Gothamist: The First Federalized Heliport!

Max

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 12:07:40 -0500

Gotta say I am with Jo. Hell, I can get a great experience (never been in a heli), cut travel time to the airport, cut time off from having to wait in a long line at security and pay only twice what it costs me usually? Done deal. Hell, it is almost less than the taxes you have to pay on an airplane ticket. Does it stink of elitism and what not- yes, but as an above poster pointed out, the real elite have private jets.

Jo

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 11:30:43 -0500

I might try that sometime....is it only for March? I don't think I'm flying again until May. Seriously, though....airport cab rides are $40 from Brooklyn Heights....I can get the local car service to take me to LGA or JFK for around $30, but Newark is $63 each way. I pay $70 or the equivalent in miles to upgrade to first class without thinking twice, so going from $63 to $140 seems pretty darn reasonable. I'm not a rich guy (28%er) but it doesn't strike me as that extravogant. Its fun to treat yourself to something like this once in awhile. OK, start the flogging.

Dave H.

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 11:23:35 -0500

Only suckers take helicopters to commercial flights. Flying the private jet out of Teterboro is the way to go.

leastofourproblems

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 11:19:43 -0500

$140 helicopter rides outrages Gothamist? How about $50 for a cab ride in traffic? Is that a deal? How about the outrageous rents and selling prices for homes? The rich taking helicopter rides is the least of our problems. That every construction project is for "luxury" condos concerns me more.

Jim

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 11:18:24 -0500

The real story here is the fact that the Fed Gov't is installing the security checkpoint at the heliport (and soon at the other heliports in the city) by reducing the # of workers at JFK, La Guardia, and Newark. Due to regulatory constraints, those workers cannot be replaced at the airports. The net effect is that for you and me, the wait to check in at the airport is even longer so that the exceptionally wealthy (or at least those willing to pay $160 + tax, fees, etc.) can have another means of bypassing the masses. One hell of a federal subsidy to the group operating the helicopter service.

Jen

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:36:45 -0500

I can understand splurging for a ride around the city - but a 9-minute ride to the airport that's $140? I guess that'll wait till I go into arbitrage or something!

MT

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:26:47 -0500

Taking a helicopter ride is an amazing experience. I once splurged and took a friend for his birthday and we had so much fun! You should definitely try it at least once.