Has anyone used Blacklane in NYC

[jt58203]

While searching NYC transportation options getting us from our Manhattan hotel to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal I came across Blacklane. They are much less (about half the cost for 2 people) than quotes for Dial 7, Carmel, and Uber.

 

They are a worldwide company. They claim on their website, "There are no hidden surprises with Blacklane. Your affordable all-inclusive rate — confirmed before you book — includes all taxes, tolls, fees and gratuities." Also free cancellation up to 1 hour of booking.

 

Has anyone used them?

[Brighton Line]

I would be very cautious just booking on price.

Be careful that they are not just a booking company and you end up with Rent-a-Taxi that has 100 T&LC violations.

Quick webseach and you don't find much on them in NYC.

[mking8288]

With a 415 area code (San Francisco, CA) for contact & no corporate/local address, it looks to me like a booking/referral service. But, FWIW, the resume of the key/senior executives that founded this group looked impressive.

 

Blacklane's does not compare as being much less (let alone half of what Dial7 & Carmel are quoting) - after a few price/rate quotes for popular NYC city trips, airports to hotels, hotels to cruise terminal, major tourist location to ground transportation hubs, etc. - for example, $62 is the quoted all inclusive price including tips, toll & meet and greet from LGA airport to MCT-Pier 88/90 - for their "Economy" class of vehicle, like Camry, Accord, Corolla or similar - max. of 3 pax & 2 luggage.

 

Carmel would price out to $51 with online booking & discount or $54 using the free mobile App ... that's adding the discounted toll of $5.54 ($8, cash rate).

 

Of course, they offer M. Benz, Audi & alike at luxury, premium pricing - ditto for high end SUV & minivans, etc. "accordingly". Caveat emptor :D

Edited June 23, 2016 by mking8288

[Langoustine]

I've not only never used them, I've never heard of them, and I can't find any information about them on the NYC BBB site.

[jt58203]

 

Blacklane's does not compare as being much less (let alone half of what Dial7 & Carmel are quoting)

 

My bad....I double checked. I must have put in some incorrect info the first time. The prices for the most part are comparable. In fact, depending on one's situation the price through Blacklane could be more! I'll give my business to a local company (Dial 7).

[hbe]

We used them in France and they were wonderful. We were late and the driver waited for an hour. We were very impressed also drove a new Mercedes C300

[Bed & Breakfast]

I have seen their adverts, with 10% off for first booking, looked good, until I read some reviews, not so good. They didn't turn up and refused to repay the fee, !!! Makes you wary

[Bed & Breakfast]

Hi we have booked to arrive into JFK airport to meet our cruise on the celebrity Summit on the 18th September...it seems now Newark airport would have been the better one.😩

We fly in around 8:45 pm on the 17th fromAustralia, and plan to stay at the Days Inn and suites at Jamaica near JFK.

That was the easy part, as getting a straight answer on how to get to Cape Libert port on the 18th September is NOT!!

The prices are either extremely expensive $$$$$$$ or we have to get back to JFK to get one...but even then we can't seem to get a straight answer as to the cost.. We are happy to share a ride, doesn't have to be a private car....

 

Does anyone have any advise or suggestions, they would be great fully appreciated.

[njhorseman]

Hi we have booked to arrive into JFK airport to meet our cruise on the celebrity Summit on the 18th September...it seems now Newark airport would have been the better one.😩

We fly in around 8:45 pm on the 17th fromAustralia, and plan to stay at the Days Inn and suites at Jamaica near JFK.

That was the easy part, as getting a straight answer on how to get to Cape Libert port on the 18th September is NOT!!

The prices are either extremely expensive $$$$$$$ or we have to get back to JFK to get one...but even then we can't seem to get a straight answer as to the cost.. We are happy to share a ride, doesn't have to be a private car....

 

Does anyone have any advise or suggestions, they would be great fully appreciated.

 

You absolutely do not want to take a NY City taxi. Book a car service. Try Carmel Limo, http://www.carmellimo.com or Dial 7 http://www.dial7.com . No need to go back to JFK...they will pick you up at your hotel.

