American Airlines To Offer Shuttle Service From Philadelphia to Atlantic City

Another option for those with American service, though I can't find a way to book a ticket that uses the service.

American Airlines Dropping Some Regional Flights In Favor Of Bus Service

 

The aa.com site provides this iinformation

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/landline.jsp

Eligible airports
Service begins June 3 for PHL connections to / from:

• Allentown / Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (ABE)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey (ACY)

How it works
Book your trip as normal with us and you’ll see a connection ‘operated by The Landline Company’ to / from PHL.

To PHL:

1. Check in for your trip 24 hours before your shuttle departure – same as you would for a flight
2. Arrive at ABE or ACY to check bags and clear security as normal
3. Board the shuttle to your assigned seat – we’ll load your bags and transfer them upon arrival in PHL
4. Go to your connecting gate in PHL

From PHL:

1. Check in for your trip as normal 24 hours before your shuttle departure, and you’ll see you have a connection to ABE or ACY from PHL
2. Don’t worry about your bags – we’ll transfer them from the plane to the shuttle
3. Go to the gate listed on your boarding pass at PHL

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They must not have it fully implemented in their system. I tried booking a July flight to ACY and it routed me through Newark.

 

Here is an article from the local Press of Atlantic City. The bus company has not received approval from the TSA to pick up passengers who have cleared security and unload on the secure side of the terminal. The PHL-ACY route will be 3 busses a day for a max of 105 passengers.

Passengers will still need to get from the Airport in Pomona to Atlantic City, the Jitney service was suspended awhile ago. So that leaves passengers to take a cab into the city.

As things exist today, it is a pain in the butt to get from PHL to Atlantic City. The SEPTA Airport line runs every 30 minutes, then the NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line has infrequent service, here is the schedule. There is the Greyhound Bus, UBER charges between $100-200 each way, and private shuttles (unsure of cost). The most practical for two or more travelers would be renting a car as the drive is about 65 miles, all highway plus about $16 (round trip) for tolls. Parking in AC would be additional.

I think it is a step in the right direction and any kind of formal bus service that makes it easier to get to AC is welcome.

 

The real question is whether they can actually make this sustainable. I remember the old ACES train, which was a cool concept, but in reality was logistically complicated (not only was it always delayed, but it required a switch from electric to diesel outside Philly, which took forever) and ridiculously overpriced. Something like this, though, could be an inexpensive way to service that corridor without relying on it being as full as possible like as is required by a flight.

 

Not having been to AC ever/yet..... what about flying into Philly and using a limo service directly to your hotel? How long would that limo ride be, about an hour?

 

since the earlier post mentioned 65 miles...then at least an hour.
And since Uber is over $100, a limo would be higher.

 

Just emailed a limo service that had 5 star ratings and they said $375 "each way"

Too bad getting to AC isn't easier, we'd love to try Borgata and have some good offers from them since they became MGM. The AA deal with the luxury bus doesn't sound very appealing if it still leaves you getting yet another mode of transportation from the AC airport to your hotel. Looks like we could drive in a little over 6 hours and the route up the eastern shore and using the Cape May ferry would probably be the most scenic and relaxing.....if a 6 hour drive is ever relaxing.

 

I've flown into PHL then taken the train to Atlantic City several times. It's not the most glamorous way of getting there, but it's relatively cheap and a fun and somewhat scenic ride for this country boy who doesn't have access to train travel back home.

 

Scott...where does the train drop you? I assume you need an Uber or Taxi still from the train station...or do the hotels have shuttles?

 

You may want to check out Fly Borgata, they have flights from Dulles, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Richmond. A few VMB'ers have reported on this. You will fly into ACY airport, a bus takes you right to Borgata, your luggage is brought to your room.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

The line ends at the train station there in AC. When I went, there were free Jitneys outside waiting to take people to the hotels. Don't dawdle inside the station otherwise you may miss the jitney rides and end up with a cab or ride share.

 

I see you're also from VA. Are you right outside of DC like I am or further down south/west? If inside the beltway, the amount of time it would take to fly to Philly (and associated logistics getting through the airport and out) and then get a limo to get to AC, you would spend the exact same amount of time, and far less money, driving.

I've made the drive about 30 times from Arlington to AC and without traffic, it's about 3 hours 15 mins each way. All interstate - 395-295-95-295-42 (AC Expressway). There's rarely any traffic outside of DC, except when you're crossing the DE bridge on Saturday mornings during Spring/Summer due to beach traffic which can be another 20-30 mins. Once you're in Jersey, everyone drives like a maniac so you'll make up time going 295 N and 42 East as people drive like 25 mph over the speed limit lol.

Granted if you're actually further "in" Virginia, then it may be a bit more taxing, but it's a pretty easy drive if you're in the NOVA area frankly.

 

We do get those offers but the next one from Norfolk (as far as I can tell) is Sept but I'll call the # on the email.

 

We're actually in the Virginia Beach area so a good 3-4 hours just to get to where you are.

 

If you fly into Philly, you will need to take the SEPTA Airport Line (service once every half hour) to 30th Street Station, then hop onto the NJ Transit Atlantic City Line to AC.

September is awesome in AC. Kids are back in school, the weather is great, ocean water temps are still comfortable (no shrinkage), crowds are lighter (no problem getting onto your favorite machine).

With that said, from Virginia Beach, I would just hop into the car and take a leisurely drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, up the Eastern Shore, jump on the Ferry at Lewes, Delaware over to Cape May. If you've never been to Cape May, its considered America's first resort town and has still retained its charm. Might be worthwhile to spend a night there, but summer is prime season and motel rates are high. From Cape May, you're about an hour from Borgata. All easy highway driving. Bring your EZ Pass.

If you drive, make sure you time your trip to be mindful of the heathen Yankees from the north heading southbound to Rehoboth, Dewey, and Ocean City, MD on Friday and returning home on Sunday in season.

 

Living so close to AC, it’s my preferred place to play, but it is hard for people to get there from farther away. I really hope the Port Authority improves service into AC International Airport, because that would solve a lot of the issues. It’s a great casino resort town, especially in the summertime and it would be nice if more people could get there more easily.

 

Its more lack of demand for flights that is screwing ACY. They've tried in the past to get other airlines in by giving them favorable treatment but it never works out cause the volume isn't high enough. AC would need a better draw for the airport to get more flights. They'd need to make it a place people want to go to for some reason other than the casinos I'd say. Flights to Vegas for many are cheaper than to ACY and who would pick AC over Vegas?

 

My daughter booked Charlotte to ACY two weeks ago.The PHL to ACY leg was on the bus.
The flight was delayed and they missed the bus. They would have had to wait until the next day for the next bus.
They were forced to rent a car with no credit from AA due to the typical"weather" claim.

 

I find the 'weather' claim is used way to broadly by some airlines. It could be a clear beautiful day outside at the source and destination airports and all the way in between, but if the same plane has a leg before your flight that is delayed by 'weather' even if its like 12 hours before that they use the 'weather' clause for the delays. Basically, any bad weather anywhere can be used as an excuse for your flights delay.

 

My concern with PHI-AC is that only NJ Transit gets to use those railroad tracks. I bet Amtrak would make a killing with non-stop PHI-AC service that ran in between the NJ Transit trips, but I"m sure there's a perfectly good reason why that can't be the case.