newtome

Hi folks

I am at a conference in Southampton , Long Island, I will be going to JFK on Sunday. I'm thinking for 6 PM flight to book a car service around 1 PM in case there's crazy traffic etc. I like to be at the airport very early, so even if I got there as early as 3 o'clock that would be no problem for me.

However I also realize it's the end of a holiday weekend for a lot of people and having never been out here in the Hamptons, I have no idea if it gets jammed up for people trying to go back home on a Sunday afternoon. So is 1 o'clock early enough for me to get a car?

I have a tentative booking with a place called http://www.lielitelimo.com, who were the most responsive to my emails and quoted a price of around 250. This is a bit lower than the other services I've contacted but not so low that I'm suspicious. But if anyone has any recommendations for a car service that would come from Southampton to JFK reliably please let me know.

So far being here for the holiday, cabs are scarce and need to be booked in advance as well I don't know if I cab would be a better option. All opinions welcome!

panecott

One o'clock should give you more than enough time to get to the airport for your 6 p.m. flight.

It's a little early for you to get into the heavy westbound traffic, unless, of course, the weather is terrible, in which case a lot of people head home early - but it still should be enough time.

I know you didn't ask about public transportation, but the train takes you directly to Jamaica, where you can get the train to the airport. So that might be something to consider.

ekscrunchy

You could also take Hampton Jitney which stops on the LIE in Queens. From there, there are taxis waiting to take you to JFK.

If I need a car service in the Metro area, I use Allen/Ajay:

http://www.ajaycar.com/

nytraveler

Typically people going home from the Hamptons either leave at a time to have dinner at home (4/5 pm) or after they have dinner (9/10 pm) depending on the weather, age of any kids, etc.

Unless the wether is truly horrendous you should not be in that traffic and will also be too early for the people going home from local beaches in Nassau (usually 4 pm or later).

But I think your time is sensible is you are risk averse. If the times work the LIRR to Jamaica also make sense - and if you can easily handle your luggage. I would not do the Jitney since cabs at the stop in the middle of nowhere are not always easily available and it can get very hot waiting for one.

doug_stallings

If it were me, I'd actually skip the car service entirely and take a train, which is more predictable and also pretty convenient. You get on at Southampton and get off at Jamaica, then walk upstairs and directly onto the Airtrain to your terminal. That's about as easy as a transfer can be.

The train takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, so if you do the car service I'd count on no less than 3 hours and likely 3-1/2 hours.

newtome

I was all set to do the train, but I would have to skip the last main activity of the conference to make it work, and because I'm staying in a dorm situation, I have a lot more luggage and I might otherwise. Thanks for the heads up everyone I really appreciate it.

ekscrunchy

Cabs do not stop in the middle of nowhere...they stop right off Kissena within a walk of several good restaurants..right along the service road for the LIE westbound. Very easy to arrange car service from there to the airport if you so desire.

newtome

EKscrunchy i think you totally misread my post. CABS here in SOUTHAMPTON are scarce so if I go a cab vs a car service I will have to prebook it anyway.l And the train times don't work for me because as i said I am already missing part of the conference leaving at 1 PM, and the 2 PM train gets me to the airtrain at 415 which is for me cutting it too close. Plus as I said I have two large bags ad I had to bring bedding and other items I don't usually carry.
Thanks for reading my post.

ekscrunchy

You misunderstood. I mentioned taking the Jitney to the Queens stop and taking a cab from there to the airport. I know nothing about cabs in the Hamptons. You would have paid far, far less than 250$US. Anyway, hope you are home safe and sound by now.

newtome

With several big bags and the jitney/train schedule not conducive to my schedule I used a car service and it want fine. FY the jitney was VERY delayed that afternoon so I'm glad I didn't even try.

ekscrunchy

Great. It might help others if you post the name of the service and the price.

Wonder why Jitney had worse traffic than a car but happy for that your trip went well. What was total to JFK?

newtome

300.
And I don't think the jitney was delayed due to traffic. I think they had other problems.

ekscrunchy

Did you use the service in your original post, the one that quoted $250?

I ask because once in a while I have visitors that have to get to the East End and back by taxi or taxi/jitney combo (rather than me picking them up or choosing to rent a car!!)

We have local drivers/neighbors do the run to JFK from the extreme eastern edge of the NF for $150 or so, to make some extra pocket money.

But good to know who to call in case those locals are booked, as can happen. Huge difference in price but you know, South Fork tends to be more pricey in some things. Anyway glad you found someone. Can't imagine what could have happened to the Jitney as they are pretty reliable; I've had one bad experience in almost 20 years of living out here and that was when driver suffered some kind of near stroke....but the company (which was then Sunrise Bus) responded really well and we had not much of a delay.

We also have train service, if anyone is interested.....would mean train to Jamaica and then taxi or AirTrain but again, I am not well versed on that routing.