Uber is expanding beyond traditional ride sharing in New York, and will soon be offering a helicopter service, giving BLADE a run for their money. For those of you not familiar with BLADE, they're essentially a tech company and air charter broker, as they sell seats on helicopter and prop services in all kinds of…
Continue reading: Uber Copter: Fly From Manhattan To JFK With Uber
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I thought the qualification period for Uber status was 6months, so wouldn’t the qualification spending be twice those amounts?
Uber has operated a chopper service in Dubai for years now, open to everyone for around ~$150. Never found it very useful here but probably makes more sense to get to JFK from Manhattan, especially for businessmen.
The fact that they include the ride to the helipad means they've thought this out better than Blade, and the higher luggage weight limit. Definitely competitive and I'd do this over Blade any day. Downsides are it's not guaranteed to be running (runs as demands is there) so you'd still need a backup plan just in case, and the dynamic pricing.
@RCB Downside is that helicopter is not a very safe transportation mean and extra weight and weight imbalance make it exponentially unsafer. Do you prefer to fly with helicopter in which everyone has a 40lb luggage (even if the max total weight is just below maximum suggested for the helicopter). Personally I will hesitate ...
Miz - What complete and utter rubbish. Even if you have no idea how helicopters work, which it's clear your don't, basic common sense should tell you that given the weight between people varies by FAR more than 15lb, 15lb extra hand luggage will make no difference.
no thank you. helicopters are not too safe and only one small carry on? lol. bye.
You people are crazy. I frequently use helicopters on the west coast and they are faster and safer than any other mode of transportation (google: Helijet). Sounds like a great time saver.
@ Dean
Few of these services in Manhattan will be offering anything close to what Helijet offers.
Helijet operates twin-engined, four bladed Sikorsky S76s with full IFR capabaility that seat upto 12 pax. They are a beast of a helicopter. Helijet are also operate the Air Ambulance Service for the province of BC. Their pilots are flying year-round in some of the most challenging terrain and weather in North America. I too have flown them and would have no qualms doing so again.
However the bulk of Uber's and Blade's cheaper services will probably be operated by single engined Ranger's and Squirrels. I'd be doing my research first on who is the actual operator flying.
BTW check out this video of a BCAS S76 slice through a phoneline and not even flinch. A Ranger or Squirrel struggle to recover in a similar situation.
Great post majik.
A bit like the inclusion of Robinson helicopters - a wealth of difference between the two.