Alternatives to Super Shuttle? No taxi choices, either?

[pbenjamin]

I may try Lyft the next time I need to get to the airport, but I have been using Super Shuttle to the airport and taxis (no apostrophe please) home from the airport for years with no issue. I live close enough to the airport that I am nearly always the last pickup for Super Shuttle on the way there. I like that I can give Super Shuttle a flight time and can be relatively assured that they well pick me up at a safe time. Super Shuttle is about the same price to the airport as Lyft is to my home, for one passenger. If there are two passengers, advantage Lyft, so the next time I travel with my wife we'll try Lyft.

I like taking a taxi home because I can just walk outside and get into one. I have never encountered "crappy cars and rude drivers". Cost a few dollars more but really convenient.

[hikernut]

I've had a couple of issues. The worst one was when two of us were leaving Sky Harbor, the driver shut off the meter as he was leaving airport property and tried to make some "deal" with us. We told him to turn around and take us back to the terminal. He got all angry but did turn around. It was around Christmas and the airport was extremely busy. It was late at night and we had waited a long time for a ride. I guess he thought we would pay almost anything because of the circumstances?

I've used Super Shuttle a lot over the years, although not real recently. They've never let me down and I won't hesitate to use them again. My sense is that they won't survive in most markets. I've used Lyft only twice, with no issues.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I may try Lyft the next time I need to get to the airport, but I have been using Super Shuttle to the airport and taxis (no apostrophe please) home from the airport for years with no issue. I live close enough to the airport that I am nearly always the last pickup for Super Shuttle on the way there. I like that I can give Super Shuttle a flight time and can be relatively assured that they well pick me up at a safe time. Super Shuttle is about the same price to the airport as Lyft is to my home, for one passenger. If there are two passengers, advantage Lyft, so the next time I travel with my wife we'll try Lyft.

I like taking a taxi home because I can just walk outside and get into one. I have never encountered "crappy cars and rude drivers". Cost a few dollars more but really convenient.

Many Uber drivers also drive with Lyft. I see your point about taking a taxi in instances like from the airport. Sometimes it's worth it to pay a little more for convenience.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I may try Lyft the next time I need to get to the airport, but I have been using Super Shuttle to the airport and taxis (no apostrophe please) home from the airport for years with no issue. I live close enough to the airport that I am nearly always the last pickup for Super Shuttle on the way there. I like that I can give Super Shuttle a flight time and can be relatively assured that they well pick me up at a safe time. Super Shuttle is about the same price to the airport as Lyft is to my home, for one passenger. If there are two passengers, advantage Lyft, so the next time I travel with my wife we'll try Lyft.

I like taking a taxi home because I can just walk outside and get into one. I have never encountered "crappy cars and rude drivers". Cost a few dollars more but really convenient.

I should have explained that my taxi ride experiences are limited to locations other than AZ. OF course, this is a PHX are forum. My most recent taxi rides were in NYC, Vegas, and Tampa. All three cars were larger and more legacy type cars. Like a typical Ford Crown Victoria type model. They should have been retired years earlier because the seats were worn (stained or cracked). In Tampa, I got picked up at the cruise terminal and the car was a massive POS. I should have waved him off but I was cutting it close to my flight. I literally worried I would stain my clothes as the back seat was disgusting! I do see newer taxi cars running around towns too. Like newer Prius etc. With Ubber and Lift, you won't be jumping into a junker. Although in Sky Harbor to Surprise ($50), I did get a female driver who picked me up in another car that was not on the app. I won't do that again. I got in. Her car was so out of alignment that her steering wheel was shaking a lot on interstate 10.

Of course there are nice taxi drivers and I have run into several. In my experience, some drivers are burnt out and not exactly friendly. They grunt out the total and that's pretty much their only interaction. If an Ubber or Lyft driver isn't in a great mood, then they have to rally and at least pretend they are in a decent mood because they know that they will have instant review feedback. Same goes with the person getting the ride. So the total ride experience on Ubber and Lyft is nearly always better. It's why taxi services are getting their arse handed to them. So much so that I predict I won't be using a taxi again in my life other than in Vegas or international travel. YMMV.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Burkmere

Many Uber drivers also drive with Lyft. I see your point about taking a taxi in instances like from the airport. Sometimes it's worth it to pay a little more for convenience.

