Uber is making it easier — and cheaper — to get to the airport, launching its brand-new Uber Shuttle in New York.
The rideshare company, which first announced the concept earlier this year, is now offering 14-passenger bus rides to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) from major public transportation hubs in New York City for just $18 per person, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. Service will run every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., seven days per week.
“It’s very cost effective, it’s very green,” Sachin Kansal, the VP of product management at Uber, told T+L at the company’s annual climate conference in London. “It can also be an option in the case of congestion where it may be hard for you to get an Uber in a certain situation. It’s ultimately going to be a cost effective solution and a convenient solution.”
Courtesy of Uber
While the shuttle service is just launching at LaGuardia for now, the plan is to bring it to other airports in the future.
To book the shuttle, travelers can request up to four seats up to seven days in advance of their trip. They will then receive a QR-code ticket and a unique PIN to show the driver. Travelers will each be able to bring one piece of luggage (either a carry-on or checked bag up to 50 pounds) as well as one personal item to fit on their lap or under their seat.
Travelers will be able to track the location of their Uber Shuttle in the app in real time within 25 minutes of the scheduled departure.
Riders can tip and rate drivers in the Uber app as they do with other Uber rides.
In New York, there will be two routes: one with stops at Port Authority Terminal and Grand Central Terminal and a second stopping at Penn Station. The shuttle will then pick up or drop travelers off at LaGuardia’s Terminal B or C.
Beyond the shuttle, travelers can either drive, take a taxi, or take the public MTA bus to LaGuardia. There are no subway lines or an air train that go to the airport.
In New York, there will be two routes: one with stops at Port Authority Terminal and Grand Central Terminal and a second stopping at Penn Station. The shuttle will then pick up or drop travelers off at LaGuardia’s Terminal B or C.
To celebrate the launch, Uber is offering half-off $9 introductory fares for the first month of service.
Eventually, Uber Shuttle will provide transportation to and from other large venues, including concerts.