Transport query from Uk traveller flying to Seattle

[Curly locks]

Sorry, I've searched the CC boards without much success! We're travelling from the UK to Seattle via Vancouver at the end of July. When we land in Seattle (14.05 local) we'll have been travelling for over 16 hours! Will it be easy to get a taxi to the Edgewater Hotel or should we consider pre-booking transport? If we need to pre-book, can anyone recommend a good "limo" company. Many thanks.

[mapleleaves]

There is a taxi line at SeaTac. Yellow Cab has the contract so there are always dozens of cars there. It will be about $40.

Another option to consider ... STILA has the towncar contract so they always have cars stationed there. Their kiosk sign says $45 to downtown.

The advantage to Stila is that they will pick you up at the curb outside baggage claim. When you have your luggage in hand, contact them from baggage claim and the driver will arrive from the garage in minutes.

With a taxi you have to walk to the taxi line which is in the garage.

 

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Parking-and-Transportation/Ground-Transportation/Pages/Taxis-and-Limos.aspx

[Curly locks]

There is a taxi line at SeaTac. Yellow Cab has the contract so there are always dozens of cars there. It will be about $40.

Another option to consider ... STILA has the towncar contract so they always have cars stationed there. Their kiosk sign says $45 to downtown.

The advantage to Stila is that they will pick you up at the curb outside baggage claim. When you have your luggage in hand, contact them from baggage claim and the driver will arrive from the garage in minutes.

With a taxi you have to walk to the taxi line which is in the garage.

 

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Parking-and-Transportation/Ground-Transportation/Pages/Taxis-and-Limos.aspx

 

Thank you very much mapleleaves. :)

[Dan G]

taxi fares in Seattle went up again so it will be far more than $40 to the Edgewater. Stila towncars at $45 are far nicer and you don't need to reserve. Just call ground transportation from the phones in baggage claim.

[kenish]

Also consider Uber. The advantage is you can set up your account and payment details at home, then use it as needed when traveling. The disadvantage is your phone needs to be a smartphone with a dataplan that will work in Seattle.

 

That said, only Uber Black and Uber SUV can pick up passengers at Seatac Airport (since drivers and cars have a livery license). But it looks like UberX should be allowed by the time you travel.

[Dan G]

There is no imminent plan to allow Uber x at seatac. Since the other options are more money than the STILA towncars stationed on site Uber has no real benefit to the the traveler. Its also doubtful he would have a cell phone with US data coverage to order the car. The onsite taxis or towncars are the best option.

[VibeGuy]

As someone who just marked his 150th UberX trip in Seattle, I could not disagree more vociferously about any perceived lack of advantage to UberX from the airport; it's almost always 20% cheaper on airport trips, the cars usually don't have Taxi Interior Syndrome and they take the route I prefer without lip.

 

Yes, you have to walk to the light rail stop and descend to the street level. But the delta relative to having to change a floor for the taxi rank isn't much.

 

STITA was worse. Yellow is an incremental improvement. But to think that Seattle cabs are equal to or superior to TNCs like UberX or Lyft is complete insanity.

[kenish]

I mentioned the need for a dataplan as well as the unavailability of UberX for direct pick-up at the terminal. Port of Seattle is actively planning to allow direct pick-ups at the terminal by Lyft, Sidecar, and UberX as early this month or July. My source is the Seattle Times and Port of Seattle's memo. Your source?

 

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uber-lyft-sidecar-may-soon-be-able-to-pick-you-up-at-sea-tac/

 

http://www.portseattle.org/about/commission/meetings/2015/2015_05_26_RM_7a.pdf