With Ubber and Lyft, I have the app loaded and time it within a minute of two. Meaning, if I see a car is 4 minutes away. I call for it and watch the progress 3 minutes earlier while I am walking out of the airport. I never have checked bags so timing it to save a few minutes is easy. In other words, I don't ask for the car when I am standing at the location that I want to be picked up at.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by hikernut

I've had a couple of issues. The worst one was when two of us were leaving Sky Harbor, the driver shut off the meter as he was leaving airport property and tried to make some "deal" with us. We told him to turn around and take us back to the terminal. He got all angry but did turn around. It was around Christmas and the airport was extremely busy. It was late at night and we had waited a long time for a ride. I guess he thought we would pay almost anything because of the circumstances?

I've used Super Shuttle a lot over the years, although not real recently. They've never let me down and I won't hesitate to use them again. My sense is that they won't survive in most markets. I've used Lyft only twice, with no issues.

Pre Ubber and Lyft, I often used https://www.tomysurpriseshuttle.com . I just checked to see if they are still operating and they are. I stopped using them because if I had 2 people, the price was double. I see they offer a discount now $59 for 2 and $39 for one person. So it seems they have gone under the price of Ubber and Lyft which runs me around $50-$55. When I did use them, I noticed a lot of seniors on the shuttle. That's because Flip Phones won't work so well. So if https://www.tomysurpriseshuttle.com/ is profitable at $39 ea or $59 a couple, they might survive because of the demographic of old people in our area. I still will not use the shuttle because I have to schedule pick-ups and that's a hassle. Then I get to go visit other peoples homes along the way. Finally, I have to make sure the driver is not accidentally giving away my black luggage piece at every stop (it's a tick of mine). Shy of saving $10-$15 on a 45-55 minute ride with a single ($39 for the shuttle), I don't see why I would want to ever use a shuttle service. It's all downside and no upside. I must be missing something.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

With Ubber and Lyft, I have the app loaded and time it within a minute of two. Meaning, if I see a car is 4 minutes away. I call for it and watch the progress 3 minutes earlier while I am walking out of the airport. I never have checked bags so timing it to save a few minutes is easy. In other words, I don't ask for the car when I am standing at the location that I want to be picked up at.

Exactly. I have it pretty much down to a science at this point. Usually, I order it as I'm on the escalator heading down toward baggage claim and by the time I make it to the north curb, they're arriving at the same time.

*Uber, not Ubber.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

With Ubber and Lyft, I have the app loaded and time it within a minute of two. Meaning, if I see a car is 4 minutes away. I call for it and watch the progress 3 minutes earlier while I am walking out of the airport. I never have checked bags so timing it to save a few minutes is easy. In other words, I don't ask for the car when I am standing at the location that I want to be picked up at.

When I go to Vegas, which is often, it's actually cheaper and quicker to take a taxi to where I stay on the strip. That was my point. Also, even at Sky Harbor during surge times as well as very busy times, the cost is great and the Lyft and Uber service can be almost non-existent. So in those instances, taxis serve their purpose.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

I still will not use the shuttle because I have to schedule pick-ups and that's a hassle. Then I get to go visit other peoples homes along the way. Finally, I have to make sure the driver is not accidentally giving away my black luggage piece at every stop (it's a tick of mine). Shy of saving $10-$15 on a 45-55 minute ride with a single ($39 for the shuttle), I don't see why I would want to ever use a shuttle service. It's all downside and no upside. I must be missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. The main point of the shuttle is to save money. I don't travel much today, but over the years I certainly saved many thousands of dollars by using shuttles and public transportation. If money is no issue, or if the shuttle is more expensive, of course it makes little sense.


I haven't used Lyft very much. It worked fine, and while it didn't seem particularly cheap to me, I honestly didn't do a price comparison. I was just curious to try it out.