Are some hotel shuttle buses exclusive to airline crews?
Mar 15, 2021, 10:16 am
#1
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Are some hotel shuttle buses exclusive to airline crews?
We were sitting in the hotel shuttle bus at SAT waiting for departure, when an AA crew arrived and BOS based FA Colleen demanded that I wear a mask. I just wore a mask on AA for about 8 hours. I tested negative for Covid 24 hours ago and Texas does not require a mask. The hotel does not require mask. But Colleen loudly and rudely demanded that I wear a mask when I am riding in HER shuttle bus. She continued to claim that the shuttle is exclusive for the crew, yet neither the driver or the captain or co-pilot backed her up.
If the shuttle was exclusive to the crew, why would the driver load our bags and let us board?
If the driver had told me it is an exclusive crew shuttle, I would have gladly waited on the next one.
If this is how Colleen treats passengers when she is off duty, can you imagine what she does to passengers on HER plane? This is not a good look for AA when off duty personnel in full uniform berate, complain and whine about customers when on private property (Hotel shuttle bus).
If the shuttle was exclusive to the crew, why would the driver load our bags and let us board?
If the driver had told me it is an exclusive crew shuttle, I would have gladly waited on the next one.
If this is how Colleen treats passengers when she is off duty, can you imagine what she does to passengers on HER plane? This is not a good look for AA when off duty personnel in full uniform berate, complain and whine about customers when on private property (Hotel shuttle bus).
Mar 15, 2021, 11:49 am
#2
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Colleen was confused.
Yes, some hotel transportation is exclusive for the flight crew. There are times when the airline has contracted with the hotel, or with a third-party transportation company, to provide exclusive transportation, often off-schedule from the hotel's normal transportation schedule. This is more often the case when it is not an airport hotel. Crews more frequently use the normal hotel shared transportation when it is an airport hotel and not one farther away from the airport. At my airline, most of the transportation to airport hotels in NOT exclusive, and most of the transportation to downtown hotels IS exclusive. There are exceptions to both.
Colleen is confused because her company likely requires HER, and all of their crewmembers, to wear a mask while riding in hotel busses. That applies to her even when the hotel, city, and state do not have such a requirement. It sounds like she was unaware of that distinction.
Yes, some hotel transportation is exclusive for the flight crew. There are times when the airline has contracted with the hotel, or with a third-party transportation company, to provide exclusive transportation, often off-schedule from the hotel's normal transportation schedule. This is more often the case when it is not an airport hotel. Crews more frequently use the normal hotel shared transportation when it is an airport hotel and not one farther away from the airport. At my airline, most of the transportation to airport hotels in NOT exclusive, and most of the transportation to downtown hotels IS exclusive. There are exceptions to both.
Colleen is confused because her company likely requires HER, and all of their crewmembers, to wear a mask while riding in hotel busses. That applies to her even when the hotel, city, and state do not have such a requirement. It sounds like she was unaware of that distinction.
Mar 15, 2021, 12:57 pm
#3
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In deltahaters case, though, the driver did not back up the flight attendant. Clearly it was a public shuttle and she was wrong to think it was a dedicated crew shuttle.
Mar 15, 2021, 1:01 pm
#4
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I don't disagree with you that she was rude and clearly she was mistaken to think she was on a dedicated crew shuttle. I'm glad you put the mask on.
Mar 16, 2021, 3:00 am
#5
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Hi folks - a reminder that this topic is about hotel shuttle buses being exclusive for airline crews. This is NOT a thread to discuss state mask mandates or to discuss individual airline policies; those discussions can be had in their appropriate fora. Thanks for helping us keep this thread on-topic. 
/Moderator
/Moderator
Mar 16, 2021, 8:11 am
#6
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Note to self, if you ever own a hotel near an airport, offer a shuttle bus. People will pay more for a hotel for something "free". Rather than taking an often more convenient, $10 uber.
Mar 16, 2021, 8:20 pm
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Mar 17, 2021, 2:01 am
#8
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I am with you. I would rather pay $200 for a hotel room with a free shuttle as opposed to a $160 hotel room and $20 shuttle.
Mar 19, 2021, 7:20 pm
#9
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To be fair I have seen a few different airline crews "schedules" and there is a small line under the hotel that talks about the transportation and usually isn't more than a couple of words. If it's a hotel shuttle or a private arrangement.
They usually get their whole month of flying on one page with all of these details. It would be pretty easy for a flight crew member on a heavy schedule to mix up the details.
They usually get their whole month of flying on one page with all of these details. It would be pretty easy for a flight crew member on a heavy schedule to mix up the details.
Mar 19, 2021, 7:41 pm
#10
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Colleen was confused.
Yes, some hotel transportation is exclusive for the flight crew. There are times when the airline has contracted with the hotel, or with a third-party transportation company, to provide exclusive transportation, often off-schedule from the hotel's normal transportation schedule. This is more often the case when it is not an airport hotel. Crews more frequently use the normal hotel shared transportation when it is an airport hotel and not one farther away from the airport. At my airline, most of the transportation to airport hotels in NOT exclusive, and most of the transportation to downtown hotels IS exclusive. There are exceptions to both.
Colleen is confused because her company likely requires HER, and all of their crewmembers, to wear a mask while riding in hotel busses. That applies to her even when the hotel, city, and state do not have such a requirement. It sounds like she was unaware of that distinction.
Yes, some hotel transportation is exclusive for the flight crew. There are times when the airline has contracted with the hotel, or with a third-party transportation company, to provide exclusive transportation, often off-schedule from the hotel's normal transportation schedule. This is more often the case when it is not an airport hotel. Crews more frequently use the normal hotel shared transportation when it is an airport hotel and not one farther away from the airport. At my airline, most of the transportation to airport hotels in NOT exclusive, and most of the transportation to downtown hotels IS exclusive. There are exceptions to both.
Colleen is confused because her company likely requires HER, and all of their crewmembers, to wear a mask while riding in hotel busses. That applies to her even when the hotel, city, and state do not have such a requirement. It sounds like she was unaware of that distinction.
Entirely possible that AA's contract w. the property does require that it provide a dedicated shuttle with all aboard masked. None of us have seen that contract, so I would not presume anything.
Mar 26, 2021, 8:05 am
#11
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A pet peeve of mine is a hotel that is, say, 5 or 6 miles away from the airport calling itself an airport hotel and not providing a complimentary shuttle. That's a jerk move to both the guest who shows up to find no shuttle...and the Uber/taxi driver that gets stuck with that short trip after waiting in an airport queue.
Mar 29, 2021, 10:59 am
#13
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Do people care about the shuttle hours, or is a hourly service (and maybe just a 5am-1am service depending on airport hours) sufficient, as long as shuttle has space ?
Mar 29, 2021, 12:54 pm
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speaking for myself, YES, I care about shuttle hours ... if I have a midnight arrival or a sunrise (0600) departure, I won't book a hotel with shuttle service that won't be operating when I need it ... esp if rental car counters also publish hours that don't support (looking at you, BNA)
Mar 29, 2021, 1:03 pm
#15
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San Diego, Toronto, Phoenix, etc....lots of cities where downtown and an airport are fairly close together, but you can usually tell which ones are specifically calling themselves out as airport hotels and which aren't.
Regarding hours of shuttle coverage, I'd at least expect it to operate early enough to get you to the terminal 1 hour prior to the first scheduled commercial flight. Late enough to gather the last people claiming baggage from the final regular commercial flight of the night. In many cities 5AM-1AM probably covers it. In others that might be 24x7.