If you took the 102 on a Sunday and it was practically empty, you didn't get a true picture of what that bus is like on weekdays for the majority of the day. It's often packed with commuters between Greenspoint and downtown, makes lots of stops in Greenspoint, and is often standing room only. I've taken the 102 before when it took nearly 90 minutes to get from Terminal C to downtown due to the number of stops we made in Greenspoint, and the weekday traffic on the North Freeway. That's far more typical of that route than what you probably experienced on a weekend.

$15 does seem more than I expected, but it's not completely out of line with what you pay in some other cities for an express bus or train. And if you compare the price to what it would cost to drive to the airport and park a car for several days (especially in terminal parking, which is $15/day), it's not so bad, and a lot cheaper than a cab or car service.