1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Airport Shuttle Company

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by sporty8705, Mar 30, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,206
    Location:
    Riverside County
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    :nono:

    We booked through them at the airport and bought round trip tickets. We called the day before for our shuttle and were told a 7:10 pickup for our 10:00am flight. We got out there at 7:08 only to see the shuttle wasn't there. So we waited, and waited and another shuttle driver from a different company says oh they left a few minutes before you came out here. We called and they then said we could do 8:10, we said no, it was cutting it too close especially since they said we wouldnt get to the airport til 9, and then to have to wait in line for security and baggage check, we would risk losing our flight. They told us it was our fault for not being outside, we were out there before 7:10. They said that it was implied that we have to be outside 10-15 minutes early so if they get there early we would be outside waiting, if they got there early and we were not there, then they would leave. Which they did.

    Just warning people incase they encounter this.
     
  2. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    One thing to add, which is the "problem" you had, is: the shuttles don't wait around. They are told to pick up somebody at a property so they get there, open the doors, let people on and then go... they don't go trying to find you or wait for you to show up. I also think they tell you that the shuttle will be there "around" a specific time because they can't accurately pinpoint if traffic will be slow or heavy, so it should be assumed that there will be at least a 5-10 minute leeway on either side for when the shuttle will actually be there.

    That said, when you called in to the shuttle company they were correct when they said it was your fault. When they tell you its a 7:10 pickup and you show up at 7:08 just seems kind of stupid and irresponsible... and then weird at the same time since you were so insistent on being at the airport 2.5-3 hours early for your flight but for the shuttle to the airport you are allowing a window of only 2 minutes at best.
     
  3. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,206
    Location:
    Riverside County
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    We take shuttles both ways every trip, and we are always out there early, not being told to and they are always late. I guess it was our fault this triip as some members had umm bathroom issues so we got out there ASAP. and they told us we would be on the shuttle for at least an hour for other pickups, thats why we wanted the 7:10 to be at the airport around 8, so we could get through security and not be almost late for our plane, which leaves at 10, so it boards at 930ish. That makes sense for us, to get there to allow time to get checked in, get through security and its a good thing we didnt wait, lines were hugely long. so we wouldnt have been there 2.5-3 hours early, we got there 2 hours before a flight, which was 1.5 hours before boarding.. so sorry
     
  4. Username

    Username VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,382
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    We learned to NEVER take a shuttle back to the airport.......WHY.....because if there are 2-5 passengers it is less $$$ to take a cab and they never long haul you on the way to the airport and because we have seen other shuttles come and go and not the one we prepaid for.......IF you want to take a shuttle back to where da planes take off, then DON'T prepay for a shuttle...just take one that shows up for the airport ..if one doesn't show up in your time frame then take a cab.
     
  5. jmwilson81

    jmwilson81 Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2014
    Messages:
    23
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    1
    Is it better to take a shuttle from downtown to the airport or take a cab? What is the difference in time and cost?
     
  6. mdlee3_46041

    mdlee3_46041 MIA

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2011
    Messages:
    251
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I'm not here to jump on the bandwagon of it being the OP's fault. If you buy a round-trip shuttle ticket, it says on the return portion, "Please allow 15 minutes before contacting us". That only means if the shuttle itself is running late. It doesn't specify anything about the passengers being outside sooner waiting. Yes, passengers shouldn't wait for the last minute, but at the same time, a driver shouldn't show up say 20 minutes early and then leave if the people he's there to pick up aren't ready.

    Personally, I have never had a bad experience on a shuttle, but I haven't taken one in a few years. I've been in the OP's position before where the driver showed up a little early. This driver though got out, yelled out that it was a shuttle to the airport, talked to the valet, who came inside and a page was made about a shuttle to the airport was there. I was finishing up checking out at the time. I made it out to the shuttle and the driver said he was still waiting on 1 more person. So he yelled out again, talked to the valet again, who I assume had another page for the shuttle made. A couple people walked out and the driver yelled for the shuttle again, but they went and got in the cab line so the driver got back in and drove to the next hotel. When we got to his next stop, he got out and yelled for the shuttle to the airport again. These people were ready so he avoided the rest of his yelling. Then we went straight to the airport.

