UH Service To EWR
Feb 13, 2008, 1:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
UH Service To EWR
Last we I managed to wrap in a leg on a US Helicopter codeshare from TSS to EWR. Some thoughts and FYIs:
1) The cabbies seem a bit unsure of the heliport's location. It is smack dab at the end of East 32nd, though the signage is lacking both for the heliport and US Helicopter.
2) The UH facilities are in a converted office trailer under an overpass. It is small, but efficient and well appointed with comfy chairs and TVs after you clear security.
3) The UH staff were very friendly and helpful, even going overboard to help a late passenger get through the process and board his flight to JFK.
4) Check-in and baggage claim were seamless, though all bags must fit through the xray machine.
5) All bags, checked or otherwise, get gate checked due to lack of space in the cabin.
6) 6 seats on board, though it would be very cramped if full. Plus, the seatbelts are made for small people.....
7) We flew down the East River, over the Statue of Liberty, and entered the EWR area parallel to RWY 29 but high over the active runway. We started to drop after we crossed midway down the active runway ( I forgot the #).
8) 7 minute flight!
9) Landed at a remote stand on the west side of Terminal C and were met by a small bus and a ramp rat with smart cart for the luggage.
10) Entered Terminal C at around Gate 70.
11) The UH segment ticketed in Y class but no extra EQMs for the segment.
Overall, I think it is a great option when you think how much is costs to take a cab or car service from Manhattan to EWR. That, plus the huge time savings, make it a great value in my opinion regardless of international or domestic destination. In addition, CO.com made it easy to add the service to my flights to/from CLE.
Some thoughts:
1) Improve the signage and area around the heliport to be more helpful and presentable.
2) Open up a heliport on the Hudson near Midtown.
3) Reconfigure the space to put the restroom inside security.
1) The cabbies seem a bit unsure of the heliport's location. It is smack dab at the end of East 32nd, though the signage is lacking both for the heliport and US Helicopter.
2) The UH facilities are in a converted office trailer under an overpass. It is small, but efficient and well appointed with comfy chairs and TVs after you clear security.
3) The UH staff were very friendly and helpful, even going overboard to help a late passenger get through the process and board his flight to JFK.
4) Check-in and baggage claim were seamless, though all bags must fit through the xray machine.
5) All bags, checked or otherwise, get gate checked due to lack of space in the cabin.
6) 6 seats on board, though it would be very cramped if full. Plus, the seatbelts are made for small people.....
7) We flew down the East River, over the Statue of Liberty, and entered the EWR area parallel to RWY 29 but high over the active runway. We started to drop after we crossed midway down the active runway ( I forgot the #).
8) 7 minute flight!
9) Landed at a remote stand on the west side of Terminal C and were met by a small bus and a ramp rat with smart cart for the luggage.
10) Entered Terminal C at around Gate 70.
11) The UH segment ticketed in Y class but no extra EQMs for the segment.
Overall, I think it is a great option when you think how much is costs to take a cab or car service from Manhattan to EWR. That, plus the huge time savings, make it a great value in my opinion regardless of international or domestic destination. In addition, CO.com made it easy to add the service to my flights to/from CLE.
Some thoughts:
1) Improve the signage and area around the heliport to be more helpful and presentable.
2) Open up a heliport on the Hudson near Midtown.
3) Reconfigure the space to put the restroom inside security.
Feb 13, 2008, 1:16 pm
#2
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You said that all bags get gate checked. Do you receive them when you get into the terminal?
Feb 13, 2008, 1:18 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
The returned my laptop bag to me on the bus.
Feb 13, 2008, 1:57 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
great info. thanks.
Feb 13, 2008, 3:02 pm
#5
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Some additional thoughts/parallel comments for JRB (downtown heliport) flights...
No UH signage at JRB, but there are a couple signs announcing the downtown heliport. I have no idea if the cabbies would know where it is any better than TSS, but I had no trouble finding it from the office building across the street.
JRB is a real building but similarly small. There are some chairs and a TV post-security, as well as some papers from that day.
Same at JRB.
I didn't have a large bag to check, but I'm not surprised that they can't handle really big checked bags as there aren't other facilities to screen the checked bags.
I was able to hold my briefcase in the cabin, but that may not be 100% consistent.
All the same.
This is the one small complaint I have about the partnership. Unless you book it as a CO code you don't get any miles. And I wouldn't know that I was going to take the helicopter until well after I booked the CO ticket, so adding it on wasn't an option at a reasonable price.
[/QUOTE]
2) Open up a heliport on the Hudson near Midtown.
3) Reconfigure the space to put the restroom inside security.[/QUOTE]
There are some rumors that #2 is on the way, pending the appropriate arrangement with the TSA, and #3 is a problem at JRB as well, though I arrived 5 minutes prior to my flight so there wasn't really a lot of waiting around time. I just used the bathroom while they were processing my ticket and then got straight on the helicopter after clearing security.
I agree that it is very convenient, but it doesn't always save a ton of time relative to a black car to EWR. The main savings is in clearing security on Manhattan rather than at EWR. Plus it is cool.
2) The UH facilities are in a converted office trailer under an overpass. It is small, but efficient and well appointed with comfy chairs and TVs after you clear security.
