From LGA - Car Service vs. Taxi?
 

I had planned to take a taxi from LaGuardia to our hotel on the Upper East Side, but now I'm wondering about the benefits of using a car service instead. Dial 7 Car & Limo Service has quoted me an onling price of $29 from LGA to our hotel. Won't this be cheaper than a taxi? But then it mentions you are charged for "waiting time." Does this include if my flight is late? Does anyone have any experience with Dial 7 or using any car service from LGA instead of a taxi? Thanks!

The cab from LGA is "on the meter" not flat rate, so it will be affected by traffic. At holiday time, it's probably a good idea to book a car service. Dial7.com will ask you to phone them when you have your luggage and should not charge waiting time as long as you don't expect "meet and greet" (someone waiting inside with a sign with your name on it) in which case they would charge for delays, waiting and parking. If you want to be sure of a nicer car, get their "deluxe" service for a few bucks more.

The cab line moves pretty quick but I've been spoiled and would much rather use a car service.

It is a much nicer more pleasant ride into the city. Those cabs can be knarly.

Agree with mclaurie on Dial 7 (212-777-7777)

Didn't realize that the S is closed on New Years Day.

I don't usually advocate using a car service from La Guardia because the price is a wash, and you usually have to wait longer for the car service to arrive than if you just waited in line for the cab.

But this advice depends entirely on when you arriving. If you are arriving at night after 8, then I'd really recommend the cab. If it's during the day (particularly if it's in the middle of rush hour), you might very well do better with a car service like Dial 7, as mclaurie suggests.

Just be absolutely sure that you don't have to pay for waiting time at La Guardia; that can add a huge amount onto the fare. Call Dial 7 when bags from your flight start appearing on the belt (or as you are getting off the plane if you have only carry-on luggage). That way, by the time you get outside, your car will be waiting and you won't have to pay extra. You may have to wait 10 or 20 minutes for a car to arrive (that's why I don't think there's a real time advantage to using a car service).

However, I don't think Dial 7 will take an advance reservation unless you are willing to pay to have the car waiting at a specific hour (thus you pay through the nose if your flight is delayed).

Took Carmel on Sunday from UWS to LGA, it was $23+toll($4.50)+tip.
212-666-6666. I've never done it from LGA to UWS because I find it easier to just get in the taxi line. They do take reservations but I don't know if, like Doug suggests, that they will charge you for waiting time. Worth a call though.

I prefer taxi from LGA. You pay on the meter - but your total to the upper east side, including tip and toll should be no more than $30/$35.

If you have a car service wait for you they charge you waiting time from the meeting time you ask for until you actually arrive. Considering how late flights into LGS often are, esp at this time of year- that could be substantial.

Frankly, I see no benefit with a car service - since this is NOT a limo - but a privately owned sedan (which may be new or not, clean or not so much) - really just a private taxi - not a limousine (which would cost MUCH more).

Sorry - I should have put this in my original post: I will arrive at 8 a.m. into LGA on Friday, December 28th. Does this change anyone's opinion based on holiday traffic and rush hour considering that taxis are on the meter as opposed to the car service's flat rate? I personally would prefer to take the taxi and not hassle with the car service, but if the on the meter taxi rate is going to be astronomical due to the time of day and time of year, I want to go with the car service.

To be honest, it's a pretty quiet time in NYC. It's during that lull between Christmas and New Year's, and so many people are off work that rush hour traffic may not be very bad at all. I think it will be pretty much equal in terms of cost, and you could always decide based on how long the line for a taxi is when you arrive. I just don't see the need to do the car service, but that's just one opinion.