LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

dlw5

Hello! A bit of advice please...

What is the best way to get from Laguardia to Prospect Hts and vice versa??

I have family coming in and I want their first experience to be as stress free as possible. I personally have no trouble taking longer routes with various tranfers to save a bit of cash... but in this case I'm looking for convenience. (car service?)

Thanks so much!

dailyheights

Car service should be $25-28. Probably your best bet for 2-3 people. If you call far enough in advance, a car service will be waiting for you/your family at the airport (I've never done this - I just take a cab). Here is a list of car services in the neighborhood (and our opinions):

http://www.dailyheights.com/mediawiki/index.php/Car_Services

dlw5

Thanks. :P

Was the cab ride fare comparable to the car service?

dailyheights

Unpredictable. I think it's about the same. If you get stuck in rush hour traffic, you could end up paying more.

On the other hand, I don't know how much extra car services charge to pick you up at the airport. I assume there is a premium, but like I said, I've never done it.

dlw5

ooo... incorrect "emoticon"

replacement:

emily

Yes, you have to be careful with cabs. The flat rate, which is supposed to protect tourists from feeling/being ripped off, is only valid to Manhattan. Therefore, it can actually be more expensive to take a cab from the airports to places in Brooklyn and Queens. With a car service, you'd at least know what you were going to pay.

daveb

Watch out for those gypsy cabs at the airport though. They can be really sketchy.

carnivore

EmilyM wrote: Yes, you have to be careful with cabs. The flat rate, which is supposed to protect tourists from feeling/being ripped off, is only valid to Manhattan. Therefore, it can actually be more expensive to take a cab from the airports to places in Brooklyn and Queens. With a car service, you'd at least know what you were going to pay.

I think the flat rate only applies to JFK anyway, and only coming from the airport. LaGuardia is always on the meter.
Be careful with the metered cabs regardless. If they sense that you don't know where you're going, they will try to rip you off. Make sure you know the route ahead of time.

dlw5

great. thanks again!

rossmelanie

I've used the Arecibo car service from PH to LGA... flat rate of $25. From LGA to PH, you should always wait in the taxi line for a cab. My trips (metered) have been about $26-$28.

anonymous

Subject: secret

If you get a yellow cab from jfk the secret is to have the driver take the conduit expressway to atlantic avenue all the way. this costs less than 30 bucks. if you take the belt or the bqe it usually runs 45 bucks. Just be warned-big savings equals angry cab drivers.

carnivore

Subject: Re: secret

josh L wrote: If you get a yellow cab from jfk the secret is to have the driver take the conduit expressway to atlantic avenue all the way. this costs less than 30 bucks. if you take the belt or the bqe it usually runs 45 bucks. Just be warned-big savings equals angry cab drivers.

Remember, part of the "taxi riders bill of rights" is that you get to pick the route. They are supposed to take the most DIRECT route (shortest distance) unless you specify otherwise, but most cabbies would rather take a longer distance in exchange for faster (or equal) time. They get around the shortest distance default rule by asking you "BQE?" as you get in. Less savy customers will simply agree to whatever the cabbie suggests. In Manhattan, they love to do this to take the FDR or West Side Highway for simple uptown/downtown trips and it's always a rip-off. That's why you have to know the shortest DISTANCE route and specify it. If they refuse, no tip.

stacey

My company uses a black car service called XYZ (718-768-7333) This is used mostly by offices but they accept credit cards. Its a great company and you can reserve cars. Since this company is a coop (owned by all the drivers) its a flat rate (no tip). I think from LaGuardia to Bklyn its $30.00. They have a dispatcher at the major airports so you never have to wait more than 10 minutes for a car. We have used them for over 20 years and have never had a problem. I use it whenever I have to pick someone up from or going to the airports.

dlw5

Subject: Re: secret

They get around the shortest distance default rule by asking you "BQE?" as you get in. Less savy customers will simply agree to whatever the cabbie suggests.

Are you saying not to take the BQE from LGA?

bluedove

Good question...I always do take the BQE from LGA (to Tillary Street, down Flatbush, and over on Park)...is there a better way?

daniel

No - the suggestion was not to take the BQE from JFK. Taking the BQE from JFK is about 25 miles. Taking Conduit->Atlantic Ave->Eastern Pkwy is about 9 miles.

ana.log

Does Airtrain go to LGA or JFK only? If it goes to LGA, just take the LIRR form Atlantic Ave/Flatbush Ave to Jamaica station, then take AirTrain to airport.

rita

bluedove, the way you suggest from LGA is good if there is no traffic... but if there is even moderate traffic, the BQE gets backed up before the tillary street exit, so i usually do this to avoid that area:

[begin geek speak]

take the BQE, and exit at the williamsburg area exit (kent ave, i think it's called) follow it around to park ave (which basically runs under the BQE, so you shouldn't get too lost even if you don't know what you are doing), and take a left on vanderbilt or washington, which will get you to PH.

going towards LGA from PH, classon is better to the BQE than Flatbush, unless it is 3 am, and you are assured no traffic. (even then it might be debatable).

these routes are a little more direct and good if you expect the BQE or Flatbush to be crowded.

also, in a traffic pinch (like if you're picking someone up and on the way see the traffic in the other direction, and realize you can't take the BQE back), you can take the GCP East from LGA and take the Jackie Robinson into Brooklyn.

and yes, conduit to/from JFK rules!

[/geek]

whyfi

ana.log wrote: Does Airtrain go to LGA or JFK only? If it goes to LGA, just take the LIRR form Atlantic Ave/Flatbush Ave to Jamaica station, then take AirTrain to airport.

Only JFK. only public transport that goes to LGA is a handful of buses- Q33, M60, and a couple others... not fun though...

alex

I took the 7 train to the bus and missed my flight. Get a car svc is my advice.

medusa

nybt wrote: [quote=ana.log]Does Airtrain go to LGA or JFK only? If it goes to LGA, just take the LIRR form Atlantic Ave/Flatbush Ave to Jamaica station, then take AirTrain to airport.

Only JFK. only public transport that goes to LGA is a handful of buses- Q33, M60, and a couple others... not fun though...

In some ways it's easier to get to Newark on Public transport. Take the NJ transit to the airport. It's pretty easy even with luggage.

LGA kind of sucks anyway--flights are often delayed, air traffic is mighty tight and I always wonder when there will be a crash...

carnivore

Medusa wrote: In some ways it's easier to get to Newark on Public transport. Take the NJ transit to the airport. It's pretty easy even with luggage.

Yeah, but then you have to set foot in Jersey. Eeeeww!

Unclean! :x

Sorry, Flute.