My connection between US Helicopter and EWR would have been about 90 minutes - which although slightly long would, together with the 10 minute flight and 30 minute check-in, corresponded to my reaching the heliport around the time I might have safely (conservatively) planned to reach EWR if at a heavy travel time (check-in, security, etc.). So the travel time by car between Manhattan and EWR was being won back.

Additionally, with US Helicopter I would have arrived at a gate and walked to a lounge, and I'd much rather spend my time in a lounge where I can get some work done before flying, than standing in queue after queue at EWR. So for me the US Helicopter option had both the appeal of saving some time, and swapping time I might have spent in security or check-in for time in the lounge.

Going off-topic a little, can anyone tell me what EWR is like before a Friday 9:25 pm int'l flight (my earlier flight was 6:10 pm)? How much time do I need to allow for security, baggage check-in, etc? I'll do online check-in and of course am in BusinessFirst, but from what I've read here (and experienced years back) EWR security can at times be a complete cluster****, and BF lanes may not even be offered... This is all one reason why I hoped US Helicopter would just bypass all that and give me a fixed departure time from New York that would have positioned me in directly into a lounge ahead of my flight. I can't be the only one who is willing to elect a service like this ahead of others that don't??

HKG_Flyer, what you describe sounds like a near-nightmare for me. You've thought that you paid for a service that makes it almost impossible to miss your flight, and instead you end up in a situation where it's almost impossible to reach your flight in time. All without being warned or looked after!?