Super Shuttle not worth it
 

I shouldhave heeded the warnings on FT and avoided SS. They picked me and my family up, right on schedule. (I'm a disabled pax ina wheelchair). The driver did not know how to properly secure a wheelchair. After some guidance, via mime, we got going. However, the driver had to pick up another person. The driver got lost looking for the address and he spent more than an hour looking for it. Time was getting short for the trip from College Park, MD to IAD. Instead of using 495 to the airport access road, he decided to go the opposite way to the BW Parkway to NY ave. through some side streets and eventually I-66. This was during the beginning of rush hour. We mad it to IAD and barely made our flight. The only reason we made it is because wheelchair pax go to the front of security line, go through a hallway to behind the screening machine, get screened, and out quicker than if we had to wait in the long lines.

Took the Washington Flyer taxi home on the return, for the same fare, and it was tons better than SS.

Should have listen to the warnings posted here.

Flyertalk is an excellent resource when it comes down to user recommendations of things. Thank you for adding your comments as others will at least be more careful when booking SuperShuttle. Of course, there'll be some who will boast about it, but given the responses here, I'll probably never take SuperShuttle in my life.

aloha

Along the same lines...

when arriving at a location, in this case, SFO, with several bags. What is suggested mode for quickest arrival to Castro location?

- Taxi to location
- Shuttle ( if so which one?)
- hire a car (sedan and again any recommendations?)

Thanks.

PS.
- cost isn't really an issue. Its a vacation arrival and I want to get where I'm going in the quickest, most expediant manner.

In truth, I only ever used to use shuttles when I was poor, so I don't have much current knowledge to share.

That said, a few years ago I found the SFO super shuttle to be perfectly reliable, so go figure...

I tried SuperShuttle once some years back and that was enough for me. Making several stops to pick up other passengers and then, in my case, listening to one complain all the way to the airport early in the AM was not worth saving no more than a couple of $'s.

Taxi. Without a doubt.

Shuttle is iffy - you may well be the 3rd drop off.

Car rental means shuttle to car rental, lines, get the car.

Taxi, walk out of arrival level, get in taxi. They are plentiful at sfo.

Best wishes,

Teacher49

I'll often use Stupidshuttle to SFO, but never from SFO -- at least there's some limit on overall transit time when heading to the airport (since they're not waiting around to fill up the van.)

One other side note -- I really wouldn't recommend using the small potatoes shuttles at SFO -- I've only heard horror stories about them -- 8-stop trips, clueless drivers zig-zagging across the city, and so on. At least StupidShuttle and Lorrie's have enough volume to consolidate passengers by neighborhood.


All that said -- by all means, take the cab if money is not an issue. And, heading back to SFO -- if you'd like the name of an excellent, reliable driver, PM me. When I lived in SFO, I used the same driver and have nothing but positive things to say (he even brings you a coffee or latte from time to time if you're a repeat customer. :))

I use SuperShuttle in NYC couple times. Not bad. Always get to the airport ahead of scheduled time. But I only use them when going to JFK or Newark, and not LGA. Shuttle is $19 for 1 and $24 for 2. Car service to LGA is $26, to JFK is $35 and to Newark is $45. So, if I'm alone, I can save some good money.

Like all brand names, SuperShuttle thrives on recognition. You're traveling at a mysterious airport and know what to expect from SuperShuttle as opposed to Crazy Achmed's Airport Express...

... except that they don't enforce their brand well at all. Some vans are operated by the company, others by franchisees-- so you may actually be riding with a CAAE driver after all-- and their quality varies. Coordination between the two is chaotic or nonexistent (at least, I experienced quite a circus trying to get to AUS after a conference). I don't know the mechanisms whereby airport vans are regulated, but the number of times I've ridden with a lost driver suggests they are not as stringent as taxicabs.

Rather sweeping generalization
 

"Super Shuttle not worth it" is a rather sweeping generalization. Seems like it is in fact based on one experience, in one particular location, with a particular set of circumstances (problems securing wheelchair), and so on.

By and large, I've had pretty good luck with Supershuttle in San Francisco. Yeah, once or twice they were kinda late picking me up at my house, but I've used them dozens of times with no problems.

However, in other parts of the country I'm less impressed with them. JFK, for example. Had to wait a LONG time for pickup at JFK a couple times, and an even LONGER time for a hotel pickup once (almost missed my flight), so as a result I now use other modes of transport from JFK (AirTrain/subway).

I'm one of those people who DON'T like riding in taxis, by the way. (There was a whole thread on this very topic, in fact.) I feel safer riding in buses, on trains, even in vans. Plus too many cabdrivers are bad drivers, don't know the way, take the "scenic" route, speak poor or no English, are unfriendly, or TOO friendly, etc., etc. Most Supershuttle drivers in San Francisco have been WAY better than most cabdrivers here -- in all these respects. In fact, I was once told that Supershuttle does NOT like to hire former taxi drivers!!! :eek:

I drive into Manhattan every day, and have had about a dozen close calls accident wise. Over half of those were with super shuttle vans. Those drivers drive like morons, I would never ever consider getting on one of them.

Apparently they are always late and don't need to worry about things like lights, one way streets, etc.

Zactly why I finally stopped using them about 10 years ago. I don't know how the compensation worked, but it seemed that driving at 85 - 90 mph and careening all over the place was required to make a quota of some sort ...

Figured a taxi was much safer way to go 'cause when I ask one of those guys to slow down, they do it.

Best wishes, and keep the shiny side up,

Teacher49

I've only used SuperShuttle a few times (always in SFO, LAX, or EWR) and never had a problem. I'd rather use a taxi, but if I want/need to economize I have always found SS a workable solution. I am sorry to hear that you were treated so poorly, DeafFlyer. :(

Totally contrary to my experience in San Francisco. Supershuttle drivers are, by and large, much better than taxi drivers here (of course, that isn't necessarily saying much).

But evidently, there isn't much uniformity in Supershuttle's service, especially in other parts of the country.

Generally agree.

(Shuttle to car rental is a monorail/light rail type ride. But finding parking spaces in SF can be frustrating and time consuming, so make sure you really will need a rental.)

Also, you might submit a request at limos.com. Then limo companies e-mail you their price. Some prices may be similar to taxis, particular if their trip back from the airport is a "backhaul."