of the location of my apartment).
Doug: What is the service charge for VIA? I don't pay any when I use them within Manhattan, in a shared ride. Is there one with a VIA shared ride to airport? Again, I could not find the price info out online....
Anyway, I booked Carmel; I must have used them long ago cause they had my phone number and name..
Oct 16th, 2017, 09:03 AM
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ekscrunchy is right, those are the two main reasons to use an Uber or a Lyft. IME they are priced similarly to a taxi, but less than a car service. Sometimes, surge pricing means an Uber/Lyft will cost more than a taxi, but surge pricing tends to apply when demand is so high, you probably couldn't get a taxi anyway.
In big cities, there is also Uber Pool; I am not familiar with VIA, but it sounds similar, a ride sharing service. That would be cheaper than a single Uber, obviously.
Anyway, glad the problem was solved.
In big cities, there is also Uber Pool; I am not familiar with VIA, but it sounds similar, a ride sharing service. That would be cheaper than a single Uber, obviously.
Anyway, glad the problem was solved.
Oct 16th, 2017, 10:38 AM
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I apologize. It's Curb that charges the service charge. Via has the cheap shared rides. Sorry, I have trouble keeping track of the services that I don't use.
Someone asked about the issue with arranging a ride in advance with Uber. First, it can be a money-saver. If you wait until the last-minute, then the cost of Uber often (usually) goes up, especially when it rains or at off-hours. Why? Surge pricing or lack of interest.
But if you arrange an Uber ride in advance, you can guarantee a price, but you can't guarantee that a driver out and about will accept that price. That is, for me, the great downside of Uber and why I still use Carmel and Dial 7 for the most part to and from the airport.
Someone asked about the issue with arranging a ride in advance with Uber. First, it can be a money-saver. If you wait until the last-minute, then the cost of Uber often (usually) goes up, especially when it rains or at off-hours. Why? Surge pricing or lack of interest.
But if you arrange an Uber ride in advance, you can guarantee a price, but you can't guarantee that a driver out and about will accept that price. That is, for me, the great downside of Uber and why I still use Carmel and Dial 7 for the most part to and from the airport.
Oct 16th, 2017, 11:48 AM
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That's interesting doug, but I don't understand--you arrange for an Uber in advance, you get a price, but then are you saying you still might not get the ride you arranged? I haven't tried ordering an Uber in advance but was thinking of doing so later this week, is why I ask.
Oct 17th, 2017, 04:04 AM
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That is how Uber works; drivers even cancel even after accepting your ride, which has happened to me several times. I've never had an issue so far with a driver not accepting a pre-arranged ride, but I would hesitate to arrange an Uber for a 4am pick-up to JFK because of the uncertainty. It's always better in my mind to use a regular car service that is not going to be a problem.
