Thanks for the address for the taxi rules, I will check it out!

So what do you think about this price: a couple of months ago I was supposed to go LGA-CZM, but I had never been to LGA before - coming from Jersey City, NJ - got lost - forgot my internet map and ended up going over the Triborough bridge etc., etc. .... FINALLY found LaGuardia, nearly had a heart attack running to the gate, ended up "missing" the plane - though it was STILL THERE, they wouldn't let me on since they had closed the gate. They only have ONE flight to CZM per day and this was it. I learned that Newark had a later flight that day at 7:30 am, it is now 6:00 am on a weekday and the traffic was starting to build. I took a taxi LGA-EWR. Guy told me he would charge me $75, explaining the double tolls and so on.

Here is the best part - I had been so busy before the trip I didn't have much cash on me, no time to stop, figured I would get it in the airport.... as we pull up to EWR I am down to counting dimes and quarters from all possible pockets in all luggage. I only had $68! This didn't even include a tip for the great service I got, he really went out of his way to get me there in all the morning traffic, planning the best routes so as to avoid Manhattan and so on. I felt terrible. He said, "fuggedaboudit, just donate the difference to charity sometime."

Either he is really a shining example of New York hospitality or he knew he was already way over-charging, or a combination of both ... I prefer to think he was just a really great guy.

On another note - I have learned that CO at EWR is much more lax on these "international" flights than LGA. LGA justified keeping me off the flight by citing the policy "You have to be here two hours early for an international flight" and I wasn't.

(It is NOT an "international flight" since you change planes in Houston, I was told ... and I wasn't checking bags!) I noticed that EWR lets me walk right up to the gate 10 minutes in advance. Not that I do this on purpose or recommend it, but still it is interesting.