V-Flyer

Dear All

My wife and I are flying UC to JFK in April but the ticket does not include the chauffeur service.

We are due to arrive into JFK at 11.40am. Can anyone recommend a good taxi / chauffeur service to take us to NYC? Various posts have suggested using Uber, a Yellow Cab, Blacklane etc.

Any comments are welcome.

Thanks

I've booked Carmel for the same route next month , a couple of other vflyers used it recently and recommended it on here

I've used Uber the last few trips... Mainly for ease, guarantee and a handy email with the fare for expenses. The only issue would be getting on the net - I use a personal AT&T WiFi hotspot and can't remmeber if there's free WiFi in arrivals at JFK. On average they take about 3-5 minutes to pick you up.

Thanks for your response.

I am unfortunately not travelling on business so loathed to use my data roaming! I would like to organise a car before I fly but equally concerned that if the flight is delayed / or we get stuck in immigration, the car will leave.

Will they track the flight no and hang about if neccessary? I am arriving at 11.40am so hope this is a good time to get through JFK immigration.

When you book with Carmel there is a ready to go button that you click when your on you've got your cases and are on your way out of the airport , also guessing the driver won't be far away , bretty or pjh might be able to elaborate further but I think it works pretty well

Blacky1 wrote:When you book with Carmel there is a ready to go button that you click when your on you've got your cases and are on your way out of the airport , also guessing the driver won't be far away , bretty or pjh might be able to elaborate further but I think it works pretty well

We used Carmel between EWR and Manhattan both ways on our recent trip. At EWR it took us a 20 second phone call to let them know we were ready to be picked up. In terms of waiting etc we were ready for pick up a good half hour before our scheduled time and the driver arrived in a couple of minutes.

They also do a coupon (only $4 but hey...) and I received an invitation to $66 credit if I downloaded their app (though that was after we got back to the UK)

I'd be more than happy to use them again.

Great. Do you click ready to go on an app or something?

mightymachines7 wrote:Great. Do you click ready to go on an app or something?

Yes that's right , download the app , set up your account and make a booking and it's literally a couple of presses on your phone

I've stopped using Uber for JFK trips now, as they have removed the flat rates, and use LIRR mostly instead.

I'd just get a taxi from outside the terminal. The queues move very quickly and it's still a flat rate.

locutus wrote:I've stopped using Uber for JFK trips now, as they have removed the flat rates, and use LIRR mostly instead.

I'd just get a taxi from outside the terminal. The queues move very quickly and it's still a flat rate.

Only trouble with that is that they drive far too quickly and IMO dangerously as they are on a fixed rate and want to get to get you to your destination ASAP , I've felt sick a couple of times due to this, don't expect much conversation either

Blacky1 wrote:

locutus wrote:I've stopped using Uber for JFK trips now, as they have removed the flat rates, and use LIRR mostly instead.

I'd just get a taxi from outside the terminal. The queues move very quickly and it's still a flat rate.

Only trouble with that is that they drive far too quickly and IMO dangerously as they are on a fixed rate and want to get to get you to your destination ASAP , I've felt sick a couple of times due to this, don't expect much conversation either

I can see your point, just with no flat rates, I won't be using Uber from JFK as the traffic can be very unpredictable. I also never get a cab unless I'm with other people, it's the LIRR for me.

Just to give you a comparison on cost as I used Uber in NYC last week.

From EWR to 44th/5th. 17miles. 53 minutes. UberBLACK $128 (wouldn't bother with UberBLACK again)
From 44th/5th to JFK. 16 miles. 33 minutes. UberX $58.18

Of course, you don't tip with Uber (unless you really want to) and even if they mark you down for not tipping, it doesn't affect your UK rating and they can't access your driver rating in the states... This might have changed.

Regardless of what you decide, I highly recommend the AT&T hotspot. Cost about $100. I now have an American data sim in there and top up anywhere between $20 and $80 dependant on length of trip. Last time I was in the States for a week and did $50 for 5GB of data. Worth it in the long run - for convience if nothing else. Free wifi is pretty much everywhere but I was getting quite annoyed with the amount of personal data you seem to have to give each time you connect.

