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FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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Here are some of the more-frequently mentioned car service and limousine companies discussed in this thread. This is not a comprehensive list. Companies are grouped into general categories, and note that additional surcharges may apply at certain times and locations. Car services and limousines are required to operate by reservation and are prohibited from accepting street hails, but may attempt to do so.

Rates for Yellow NYC Taxicabs
(NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission - Taxi Fare - updated Dec 19, 2022)

• NYC to/from LGA – metered rate (Rate 1) + surcharges + oneway tolls + tip
• Manhattan to/from JFK – $70.00 flat rate (Rate 2) + surcharges + oneway tolls + tip
• NYC (ex-Manhattan) to/from JFK – metered rate (Rate 1) + oneway tolls + tip
• NYC to/from EWR – metered rate + $20.50 surcharge (Rate 3) + roundtrip tolls + tip

Major Car Services

Consumer ($45-52, Manhattan to JFK, excluding tip, toll, tax)

Premium ($58-72, Manhattan to JFK, excluding tip, toll, tax)

Luxury ($113+, Manhattan to JFK, excluding tip, toll, tax)

NYC Limousine / Car Services

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Mar 24, 2011 | 1:45 pm

#166

lettezilla

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: LON

Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt

Posts: 166

Gosh, I feel like such a country mouse, which is funny because I've lived in London and Boston and live in Chicago. But I guess NYC is different...

Was looking at Dial7's website-- is there any difference or advantage to booking in advance, since it seems to say I need to call when I land anyway?

Mar 24, 2011 | 4:22 pm

#167

Analise

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Mar 2001

Posts: 55,213

Quote:

Originally Posted by lettezilla

No financial advantage but still a good thing to do especially if you're arriving at the early part of rush hour. I think having a flat fee will be more relaxing for you than watching the meter increase as you sit in traffic going downtown.

Mar 29, 2011 | 4:20 pm

#168

lettezilla

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: LON

Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt

Posts: 166

Thanks for the advice everyone. After an annoying flight (fellow passengers, rather than anything airline related), it was great to get right into a Dial7 car. It was a big TownCar, very clean, and was nice to be able to stretch my legs after having my knees in my face all flight. He took the Brooklyn Bridge and so it was $29 plus tip, no tolls.

Took a cab back on Sunday since I wasn't sure of where I'd be, ended up being exactly $29 plus tip as well, which I thought was interesting.

Both took the same amount of time I'd say, if I had been going in the opposite direction either time, I would have wanted to be in a car rather than cab since traffic wasn't moving.

Mar 29, 2011 | 5:27 pm

#169

Analise

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Mar 2001

Posts: 55,213

Quote:

Originally Posted by lettezilla

Thanks for the advice everyone. After an annoying flight (fellow passengers, rather than anything airline related), it was great to get right into a Dial7 car.

Out of curiosity, what did the passengers do?

Quote:

It was a big TownCar, very clean, and was nice to be able to stretch my legs after having my knees in my face all flight. He took the Brooklyn Bridge and so it was $29 plus tip, no tolls.

So glad it worked out well.

How long was the wait for the car?

Quote:

Took a cab back on Sunday since I wasn't sure of where I'd be, ended up being exactly $29 plus tip as well, which I thought was interesting.

Try doing that again.

Mar 31, 2011 | 9:54 am

#170

lettezilla

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: LON

Programs: UA, AA, Hyatt

Posts: 166

Quote:

Originally Posted by Analise

Out of curiosity, what did the passengers do?

A family with 3 kids got on dead last, and their seats weren't together, so the dad started getting really aggressive with people about them needing to move so his kids could sit together. I understand where he's coming from, but a) I think he could have seen the problem coming when he noticed seats not together a month ago, and b) there's a way to do it nicely. I ended up in a middle seat (rather than aisle), with someone in front of me who kept their seat back all the way even when they were in the bathroom. and I'm tall, so my knees already touch E- seats without them being back.

Plus, of course, everyone had their bag, personal item and coat in the overheads, so there was hardly any room for us group 4s. All roller folks had to gatecheck, I luckily had brought a tiny bag so managed to find some space.

sigh, missing elite status. wasn't bad, just kind of stressful and annoying

Quote:

Originally Posted by Analise

How long was the wait for the car?

probably 5 minutes after they called the car? If I'd been more familiar with the airport, I would have called as soon as I was off the plane, and it probably would have been there when I got there. But I waited as instructed to phone from baggage, so did stand around a little. There were plenty of cabs around, but also a queue of people to get to them.

Mar 31, 2011 | 11:06 am

#171

Analise

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Mar 2001

Posts: 55,213

Quote:

Originally Posted by lettezilla

You didn't have to move to the middle seat because some irate male didn't plan ahead. You did have a rough flight.

Quote:

Glad that worked out for you.

Apr 1, 2011 | 3:05 pm

#172

phlashba

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: LAN, AA, SPG

Posts: 1,965

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.

