Super Shuttle

Super Shuttle? Stupor Shuffle! Your mileage may vary, but if your travel situation is similar, be warned. Timeline: around 4PM - Flight arrived on a Friday at JFK Int'l. Airport by 4:30PM - picked up checked bags by 4:40PM - used Terminal 4 courtesy phone to call about reservation by 4:50PM - the first estimate of van arrival passed Was redirected by a driver to sign in with Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (never mind I had given my reservation # on the phone, and had talked to someone on the basis of that reservation) after 5:25PM - Got fed up with the Port Authority people who operate separately from the call center, and had no info. to help me. Called again the call center who assured me that the van would arrive in another 15 mins. Got the van number this time. by 5:40PM - we got in the van We asked around the van while the driver was out, and found one lady got picked up in 17 mins with no reservation, and one couple had waited an hour like we did. Most in the van were foreigners (who feared a taxi driver would cheat them?) by 6:00PM - the van picked up its final of 10 passengers at Terminal 8, and began to leave the airport by 8:30PM - finally arrived at our destination, the last of the 10 passengers to disembark What we learned: Unless you are broke or a risk-averse foreigner, and have a couple of hours to waste, I cannot imagine why you would not take the Airtrain&subway or a taxi from JFK. If you still want to take Super Shuttle, note that having a reservation is a liability, as you will not be able to walk away without losing your fare. We immediately canceled the return half of our reservation, and loved the subway-Airtrain combo. we took early Mon. morning, which got us to JFK in both a fraction of the time and cost of Stupor Shuttle. Pros: Still thinking... Cons: Hours&money wasted, packed in, trapped by reservation, etc. more

Overall, my super shuttle experience was a disaster! For my trip to the airport, super shuttle called and told me that I should get 3.5 hours ahead of time. I live on the Upper East Side, going to JFK, so I thought EH maybe I really did need that time. Not so much - we got to the airport in 20 minutes, and my driver seemed as if he was having a seizure the entire way! He kept taking off his glasses and nearly slamming his head at the wheel - rather frightening! Also, when booking this trip, I booked over the phone and paid in advance for round trip pick up, and included my tip as well. My return flight landed (on time) at 11:30 PM, I got off, got my luggage and headed to the pay phone where you are supposed to dial and tell them that you were there. They said, when I was booking, that at MOST, I would wait 20 minutes for a van. However when I called, they said the super shuttle I was supposed to be on JUST LEFT without me and the next one wouldn't be until 1:15AM!! At this point, its after midnight, the airport is full of creepy people and I felt completely stranded. The woman I was on the phone with instructed me to take a cab, save the receipt and call this 1800 number to be reimbursed for my troubles. It has been 3 weeks.. still no reimbursement in my mailbox! I would suggest, that if you have a late landing flight - DO NOT RELY ON SUPER SHUTTLE to get you home !!! Pros: Cheap way to get to the airport Cons: They are not reliable when it is late, and their customer service is not helpful ! more

When I got to the airport, they said a driver would pick me up in 20 minutes. A SuperShuttle driver came, but he said he wasn't authorized to take me. My next phone calls answered with rudeness. 40 minutes later I found a SuperShuttle driver who agreed to take me. But, once he agreed, he just sat there in the terminal, not moving or doing anything, and avoiding eye contact and not responding to what I was saying. It was really creepy and strange. When I called the final time to say I was taking a taxi, the woman refused to apologize. On my return trip. I waited on hold on their automated 1-800 number forever before giving up, and I had to listen to these stupid prerecorded messages about SuperShuttle programs on the other side of the country. Pros: Name recognition, Good reputation, Price Cons: , Rude/strange staff, Impersonal more