How To Use Public Transit At The Airport

The first, and usually the most expensive, is to arrange for the "black car service" of a limousine to meet you upon arrival. This is set up in advance of your travels and is an all-inclusive fare that will deliver you from the terminal to your hotel or other destination. Companies can be found via your phonebook or on an Internet search under the words "Airport Transportation Services". While the cost may be on the pricey side, it carries with it the advantage of having someone help you schlep your suitcase from the baggage claim area to the car. Oh, and you'll also garner a few stares if you're wearing large, dark glasses and effecting a star-quality gait as you move through the crowd. What an entrance"¦and far superior to stepping off a city bus in the middle of pouring rain. Keep in mind as well that if your flight is delayed and you don't get in until 3 in the morning, the driver will still be there to meet you. Public transit, in contrast, operates between 6 a.m. and midnight.

Your next option is to take a taxicab. As you exit the terminal, you'll find them queued up and ready for passengers. Unlike a children's carousel where you get to rush in and pick whichever color horse you want to ride on, the protocol is to take the first cab waiting in the lineup so that those behind it can move up and into position. In cities such as Washington, D.C., however, which are split up by separate districts, there will be a taxi coordinator who asks you where you are headed and then directs you to the appropriate vehicle. The important thing to remember is to never look like a rookie. Even if it's your first time in the city, have your destination address memorized so that you can rattle it off with confidence. Horror stories abound of passengers who have been literally taken for a ride by unscrupulous drivers who used circuitous routes in order to jack up the fare. While cabbies who have a high volume of corporate business travelers will accept credit cards, the majority are strictly cash and carry and will not accept bills over $20 for transactions. A 15% tip is the norm.

A cautionary note about cabs is extended to travelers flying into foreign countries. A girlfriend and I on our first trip to the U.K. were fortuitously rescued by an English bobbie when he saw us being spirited off from the baggage claim area by an enterprising young man who claimed to have his own taxi. The real drivers, we were informed, always stay in their cabs. Those who are out prowling the crowds will seek out passengers who look confused and promise them a low fare, often delivering them to the wrong address (supposedly by mistake) and charging exorbitant fees to return them to the correct one. The reality is that they are either flying under the radar of legitimate transportation licensing agencies or, on a more sobering note, are seeking young women traveling alone whom they can kidnap and rape.

If you don't mind being sandwiched into a van with other travelers, your next option is a shuttle service. There are two different kinds available. The first is a shuttle that is operated by major hotels in the area. You can either arrange for a shuttle pick up at the time you make your reservations or proceed to the transportation services directory where a bank of white courtesy phones are set up to notify the hotel that you have arrived. There is usually not a charge for this service but a gratuity is always recommended. The second type of shuttle is one which is run by the city, county or a subcontractor and serves the purpose of delivering its riders to the downtown sector. Cities that frequently host conventions are especially in tune with making out of towners feel welcome, an esprit de corps that extends to shuttle services for those arriving for a specific event. Because these events are already going to be drawing large crowds, the cities recognize the extra burden this will put on the parking garages and onsite lots. These shuttles usually operate on half hour schedules and charge a minimal flat fee.

Airports that service major cities will usually have contracts with the local metropolitan bus services. Some of them also have contracts with national carriers such as Greyhound. While this affords you the convenience of multiple stops along the route (including the central terminal where you can transfer to different lines), it's not your best bet if you are traveling with a lot of luggage, a couple of kids, and/or will have to do some serious walking from a bus stop to your actual destination. The fares, however, are generally low and you don't need to make a reservation in advance. If you're traveling light (i.e., just a briefcase or a backpack), it's a fun way to pretend you're one of the locals. Prior to your trip, do a search on Google to find out which bus you need to take and how often it departs from the airport terminal. Fares are paid in cash at a kiosk or, if the fare is under $3, is deposited in a slot in exact change upon boarding the bus. Bus drivers will not make change for you. Eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed.

Many major airports today are also serviced by a light rail system. Light rail is a combination of above-ground and underground trains that bypass the vexation of freeways and rush hour traffic and are much lower in cost than renting a car, putting gas in it and then trying to find a place to park. If you're traveling with a lot of checked baggage, a ride on light rail can be as cumbersome as taking a bus, especially if the metro stops are not conveniently located near your hotel. It should also be kept in mind that these trains are particularly crowded if your arrival should plop you right in the middle of the morning or afternoon commuter crowd. Should that be the case, you have a short window of time to get you and your luggage on and off the train as well as gather it snugly around you on the floor since there are (1) no overhead racks and (2) a prohibition against stacking it on the train seats.

If you're traveling with very little baggage or are just in town on a day's worth of business, a ride on light rail is not only cheaper than a cab (especially in cities like San Francisco and New York) but can often get you to your destination faster than vehicles which are competing with above-ground traffic. Color-coded system maps located near the ticket/token vending machines are easy to read, display the exact one-way fare necessary to ride, and tell you which platform you need to go to in order to catch the correct train. You also have the option of purchasing a single, round trip ticket or a day pass which not only lets you ride around as much as you like for the entire day but also allows you to use your pass for bus transfers within the city.