#UBER COPTER FREE#

UberCopter more than halved that-and it wasn’t that much more expensive than a car. On a good day, a taxi ride to the airport from my office takes over an hour (assuming there was no traffic, and there’s always traffic.) Public transportation takes anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes or more. My second thought is that I wish I didn’t know about it. With just a few quick taps, I had not only arranged quick transportation, but end-to-end transportation. My UberX to TWA Hotel was one minute away.Īs I was whisked away to my final destination, my first thought was about how seamless it all was. Right after exiting the helicopter, my phone screen lit up. Only eight minutes later, we were on the ground at J.F.K.s helipad, a stone’s throw away from Terminal 8. I could hold a conversation with my fellow passengers, although I needed to raise my voice a bit louder than normal to be heard above the whirring. Unlike other helicopters, which require headsets to talk, the hypermodern aircrafts used by Uber are relatively quiet. The skyline of New York City and the Statue of Liberty was visible through the windows. After some quick announcements from the pilot, we were in the air, rising up over the East River. Though the vessel's five-person capacity was almost full, none of us felt crowded and there was a surprising amount of leg room. I walked out to the tarmac and gazed upon the black, Uber-branded helicopter (operated by the Newark-based company, HeliFlite), with its blade a-twirling. But my pilot boasts that he once got there six.

#UBER COPTER FREE#

Currently, pickup points are only accepted in Manhattan south of Houston Street (while those returning to the city from JFK via Uber Copter can get a free drop-off anywhere below 14th street). That price includes ground transportation - an UberX from your pickup point to the Manhattan heliport, and from the JFK heliport to your airport terminal or airport destination.

Although a company spokesperson tells me “pricing is dynamic, just as Uber rides are,” one-way rides typically cost around $200 to $225. They leave from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, near South Street Seaport. The basics: For the moment, Uber flights are only available during afternoon rush hours: between 2 and 6 p.m.

What’s a ride on an Uber Copter like? On Tuesday, I decided to test it out myself. While the service has quietly been available to Uber's elite-status customers since July, it’s now an option for anyone with an account (and some expendable income). Available only in New York City, passengers can now book airborne transport to and from John F. Today, Uber launches its newest rideshare option: Uber Copter.

Uber copter