    The experience I listed was at a downtown hotel so I understand some of it may not be effective on the strip, where the properties are much larger. It was nice to know that in the case of my driver at least, he did everything he possibly could to give his passengers a chance to get their ride to the airport while also not cutting time short for the people that were ready on time.
     
  7. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,206
    Location:
    Riverside County
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    Like I said we are usually out there early to wait but people keep needing to run to the bathroom and immodium wasnt working for them, and anytime were early the shuttle is late. But we called because the man said our shuttle had come and gone before we got out there, then we called, they said we could get picked up at 8:10 but wouldnt get to the airport til 9, and if a flight leaves at 10, you have to check in an hour before the flight and security lines can be long, so boarding at 930ish i didnt wanna cut it so close..

    the company just didnt seem to care and had an attitude, thats what made me mad.. thats all.
     
  8. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    2,739
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    CAB - why? Because when its time to go home the last thing I want to do is hassle around.


    A cab will be about $35.
     
  9. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2007
    Messages:
    6,752
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35


    Sporty, unfortunately username is correct. The shuttle back to the airport is irregular and inconsistent and unreliable. I rent a car most times now but when I took the shuttle I would pay one way from the airport to my hotel but call a few days before I leave to make a reservation for the return trip. Most times I would be out waiting 15 minutes before pickup but many times the shuttle wouldn't arrive until much later. Even though I made a reservation sometimes I would just jump on any shuttle to get to the airport, the shuttles back to the airport are unreliable at best IMHO. Guess that's why it was best to just pay for one way, you can then use any shuttle that gets to your hotel to get to the airport.

    Then when you catch the shuttle it all depends on how busy they are, you could wait while they go to other hotels to pick up customers.

    A few years ago the straw that broke the camel's back was thanks to BellTrans. I had a return trip from DT (paid for a round trip), my flight was at 2:30 pm but I arranged for an 11 am pick up (I also figure in travel time and other pickups on the shuttle so I usually give lots of time). I told them my flight was at 1:30 pm so they would make sure I get there in time but it didn't make a difference. They were late, really late. I called BellTrans at 11:20 to find out about the shuttle, they said that it was coming but a little busy so just wait for them. The shuttle didn't get to my hotel until 12:30. Luckily because I gave enough time I made it to the airport and had about an hour and a half to go through checkin and security.

    Lately because of all this I've been renting a car for my entire trip (usually 5 days). I love it (I don't drink that much) because I can go anywhere I want whenever I want. Since I go to many places when in Vegas (belz, trader joe's, sometimes galleria mall or meadows mall, then night life, lol) I make use of the car every day to warrant the rental. Plus then I get to go directly to and from the airport to the rental facility to get my car or drop off my car.

    As others have mentioned, for 2 or more people it might be best to just cab it from DT, then you don't have to worry about a late or unreliable shuttle. :Þ
     
  10. Icedgenes

    Icedgenes Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Messages:
    124
    Location:
    Upstate New York
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    We bought a pair of shuttle passes thru the booking agency, a whopping $2 off the regular fare!
    When we got to the hotel we asked hotel staff what they recommended for timing calling the shuttle for return. They said "take a cab".
    Given the wait at the terminal for the shuttle to leave, It is cabs both ways for us now. Might be double the price for some but what price do we put on our time and less stress?
     
  11. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2007
    Messages:
    6,752
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    If you're not in a rush the shuttle from the airport to your hotel isn't that bad. You probably will have to wait until the shuttle fills up but at least you know that it will eventually get to your hotel. The other thing is that the shuttle from the airport goes to many hotels, if they can't fill a downtown shuttle they will put strip hotels on the shuttle, you may end up the last ones on the shuttle as it goes down the strip.

