I rented a car in Midtown to drive up to Connecticut to visit a potential client and of course, the drive back into Manhattan was frustrating, taking a wrong turn and getting lost was not on my itinerary.
I began to panic since I had a flight at JFK back home to San Francisco at 6 PM and it was already 3:30. I knew from experience that getting out of Manhattan by 4:00 PM was cutting it close with so many people leaving the city at that time. I also knew that catching a cab would be near impossible.
I returned the car, pulled up my contacts on my trusty Treo and found the number for a car service company. The dispatchers were hooked up with a number of independent contractors who drove Lincoln town cars in the city. For those of you who have used car services, you know how plush and pimp these cars are. For those of you who haven't used them, consider them over taxis.
I was fortunate because it only cost $58 to get me from Midtown to JFK. A cab would typically cost $45 plus toll, plus tip. I'm looking at $60 or so. Hmmm...a no brainer. I tipped Arty $12 and the total bill came to $70. I've paid upwards of $58-$60 for a taxi from JFK to Manhattan and vice versa.
I ended up having a great conversation with Arty on the way to JFK, when we hit traffic I dozed off in the back and he woke me up when we arrived at my terminal. I'm using him again in the future when I fly into and out of NYC. read more