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Well, we can't say we didn't know it was coming.
New Yorkers getting out of town who don't want to deal with traffic, taxis, or all of the plebeians online at the security check point now have a new option. For a cool $139 one-way customers of start-up U.S. Helicopter can be screened by Federal Transportation Security Administration screeners at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and then flown directly to any local airport JFK without having to go through security again - or wait in traffic.
Of course, there has been some grumbling about the Federal government putting eight of the limited number of TSA screeners to work for a service that will most likely only be used by the very wealthy. We understand why people don't approve, but it we actually kinda like the idea. Though it is definitely out of our price range, we're sure that there are many, many, many people out there who would gladly pay for the convenience. As long as their helicopters can manage to stay in the air, we suspect this U.S. Helicopter company should do a pretty brisk business. Shouldn't be too bad for Lower Manhattan either.
In the meantime while we save up to use their services we think we'll just sit back and look at xrrr's awesome set of photos from a helicopter flying around the five boroughs.
Helicopter from Fat Girl Slim's flickr stream.
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the flate fare to jfk is $45 plus tip, so roughly $50 - $55 bucks. For the added bonus of a helicopter ride and not having to deal with the BS of the security checkpoint lines (taking off the goddam shoes, cranky moronic screeners, etc) I think the extra $90 isnt so bad.
or the flat fare of $2 on our wonderful subway system, though lugging a bag through turnstyles and up and down stairs is a bit of a hassle.
Yeah, and the airtrain is $5 so it's really $7 via subway/airtrain. $4 if you take the bus. Less if you use your unlimited MetroCard (but hopefully you timed it to end the day you leave town).
This is just another example of the special treatment that the elite get. Do you know how many TSA officials they've got manning the heliport? I think it's about 6 or 7. It's an extremely wasteful diversion of resources and will end up creating longer lines at the airport and hurting our national security.
Scott - subway-to-bus is a free transfer, right? So it should be $2 even with a regular Metrocard, provided your subway ride doesn't take more than 2 hours.
It'd be nice to take a commuter helicopter from Floyd Bennett Field to the MetLife Building's helipad to an elevator down to Grand Central Station then one subway stop to my destination.
If not for the accidents that happened the last time anyone tried that, however I still think it'd be nice.
Hooray for the power elite!
Yeah subway is awesome to JFK, except when it inexplicably has delays in empty (cab-less) parts of Queens, leaving you SOL and late for your flight. I would pay every single time if I could afford to take the helicopter.
BTW if anyone ever gets a chance, take the helicopter from the Nice Airport to Monaco - freakin' awesome views and super fast. And at $180 round trip, its way cheaper than the NYC to JFK one.
Oh come on. For anyone who's ever had to book even a decent car for any sort of client or anyone else that you were trying to put into more than a yellow cab, a nice towncar to JFK from Midtown can cost something along the lines of $90 with tolls and tips. Given that, $140 does not limit this service to the "super-rich".
The LIRR to Jamaica ($7-$10) then the AirTrain is the fastest way to get to JFK via rail. I discovered it at Christmas and found it quite easy.
ditto on LIRR to Jamaica! Super fast, easy, and frequent. Definitely more comfortable and reliable than the subway. Trains come every few minutes and the ride is only about 20 min.