[138east]

You absolutely do not want to take a NY City taxi. Book a car service. Try Carmel Limo, http://www.carmellimo.com or Dial 7 http://www.dial7.com . No need to go back to JFK...they will pick you up at your hotel.

 

You absolutely do not want to take a NY City taxi. Book a car service. Try Carmel Limo, http://www.carmellimo.com or Dial 7 http://www.dial7.com . No need to go back to JFK...they will pick you up at your hotel.

 

Yes - definitely book a car service. New York City cabs are not required to take you to Bayonne New Jersey. They can basically charge you whatever they want like double the meter, tolls, etc. and quite frankly there's a chance they might not really know how to get to Cape Liberty.

 

The car services are licensed to serve the NY metro area, which includes several states. They should quote you a fixed base price and anticipated tolls. The expected tip is 18-20%.

 

It's also possible to get to Cape Liberty via public transit. On a Sunday this would involve getting back to JFK, taking the Airtrain to Jamaica Station, riding for 1 hour to World Trade, taking PATH 1 stop to Exchange Place, taking the light rail to Bayonne, and calling a local cab into the port. This will cost about $40, involves a number of accessible transfers with luggage, involves dealing with 3 different ticket vending machines, and could take 2+ hours to do. This could be tricky if you don't have a US cell phone.

 

There will be no weekend PATH service from 33rd St, so the Long Island Railroad from Jamaica is not a good option on a weekend.

[mking8288]

That's a long flight from Aussie with jetlags (coming in via LAX on Delta ?? one of SIL flew that route recently) - JFK's airport hotels are generally NOT recommended but looks like you just need a decent place to wash, shower & sleep. Days Inn is one of the many in the area on contracts with NY City's social services for temporary housing/shelter services, please be mindful of your surrounding at all times + luggage/valuables.

 

Be advised that there's really no dining option once you make your way to the Days Inn, you might want to look for meal options while still at JFK - buy it & eat it there or bring that back for in-room "dining" after checking-in.

 

Carmel car service will pickup at Days Inn and flat-rate fares for 2 to 3 people and 3 pc. of checked luggage (hand/carry-on ones not being counted) in a standard 4 door sedan (Toyota Camry or equivalent) will be about $105 with tolls, add tips for about $125 to $130 USD. If you will not have a cellular phone # for contact, let them know at the time of booking & use the hotel's front desk/local number (not the toll-free 800 number) so that they can call or contact you once the car is 15 minutes away or assigned (30 minutes before pickup time) for the ride/trip to Cape Liberty.

 

As a sidenote for others, never - never walk on the airport premises & interior roadways with luggage, definitely not in the middle of the late night and/or early morning hours - apparently, a tourist decided to walk around with luggage (near Federal Circle - where rental cars & shuttle/hotel pickups/dropoffs are) and was fatally struck this morning - which also resulted in a massive complete roadway shutdown on a major airport access road for several hours for the AI. Shuttles don't run that often at 4 AM to/from hotels - wait for them or take a taxi instead of trying to save $10 - cost a life, sadly - with this "hit and run".

http://abc7ny.com/traffic/pedestrian-fatally-struck-on-jfk-expressway-at-kennedy-airport/1431138/

[Langoustine]

Hi we have booked to arrive into JFK airport to meet our cruise on the celebrity Summit on the 18th September...it seems now Newark airport would have been the better one.😩

 

Is it too late for you to change? JFK is the least convenient airport for what you need to do. Transportation from JFK to your port will either be very expensive or very exhausting (but cheaper) if you do parts of it on public transportation.

 

We fly in around 8:45 pm on the 17th fromAustralia, and plan to stay at the Days Inn and suites at Jamaica near JFK.

 

If this is one of the hotels that the city uses to house the homeless (they're mostly out by JFK because they're cheap) this could also be an unpleasant experience. If it's at all possible for you to change some of your plans, I would seriously recommend that.