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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 22, 2016, 9:27 am

#511

joshwex90

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145

Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA

Posts: 13,167

Has anyone used Fortis limo? They came as recommended but not finding them on FT and they're Yelp page has 4 reviews, all 1 star.

They gave me a surprisingly low quote for JFK to West Orange, NJ of $72.85
Fare: $55
Tolls: $3
Sales tax (7%): $3.85
Gratuity (20%): $11

Mar 23, 2016, 2:06 pm

#512

themicah

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: NYC

Posts: 8,498

There was this thread on Fortis that you started a year or two ago. That's the only place I've ever heard of them.

Were they recommended to you by someone you actually know? If so, I think the advice is the same as in that prior thread: the price seems suspiciously low, but if you can deal with the possibility that it might be bait and switch (and have a backup option), try it and report back!

Mar 23, 2016, 3:58 pm

#513

joshwex90

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145

Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA

Posts: 13,167

Quote:

Originally Posted by themicah

Wow - I had no recollection (as I didn't use them)!

And if I started them there, then I'm definitely assuming that someone recommended them to me. But for the life of me, no clue.

And I notice that I said I'd book and report back, but I did not book.

But strange that they'd quote basically the exact same price twice when they're both suspiciously low

Apr 11, 2016, 8:12 pm

#514

specifione

Join Date: Jan 2014

Posts: 17

we completed our trip..we used yellow cab ...

first time trip to new york with parents landing JFK at 10.15PM..we are total 4 people(parent and us)..we are staying @ 43 rd street near grand central...
any suggestions on the what's the best way to reach there and how much does it cost? as we have luggage and with parents not looking for public transportation..

Last edited by specifione; Apr 24, 2016 at 4:30 pm

Apr 25, 2016, 7:56 am

#515

jrl767

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)

Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K

Posts: 21,373

seeking opinions on options for getting from the Penn Station area to LGA for a flight departing 0600 Wed morning (a hotel near LGA with a shuttle van is probably the best choice, but numerous complications with my Tues calendar are making that difficult)

Apr 25, 2016, 8:38 am

#516

cestmoi123

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec

Posts: 6,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrl767

Just take a cab or an Uber. It'll be 30 minutes max at that hour, probably more like 25.

Don't know what airline, if you have Precheck, if you have bags, etc, but if you've got Precheck and/or status, and you're not checking bags, leaving at 4:30 would be ample time.

Apr 27, 2016, 3:43 pm

#517

dstan

Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC

Posts: 10,855

Quote:

Originally Posted by specifione

With apologies, there seems to have been a system delay and this post got stuck in the moderation queue for an inordinate amount of time before I was alerted.

/Moderator

To your question, a yellow cab from JFK to anywhere in Manhatten is a flat rate of $52.80 plus tolls (Rate 2, non-rush hour).

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/pas...cab_rate.shtml

Jul 12, 2016, 1:22 pm

#518

Cloudship

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: Central Mass

Programs: Independent

Posts: 4,829

Normally I take Air Porter. It is a little slower, but makes up for it in having a much cheaper price. However, this trip I am going to be staying in Lower Manhattan (Millennium Hilton), so betting dropped off mid town doesn't make as much sense.

I hate NYC taxis as they are usually dirty, smelly, and the drivers drive like maniacs. Of course, that may also pertain to car services as well..

Since there are so many car services serving LGA, which of these do you think would be best? My concerns are:

1. Reliability in them showing up on time, and not having to wait a hour at the airport for them to come, conversely not having them show up 30 minutes early, my flight being a half hour late, and getting charged a fortune in wait time;

2. A clean vehicle that feels safe. Doesn't have to be fancy, just clean and not smelly;

3. Somewhat safe driver at least;

4. Not have to worry about getting mischarged, or them trying to pull any tricks with tolls or excess charges or charging different rates.

What would be your suggestion?

Jul 12, 2016, 1:37 pm

#519

Non-NonRev

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2000

Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are

Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick

Posts: 18,669

I think either Dial7 or Carmel are your best bets.

Cars are usually clean. Not necessarily 2016 models, but there are many businesses in NYC that essentially "re-build" livery cars, so that they are mechanically sound and reliable.

The centralized dispatch and automation help them to avoid serious scheduling problems.

Jul 12, 2016, 3:10 pm

#520

cestmoi123

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec

Posts: 6,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloudship

I would use UberX. You'll very likely get a Camry, in excellent condition. Little reason to use one of the car services these days. It's important to note that, in NYC, UberX aren't just "Bob with his sedan," they're licensed livery cars and drivers.

Jul 12, 2016, 3:14 pm

#521

Non-NonRev

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2000

Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are

Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick

Posts: 18,669

Quote:

Originally Posted by cestmoi123

UberX or Uber Black?

Jul 12, 2016, 3:54 pm

#522

cestmoi123

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec

Posts: 6,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non-NonRev

UberX or Uber Black?

UberX. In NYC, UberX are licensed livery drivers and vehicles. Only real difference between UberX and UberBlack in NYC is that UberX is typically a Camry, while UberBlack is typically a Town Car or (increasingly frequently) an Escalade or Tahoe.

Jul 12, 2016, 5:22 pm

#523

Cloudship

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: Central Mass

Programs: Independent

Posts: 4,829

I'm not so much worried about the model of the car, as I am at how clean it is.

Jul 12, 2016, 6:12 pm

#524

cestmoi123

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec

Posts: 6,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloudship

I'm not so much worried about the model of the car, as I am at how clean it is.

I've never had an UberX in NYC that wasn't extremely clean. Much better than taxis.

Jul 13, 2016, 7:43 am

#525

themicah

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: NYC

Posts: 8,498

It's been a long time since I've had a truly dirty taxi in NYC. But in a couple hundred UberX and Lyft rides every single one has been 100% clean.

I would use Lyft over UberX, as the drivers get a slightly larger cut of the fare and the company isn't quite as overtly evil. Otherwise they're more or less the same (same price, usually even the same drivers).

Note that with Lyft and UberX you have to request the car when you're ready to be picked up. I think Uber is beta testing a schedule-ahead service, but or now they're strictly on demand. So the one downside of using them is that if it's a peak demand moment when you request, the pricing can go up with their Surge/Prime Time dynamic pricing models.