Or switch to Three. Then you can use data, call and text for free in the US and several other countries as long as you keep within your normal UK allowance (which includes unlimited data on many of their plans).

I pay £14 a month for all-you-can-eat data & texts and 200 minutes of calls whether I'm in the UK or in one of their "Feel at Home" countries.

mikethe3rd wrote:Just to give you a comparison on cost as I used Uber in NYC last week.

From EWR to 44th/5th. 17miles. 53 minutes. UberBLACK $128 (wouldn't bother with UberBLACK again)
From 44th/5th to JFK. 16 miles. 33 minutes. UberX $58.18

EWR to SoHo just beyond the Holland Tunnel entrance. ??miles. 40 minutes. $80 including tips each way with Carmel.

To the OP's original question about whether they would wait, from the Carmel communications with me.

"No waiting time charges, none! Carmel tracks your flight so you will never have to pay for waiting time even if your flight is delayed
No parking charges, none! Carmel will meet you as you exit the terminal so you do not have to pay for parking
Changing your flight? No problem! Just let us know, we will track your new flight and pick you up
Carmel holds the highest on-time record in the industry!
Carmel is better, faster to get to, and cheaper than a taxi - It's a fact!"

I used Carmel and was very impressed. I signed up for an account and downloaded the app, which gave me $6 off my first booking. I booked and prepaid, including toll charges and tip and paid $60.80 from JFK to Manhattan. On arrival and having gotten to luggage collection I opened the app and tapped ready to go and within seconds a message appeared with my driver's name, badge number and the location he'd pick me up. A few minutes later we were on our way. We had to print out the voucher to give the driver.

The driver changed routes a couple of times in response to heavy traffic, and didn't go through any tolls. On arrival at destination he told us he needed to refund our $8 toll charge and we just told him to keep it. The service was excellent. I wish I'd used them for my return.

Although I'd been using Uber throughout our time in NYC, I didn't use them for the airport run as they don't flat rate, and their dynamic pricing (apparently it was super busy when I wanted a car) wanted to charge me $99 for the trip!

I'm going to SFO and LAS in May, and would normally use Uber for the transfers but I'm really considering Carmel as an alternative.

locutus wrote:I've stopped using Uber for JFK trips now, as they have removed the flat rates, and use LIRR mostly instead.

I'd just get a taxi from outside the terminal. The queues move very quickly and it's still a flat rate.

I stick with the good old yellow cabs as well these days, saves having to arrange pick up.

Regarding data in the states, just get a Three pay as you go sim card, you'll unlimited data, 200 minutes to uk numbers, and 3000 texts for £20 (per month).

I have a contract with them but got my wife one of these when we went over for 3 weeks in August,

Blacky1 wrote:don't expect much conversation either

Often a bonus IMO

I am not going to suggest that you change your network provider ..

Pre-booking wise I use Blacklane for JFK transfers. Usually great service and someone waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a name board that can help you with luggage etc and to steer you through the sea of taxi touts. I have no hesitation in recommending them.

Blacklane give you an hour waiting time on airport pickups and they always check for flight delays/early arrivals.

JFK customs at 1140am..... hmmmm, first time in the states or not? If not, then use the automatic machines - all going well you should be through in about 5-10minutes. If it is your first time in the US then still use the machines you will no doubt generate a big X through your printout, but you get to move to the front of the much shorter automated gate line.

If you have data, then you can find out all the driver info in the app or via email; if you don't, they text you the driver info too so you should be able to get in touch with your driver if you do run into any delays.

As I have said, I am very happy with the service they provide and have used them in several countries over the past couple of years.

mikethe3rd wrote:Of course, you don't tip with Uber (unless you really want to) and even if they mark you down for not tipping, it doesn't affect your UK rating and they can't access your driver rating in the states... This might have changed.

Sadly this has, the US and UK rating is the same.

gumshoe speaks the truth.

I have an EE contract in UK because it happens to be the only provider that covers my office but I also keep a Three PAYG sim for travelling using Feel at Home.

Have a serious look at Three and Feel at home, the usefulness of uber and google maps really can't be understated until you need them.

I tend to use Dial7. They've always been excellent