Airport Ground Transportation
Airport ground transportation is an important factor when you are planning your trip. Knowing how you will get to the airport, how you will get around the airport, and how you will get home from the airport saves you time and stress later. Many airports offer a wide range of services from shuttles to limousines.
Airport ground transportation allows customers to get around the airport without the worry of getting from one place to another. Using modes of transportation like shuttles, taxis, or limousines, airport ground transportation can be used to take a customer from one end of the airport to the other, from home to the airport, or even from the airport to the passenger's car. Each type of airport ground transportation can be tailored to the needs of the customers. A customer who needs their space to make private calls while in transit may opt for a limousine or town car, while a family who has many bags may opt to use a shuttle to take them to their minivan in the short-term parking lot.
While airports provide ground transportation as an extra service to help give their customers peace of mind in their travel arrangements, it is also used to help control traffic on the airport roads. An entire airport can be affected if there is congestion on its roads due to excessive traffic. Passengers will be late for flights or miss them, thus tying up other flights. Making sure an airport has ground transportation in place is beneficial to both passengers and the airport itself.
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Some people are fortunate enough to have a friend or relative who is able to take them to the airport and drop them off at their terminal. However, for other people getting to the airport, or figuring out how to get from one end of the airport to the other, can be harder than booking the flight for your vacation. Most airports offer taxi services and shuttles. You should be able to find the various types of airport ground transportation available by looking at the airport's website. It is wise to call and see exactly what to expect when you use various services and how reliable they are.
Another way to find airport ground transportation is to ask other people what companies they use when they travel and how they get around the airport. If you have to change planes, make sure you know how to get to the right terminal, and whether you can use a shuttle or sky train to get there if you need to. If there are several airports in your vicinity, check on what airport ground transportation is like at each one. If you have the same price on a flight, making sure you have convenient airport ground transportation should you need it, may help you decide which airport to use.
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There are several things to consider when using the ground transportation the airport provides. The main one is convenience. With a transportation structure in place, passengers do not have to worry about how they will get around. Oftentimes, there are signs and maps throughout the airport that will direct them to whatever transportation service meets their needs.
Another reason to use transportation provided by the airport is that it is efficient. From both a consumer and business perspective, an airport depends on efficiency and everything being on time. For the most part, shuttles and trains are on a schedule. If something breaks down, it is immediately fixed, and other modes of airport ground transportation such as golf carts or taxis are added in order to make up for the time that may be lost. If you decide to use a taxi or limo service, you will know that there is a protocol already set in place on how to get you to where you need to go.
Using airport transportation also helps your friends and family. They don't need to worry about your getting from one place to another, or worry about how to take you or pick you up from the airport. Many people are anxious enough about your flying; taking added pressure off them can be a thoughtful thing to do.
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When using airport ground transportation, it is important to know where you are going, how to find it, and the cost to use it. If you are planning on using a limousine or taxi service to take you to the airport from your home, make sure you have a correct destination and money to pay for it. It is important that you know what terminal you need, so the driver knows exactly where to take you. You also want to make sure they are reliable and will pick you up at the specified time. It is also important to know how you will pay for the transportation. Many taxi services still only accept cash; however, credit cards are gradually being accepted
If you parked your car in the economy parking lot at the airport, you need to know how much it costs to park there, where to catch the shuttle, and how often the shuttle comes. Allow extra time in case the shuttle is late or is overcrowded. Taking your own car to the airport may be helpful, especially if you have a family. The airport shuttle or a train will take you and all your belongings to the terminal.
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The cost of getting to the airport and getting around the airport varies by the mode of transportation you choose and whether you are parking your car. Parking can be expensive at the airport depending on where you park. However, the actual airport ground transportation may be free, or amount to over a few hundred dollars.
Cheaper sources of ground transportation include trams and shuttle service. If you have decided to park at the airport, always make sure you factor in how much your parking will cost when you decide on what type to use. Shuttles from parking lots are often free, although some people tip the driver. Some hotels offer complimentary shuttle service, while others charge a fee. In either case, most of the time, passengers tip the driver.
