I'm mostly a happy traveler, but this week seems to be an exception.

When I started serious flying (about 16 years ago) I wished that someone could improve the travel experience on the ground. Well, Hertz (and others) did that with "gold" service, where your car was ready and waiting. At one time they even tried a *wonderful* addition, Valet Return. (I remember arriving at the new Denver airport, with a Ford Explorer packed with four people, luggage and golf clubs - for $6 a driver jumped into the front seat and drove us to the curb, where the skycap took our luggage - *big* improvement over lugging the stuff to the rental bus, on the rental bus, off the rental bus.)

Now, in their wisdom, the airports have decided that the solution to crowding is to have "shared" rental facilities. I have hated DFW for years. This week I just used the new one at SFO. It has a few minor problems: 1) it is *far* from the airport; 2) the Hertz portion is so far from the shared shuttle bus that Hertz has little electric carts (pile on your luggage one extra time) to get there; 3) the "shared" busses still don't run frequently enough during peak periods; 4) it is a *long* ride back to the airport.

What is the best feature? They *add* a $5 charge to your rental for use of the "shared" bus service.

This has been one of my peeves since they started it...DFW/CLE/SFO and others. I've started using rentals that don't use shared buses. In DFW, I use either Dollar, Alamo or Thrifty (mostly Dollar, Alamo's service is bad in DFW). All 3 are on Esters Rd. & Rt. 114, about 2 miles from the airport. Even with the extra time it takes, I find it less hassle. I get tired of those shared buses driving by full or so packed you can't squeeze in. I'll happily give up my Emerald Club & #1 Gold to avoid them....glad to hear others feel the same way.

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 07-27-1999).]

The SFO shared facility is ridiculous. I've used it a few times but the last time it took almost one full hour to get from the terminal to the building. Problem is that the bus has to go out onto the 101 and if there is traffic you get stuck in it, as we did. And the $5 fee adds to the insult.

Apparently, the shared facility is built so that once the airport is completely re done there will be an efficient train connection.

I guess we'll all have to wait till then.

The added "bus ride" charge kicked my one day CLE rental up to the point that taxes and airport charges were 46% of my entire bill. It's amazing when you review the taxes travellers pay in various cities.

Used Thrifty at DFW recently and was appreciative of the hustle the driver used to help me get on board and then to the terminal to help me catch a tight flight.

Taxes are pretty high at Denver too (where there are no shared buses, but airport fees are tacked on). I think that on a recent 2 day rental, taxes were also about 45%.

In Denver most of the buses seem to run empty which is a waste in some sense. On the other extreme, San Francisco is particularly bad. I would not mind a well managed shared system.

I actually prefer a shared system when it is well executed. DCA, SEA, and EWR all work well. I always take the 5 minute walk from baggage claim to the rental garage at DCA - nice to have the stretch after the long flight. MSP used be equally good, but the temporary system stinks - one of the worst anywhere. I really dislike flying in and out of DFW partly because of the rental car situation, and will do almost anything to get to Love Field if I can.

Re: SFO: I am surprised to hear the shared busses are routed on 101 North. I haven't seen any busses travelling that way, but maybe I just haven't noticed. It surprises me because there is an access road on the east side of 101 that goes right past the new rental car garage. Perhaps the access road was closed temporarily due to construction when you flew in, Indogulf?

At any rate, the situation will improve there when the rail link is finished. They are doing a good job on the massive construction at SFO - so far, everything on time and within budget. They took the scaffolding off the front of the new terminal last week and it is quite good looking. And best of all, you may not need a rental car at all out of SFO when the construction's done, because a BART train will go into the airport, taking you right into the city.

dgolds- first off I totally agree that SFO are doing a great job with the construction project. The new terminal building does look pretty nice so far and as you also mentioned the BART / CalTrain link will make the airport even better.

As for the shuttle bus - in the past I have been on it when it didn't leave the airport grounds and then the past two times it went out ontot he highway and came back in through the SFO exit. So I don't know if this is permanent or just a temp routing.


[This message has been edited by indogulf (edited 07-28-1999).]