    You are correct, for 2 or more people a cab might be better.
     
  12. btodd

    btodd High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2003
    Messages:
    875
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    49
    I saw on another board about a web special with Bell Transfers that included a text or email from them when they were arriving to pick you up for the return trip to airport. The cost is $28.00. Has anyone used this special?
     
  13. MisplacedTexan

    MisplacedTexan Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    Messages:
    347
    Location:
    Springville, Utah
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    19
    +1 for just taking a cab to and from. We drive nowadays but when we flew, it just made more sense to get a cab. It's on MY schedule and it's straight from the cab stand to the casino, then back (assuming you don't get long hauled) without waiting through any stops for other passengers.

    Yeah, it's probably twice as expensive as a shuttle, but it's still not THAT expensive -- less than a couple of hands of 6:5 blackjack!
     
  14. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I think with the shuttle its just part of the overall mentality of it all: in most cities the airport is far and away from the average visitor's destination where to cab from the airport to your hotel it may typically cost $40-60 each way and the shuttle or airport bus is only $5-15 usually...

    But in Las Vegas the airport is "right there" next to all the big megaresorts on The Strip. It can be a long trip to a Downtown property, relative to places on The Strip, but even going from the airport to Downtown is still going to be about half the price of going from the airport in most cities to its downtown.
     
  15. MisplacedTexan

    MisplacedTexan Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    Messages:
    347
    Location:
    Springville, Utah
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    19
    This is exactly what it was for us when we first started going. You took the shuttle -- that's just what we always did. Then I got to thinking -- why have I been on this stupid bus for 45 minutes, letting people off one after another, when I could SEE the resort from the airport? Frustrating!
     
  16. ncfatcat

    ncfatcat Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2014
    Messages:
    100
    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    +1 for renting a car. I like to go to Laughlin and hike at Red Rock Canyon and go to the Boulder Hwy casinos.Once you understand the damage claim waver and how to deal with it ( if you're paying by VISA or AX it's covered if you pay for the rental with that card any other Method of payment usually doesn't cover the loss of use to the rental co if you crash and it's out of service and can't be re rented until fixed ) I usually pay around$125 a week for a compact rental.
     
  17. Username

    Username VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,382
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    ncfatcat is 100% correct "IF" you are going to be using the rental car for side trips OR if you are not adult beverage consumers day in and day out....if you like your midnight oil while in Sin City USA, then DON'T....I repeat DON'T rent a car for moving about the strip or doing a day/night trip to Vegas Downtown.....a cab fare is soooo much less then a DWI any day of the week and twice on vacation.

    Now if you are interested in a one or two day side trips to the likes of Red Rock, etc........then check out Dollar Rental at the TI as they are cheaper then most....

    Just remember it's cheaper to cab then drive in the long haul..
     
  18. lnz

    lnz Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2012
    Messages:
    67
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Are shuttles able to pick up passengers who haven't pre-booked? In some cities, mini-cabs can only take pre-booked passengers and I'd assumed the airport shuttles were the same.
     
    It's been a while
  19. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I don't think they do. For going back to the airport they don't have routes where they stop and visit each hotel and look for people to take back, like if nobody at Luxor calls one of the shuttle companies all day for a pickup to go back to the airport then no shuttles would stop at Luxor all day for pickups because they aren't expecting anybody.

    Also, because the shuttles would be on scheduled pick up they might not have room. Like a shuttle could pull in, using Luxor as an example here, and have 6 open seats but they pick up 2 at Luxor and the driver sees he has 2 people at Mandalay Bay to pick up and 2 at Tropicana before heading to the airport so he can't pick up any more because the seats are all booked.
     
  20. ncfatcat

    ncfatcat Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2014
    Messages:
    100
    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    Yeah thats true. I don't drink and if I drive at night I drive like I'm in Iraq driving a vehicle with an American flag flying - cautious as hell!
     
Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.