Taxis tend to be a little more expensive depending on where you want to go. Your costs will vary on location and the taxi service that you use. Some companies double the amount you pay one way to pay for the route back to the taxi area.
Town cars and limos tend to be more expensive. They can start at $100 or more. Some may feel this is too much to spend, but for others, when they factor in cost of parking, convenience, or personal needs, it is worth the price.
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Some people prefer having their own space when traveling to the airport. For those people, airports often offer taxi and limousine services. If you plan to use a taxi, use the taxi services recommended by the airport. They often know the best routes to get to and from the airport, how to work around traffic, and the location of various areas of the airport. When using a taxi to get home or to another part of the airport, there is often an area just for taxis. Just stand in line and a taxi dispatcher will find the taxi and provide you with a price quote for your destination. Taxis tend to be cheaper than a limo, but tend to be less personal than taking a limousine.
For some travelers, taking a limousine or a town car to the airport is preferred. Oftentimes, these limousine and town car drivers will help you with your bags, and if you are using them on your return home, follow up to make sure they know the details of your return flight. Upon returning from your travel, some limo companies have their drivers waiting for you to help get your bags and take you to the car. You will pay more for a limo service, but for some it is worth it.
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For some people, using a taxi or a limo may not be what they need or can afford. Some people opt to park their cars in short or long term parking. At times, these parking lots are far from the terminal. Airports often offer shuttles or vans to take their passengers from the parking lot to the terminals. Sometimes they are free; other times you have to pay a small fee. If you choose to use airport parking and shuttle service, make sure that you factor in the cost of parking when deciding on what airport ground transportation to use.
If you opt to stay near the airport, either for convenience or you have an overnight layover, you may find using the hotel's shuttle service will help you. Many airports and their affiliated hotels offer shuttle or van service to help you get around the airport. In some cases as guest of the hotel, you can park your car in the hotel parking for a much smaller fee than the airport parking lot fees, and then use their free shuttle or van to take you to your terminal. This can save you time and money, as well as make it easy to maneuver around the airport. When you return, all you need to do is shuttle back to the hotel parking and pick up your car.
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Other types of public transportation include trains or trams, and even golf carts. A larger airport sometimes connects their terminals via a train or sky-tram. This allows passengers to commute between terminals efficiently and effectively without worrying about how to reach another terminal. There are usually several stops at each terminal. Some will even take you out to the parking garage. It is a wise idea to study the route of the train or sky tram online before you go, so you know how to use it. If you have to change flights, and you need to get to the other side of the airport for your next plane, knowing there is a train or sky tram can be helpful. Taking the steps to know how to get around an airport to change planes before you go will save you headaches in the long term.
Carts that look like the ones that pull your luggage around the airport are sometimes used within the airport terminal to carry passengers and their luggage. These oversized golf carts are often used by single parents with children, elderly people, and people with disabilities to get from one end of the terminal to the next. They are often free, and are much faster and easier than walking.
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If you are elderly or have a disability, or need some sort of special assistance, airport ground transportation is an excellent way to get around the airport. The airport values all its customers and is aware that while handicap parking is helpful, it will not always be helpful in helping you get around the airport. Many air ground transportation services have protocols set in place to help their elderly and special needs passengers. They may have handicap seating, or even have a loud speaker to let you know when you must get off the train or shuttle. Oftentimes, drivers are equipped with phones that they can use to call ahead and make sure there will be a wheelchair or someone there to help you get on the plane.
One way to find out what is available for your traveling needs is for you or a caregiver to call ahead or look online to see what services are available. Some shuttles are specially equipped with secure areas for those in a wheelchair. Some car services have vans equipped with handicap access. There are people who drive golf carts or people who take passengers in wheelchairs from one place to another within the airport. Knowing how you will get around will help you be a more confident traveler.
Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303