I have always used dial 3 dial 7 etc services with VERY mixed results and I am finally fed up. I have contacted both Elite and Big Apple, but I must say they both seem set up for corporate accounts as opposed to individual clients. I want a service that is going to give me personalized attention for under $100 JFK to/from Manhattan three or four times per year so I wouldn't be a major client by any means.

I should say of the two, Big Apple seems to be the most professional.

I will be arriving at about 11:00 pm on a week-night which I have never done before (previously always early morning arrivals) so I have no idea how the taxi line would be at that hour (and god forbid raining!).

I love the AirTrain option which I have done a few times but not after an all night flight so not this time.

Any further input would be appreciated.

Last edited by phlashba; Apr 1, 2011 at 3:24 pm Reason: addition of arrival time and detail

Apr 1, 2011 | 3:32 pm

#173

monitor

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 1999

Location: So Fla & NYC

Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond

Posts: 23,768

I have been using Big Apple for nearly 15 years with a frequency of about once a month going to LGA or JFK. Setting up an airport pickup is a bit more complicated and since I seldom know much in advance of my arrival, I seldom formally set up the pickup and just jump in a yellow jalopy.

However, they are quite a reliable backstop if you arrive at one of the NYC airports and there are no taxicabs outside. They have cars which will arrive within 10-15 minutes of your call and they have always been completely reliable. In all the time that I have used them, they have only been late to the pickup twice (both times calling and letting me know of the delay).

I can say that every other service that I used before them had a serious FAIL within a year after I started using them and as far as I am concerned, this service has been relatively bulletproof.

Apr 1, 2011 | 4:08 pm

#174

phlashba

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: LAN, AA, SPG

Posts: 1,965

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitor

Thanks for that specific endorsement --- it is truly helpful. I have been impressed thus far with the emails I have received. I am fairly sure Big Apple is going to be my new service!

Apr 1, 2011 | 6:54 pm

#175

monitor

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 1999

Location: So Fla & NYC

Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond

Posts: 23,768

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlashba

...I am fairly sure Big Apple is going to be my new service!

I do not remember the procedure or how difficult it was to set up an account, but it does help to have one. You will get e-mail confirmations, arrival calls fifteen minutes before pickup, and then an e-mail giving you the name of the driver and repeating the car number.

I will however warn you that they recently have instituted one of the infamous "fuel surcharges" that has added about $5-10 to the cost of a ride out to the airports.

I have no knowledge of anyone who has figured out a Fuel Dump for that one.

Apr 2, 2011 | 7:18 am

#176

phlashba

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: LAN, AA, SPG

Posts: 1,965

Big Apple

Thanks again Monitor. They just had me send a copy of the front and back of my credit card which I told them they could keep on file. It was not at all complicated. I have already placed two orders for next month and the followup on everything has been perfect.^

Apr 3, 2011 | 1:44 pm

#177

dstan

Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Programs: AA PPro, Natl EC

Posts: 10,882

Dial 7 - $41 from JFK to Manhattan with coupon

Just realized that, with the $5 FROM the airport discount coupon that is on every Dial 7 receipt, their $46 rate from JFK to Manhattan actually ends up cheaper than the yellow cabs ($41 vs $45) - for those times when the taxi line is long and/or slow. Made good use of this yesterday.

May 26, 2011 | 4:45 pm

#178

phlashba

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: LAN, AA, SPG

Posts: 1,965

Big Apple was a big bust

I was looking forward to being a regular client of Big Apple but after careful planning and confirmation they royally screwed up two out of two orders.

I really thought paying more would make a difference. Maybe I will try Elite next time.

Last edited by phlashba; May 27, 2011 at 8:39 am Reason: spelling

May 27, 2011 | 8:38 am

#179

phlashba

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: LAN, AA, SPG

Posts: 1,965

So I am back to square one trying to find a new car service. I don't know why it is so difficult to simply reserve a call and let them monitor the arrival time and pick me up --- as opposed to having to call upon arrival. This is not complicated as I stipulate that I never check bags.
New York Limousine says they do this so I am going to try them next week. Fingers crossed.

May 27, 2011 | 9:36 am

#180

mfullmer

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: Atlanta, GA

Programs: Delta-Diamond Medallion, United-Premier 1K, Hilton-Gold, SPG-Gold, National-Executive, Hertz-Preside

Posts: 389

Limores.net (Global Transportation)

Limores.net (Now Global Transportation) is by far the most consistent, economical, and convenient service I've found. I use a car service 6-8 times a month and I love their iPad/iPhone app and the fact that I can ^

any new drivers I get right after the ride. I get my preferred drivers around 80% of the time.

I haven't used their Town Car service in a while but their MB S550 service is under $100. (Manhattan to JFK) and you get a discount by booking online. The cars are usually texting me around 10-15 minutes before my given time so I've never had an issue with timing. The drivers are friendly and remember me and where my apt is in the city and the quickest way to get there.