(You’re obviously not familiar with my FT posting habits. Ask me a question and I’ll (almost) always answer, invariably with way TMI .)

No, I’ve never even thought for a moment about a one-way car rental, especially not the past few years. Maybe you didn’t understand that I was writing about rides to LGA and JFK from my home.

I bought my first smartphone ~6 months prior to COVID shutdowns in March 2020. Prior to that I had used Uber (with difficulty) a few times via an iPad and a separate flip-phone. Prior to COVID, for a short trip I’d usually drive myself to LGA or JFK and park (and take a shuttle bus to and from the parking lot). For a long trip (>4-5 days) using a local taxi company to the airport and a yellow NYC cab home was less expensive than parking. I live close to the city limit so double the meter outside the Citi city only cost me an extra dollar or two. I’d do the same thing for even a short trip with skis and suitcase for the convenience.

During COVID many NYC airport parking lots closed permanently and those that didn’t close raised their rates significantly, in some cases doubling. It didn’t take me long after COVID to realize how convenient and inexpensive ride shares were.

So main reason I use rideshares to and from the airports is cost, but also very importantly convenience and no stress of driving and no concern for my car being stolen or broken into while parked at the airport.

I never considered a one-way car rental, there’s no car rental facility near my home and dropping off a car and getting to LGA or JFK is a very time-consuming process. And in the past few years, with reports of people being arrested for extending their car rental and rental car AI scans charging people $500 for a preexisting scratch, and the usual convenience and low cost of rideshares, I abhor even the thought of renting a car.

Prior to COVID I probably rented a car 4–6 times per year. Since COVID I’ve rented a car exactly 3 times, every time a one-way rental: central Virginia Beach to ORF, LAX to SAN, PDX to SEA.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, from the frequent flyer nutjob (i.e. ME) point of view, I get more points and/or miles from rideshares than I used to get from car rentals.

(Now please apologize to all our fellow FTers, many of whom know better than to ask me a question .)