Shuttle - SFO to Downtown
#1
Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 411
Shuttle - SFO to Downtown
Hi there - quick question; I've found a number of Shuttle companies online. Wanted to check if anyone can recommend a particular company to use, or are they all pretty much the same/reliable as eachother?
For example => http://www.supershuttle.com
Cheers.
For example => http://www.supershuttle.com
Cheers.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: US, UA
Posts: 476
Supershuttle, aka "the blue van" is the one i used, before i started using BART. For where I go downtown SF, it's $15 (shuttle) vs $5 (bart). This is not to say there is anything whatsoever wrong with Supershuttle in my experience.
#7
Join Date: May 2001
Location: SFO; PSP; SNN/DUB
Programs: BA CO DL NW UA US
Posts: 76
I like SuperShuttle as well, especially when you can book online. Also, don't forget to use your AAA card for a $2 discount (code CSAA1) each way. On occasion they send their ExecuCar sedans for a luxurious ride to the airport for the price of SuperShuttle.
#8
Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 411
All good.....
Booked online the day before (15th June HKG time - during transit from SIN-SFO!), and all went smoothly from SFO-Hilton O'Farrell. We had a 7-seater van with max pax; door-to-door in about 30 minutes (we were 2nd stop after Marriott).
Overall, highly recommended.
Cheers, Simon.
Overall, highly recommended.
Cheers, Simon.
#10


Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lexington KY/Coronado, CA
Posts: 953
Originally Posted by Fliar
Arriving into SFO late August for our honeymoon - should we pre-book the shuttle or do we just find one on arrival?
Any suggestions for a good limo service?
Thanks :-)
Any suggestions for a good limo service?
Thanks :-)
#11




Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: here and there
Programs: some
Posts: 3,475
Originally Posted by SixAlpha
Either way would probably work. If it were me, I'd pre-book just to take the hassle out.
Just looking at limo pickups - about $45 plus taxes. How does this compare with getting a regular taxi? We arrive midday on a Friday ~ I assume there shouldn't be any problem in getting a taxi?
Thanks for your advice!
#12




Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: BA
Posts: 3,890
As per advice from a couple of FTers, I plan to take the BART from SFO to Powell Street, and then jump in a cab to the Crowne Plaza Union Square. I'll have one large suitcase and a hand luggage bag. Fingers crossed all will be OK.
Just one thing... the cab ride from Powell St to the hotel on Sutter Street is only about 5 blocks and less than a mile. Can a taxi driver refuse to take me because the journey is so short?
Just one thing... the cab ride from Powell St to the hotel on Sutter Street is only about 5 blocks and less than a mile. Can a taxi driver refuse to take me because the journey is so short?
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott TE, Hhonors Dia
Posts: 263
More or less, the shuttle companies are the same. Super Shuttle was the first, is the biggest, and the most dependable. American Airporter has been good for me, with some nice coupons available sometimes, and Quake City is another good one with coupons that can be printed from their website.
If you're departing SFO, then you can choose which company to take. But if you're arriving, the best thing to do is take the next van that's going to your area rather than wait for a particular company. There's a person working at the van pick-up area that should direct you to the next van that's leaving. A reservation is OK, but with potential delays and waiting for luggage, I've never found it useful.
The BART connection is fine if you don't have a lot of luggage. More Champagne Sir?, the taxi driver may try to refuse to take you on a short trip, but it's unlikely as it's illegal. If they do try and pull such a stunt, let them know that you are aware that they must take you. If the answer is still no, then you can ask for their name, cab #, taxi permit #, etc.
Fliar, I agree that the "hotel tour", after waiting for passengers to fill the van at the airport, is not pleasant after a long flight. A $45 fare to downtown SF is not bad at all. My taxi from the north end of SF to SFO usually runs about $42 before tip these days.
If you're departing SFO, then you can choose which company to take. But if you're arriving, the best thing to do is take the next van that's going to your area rather than wait for a particular company. There's a person working at the van pick-up area that should direct you to the next van that's leaving. A reservation is OK, but with potential delays and waiting for luggage, I've never found it useful.
The BART connection is fine if you don't have a lot of luggage. More Champagne Sir?, the taxi driver may try to refuse to take you on a short trip, but it's unlikely as it's illegal. If they do try and pull such a stunt, let them know that you are aware that they must take you. If the answer is still no, then you can ask for their name, cab #, taxi permit #, etc.
Fliar, I agree that the "hotel tour", after waiting for passengers to fill the van at the airport, is not pleasant after a long flight. A $45 fare to downtown SF is not bad at all. My taxi from the north end of SF to SFO usually runs about $42 before tip these days.
#14




Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TAS
Programs: A3*G, UA 1K
Posts: 9,250
Originally Posted by More Champagne Sir?
As per advice from a couple of FTers, I plan to take the BART from SFO to Powell Street, and then jump in a cab to the Crowne Plaza Union Square. I'll have one large suitcase and a hand luggage bag. Fingers crossed all will be OK.
Just one thing... the cab ride from Powell St to the hotel on Sutter Street is only about 5 blocks and less than a mile. Can a taxi driver refuse to take me because the journey is so short?
Just one thing... the cab ride from Powell St to the hotel on Sutter Street is only about 5 blocks and less than a mile. Can a taxi driver refuse to take me because the journey is so short?
It's NOT a long walk - about 5-7 mins even with bags.
#15




Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: BA
Posts: 3,890
Originally Posted by norse_aztec
More Champagne Sir?, the taxi driver may try to refuse to take you on a short trip, but it's unlikely as it's illegal. If they do try and pull such a stunt, let them know that you are aware that they must take you. If the answer is still no, then you can ask for their name, cab #, taxi permit #, etc.
Originally Posted by Palal
Most likely - no, but I would walk if I were you. You can walk on Powell - see the cable cars at the same time It's NOT a long walk - about 5-7 mins even with bags.