3) The UH staff were very friendly and helpful, even going overboard to help a late passenger get through the process and board his flight to JFK.
4) Check-in and baggage claim were seamless, though all bags must fit through the xray machine.
5) All bags, checked or otherwise, get gate checked due to lack of space in the cabin.
6) 6 seats on board, though it would be very cramped if full. Plus, the seatbelts are made for small people.....
7) We flew down the East River, over the Statue of Liberty, and entered the EWR area parallel to RWY 29 but high over the active runway. We started to drop after we crossed midway down the active runway ( I forgot the #).
8) 7 minute flight!
9) Landed at a remote stand on the west side of Terminal C and were met by a small bus and a ramp rat with smart cart for the luggage.
10) Entered Terminal C at around Gate 70.
7) We flew down the East River, over the Statue of Liberty, and entered the EWR area parallel to RWY 29 but high over the active runway. We started to drop after we crossed midway down the active runway ( I forgot the #).
8) 7 minute flight!
9) Landed at a remote stand on the west side of Terminal C and were met by a small bus and a ramp rat with smart cart for the luggage.
10) Entered Terminal C at around Gate 70.
11) The UH segment ticketed in Y class but no extra EQMs for the segment.
[/QUOTE]
2) Open up a heliport on the Hudson near Midtown.
3) Reconfigure the space to put the restroom inside security.[/QUOTE]
There are some rumors that #2 is on the way, pending the appropriate arrangement with the TSA, and #3 is a problem at JRB as well, though I arrived 5 minutes prior to my flight so there wasn't really a lot of waiting around time. I just used the bathroom while they were processing my ticket and then got straight on the helicopter after clearing security.
I agree that it is very convenient, but it doesn't always save a ton of time relative to a black car to EWR. The main savings is in clearing security on Manhattan rather than at EWR. Plus it is cool.
Feb 13, 2008, 9:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 1,439
I flew USH once JRB-JFK. (That was to the AA terminal before they switched their alliance to DL, and before EWR service was established.) I work right across the street, so it is super-convenient, and I will definitely use it again when I have the need. It is really does not cost that much more than towncar service, and especially if you are flying anywhere near rush hour, the time and stress savings are HUGE.
To correct one error in the prior accounts, the aircraft has 8 seats, not 6.
The biggest problem, as I am concerned, to be aware of is that the restrictions for checked bags are much tighter than for the airline due to size/weight limitations of the helicopter. I was going to take them on my beginning of a two-week vacation last fall, but there was no way my large long-trip suitcase would pass the test.
Security is a breeze compared to EWR or JFK. I can't imagine you would ever have to wait behind more than two people. And the TSA people were even friendly and helpful!
And lastly, the views are just astonishing. What a great way to travel!
To correct one error in the prior accounts, the aircraft has 8 seats, not 6.
The biggest problem, as I am concerned, to be aware of is that the restrictions for checked bags are much tighter than for the airline due to size/weight limitations of the helicopter. I was going to take them on my beginning of a two-week vacation last fall, but there was no way my large long-trip suitcase would pass the test.
Security is a breeze compared to EWR or JFK. I can't imagine you would ever have to wait behind more than two people. And the TSA people were even friendly and helpful!
And lastly, the views are just astonishing. What a great way to travel!
Feb 13, 2008, 10:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,685
MBM, how many pax were on your flight?
Feb 14, 2008, 6:00 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
FYI a colleague of mine was booked on a flight Wall St -- EWR yesterday and most USH flights were cancelled due to the weather.
I think it had been posted before that they offer you a car service if that happens. Not the case here -- they called ahead of time (2:30ish for a 4:00 departure) and said they could call a cab and would offer a refund.
The old $99 'limited time' promo now looks like a permanent fare with some advance purchase / capacity restrictions -- and $105 is the mid-level. $165 seems reserved for last minute / heavily booked flights.
Not sure if that prices out on Continental.com, but is on the flyush.com website. I liked the service when I took it but not all that comfortable with helicopters though $100 is a steal compared to what can be $70+ car service / taxi.
I think it had been posted before that they offer you a car service if that happens. Not the case here -- they called ahead of time (2:30ish for a 4:00 departure) and said they could call a cab and would offer a refund.
The old $99 'limited time' promo now looks like a permanent fare with some advance purchase / capacity restrictions -- and $105 is the mid-level. $165 seems reserved for last minute / heavily booked flights.
Not sure if that prices out on Continental.com, but is on the flyush.com website. I liked the service when I took it but not all that comfortable with helicopters though $100 is a steal compared to what can be $70+ car service / taxi.
Last edited by cerealmarketer; Feb 14, 2008 at 6:05 am
Feb 14, 2008, 8:04 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
The view was spectacular!
Feb 14, 2008, 8:11 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Now only if they would leave from the Westside then it would be perfect
Feb 14, 2008, 8:33 am
#12
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Feb 14, 2008, 8:42 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
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I remeber the rumors at the ewr 'do'. but have you heard anything else? cause your getting my hopes up 
Feb 14, 2008, 9:12 am
#14
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Feb 14, 2008, 9:29 am
#15
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