Blade JFK to Manhattan

[Princess Fiona]

Has anyone done Blade either to or from JFK-Manhattan ?
Traveling HBO and staying downtown. This looks like an attractive option.

 

[Vic]

yep, have done it. It is pretty attractive. Helicopter pilot expects a tip.
Manhattan lounge has freebie booze. I might have a referral code, but I doubt it...

 

[Princess Fiona]

yep, have done it. It is pretty attractive. Helicopter pilot expects a tip.
Manhattan lounge has freebie booze. I might have a referral code, but I doubt it...

Doesn’t everyone expect a tip ?

 

[Vic]

Doesn’t everyone expect a tip ?

lol... yep.
I ignored the tip thing and they weren't too bad about it. I think the tip option was suggested via email afterwards.
I guess if you're inclined to tip, perhaps cash in hand is better if worried about the payment system taking a cut.
Flight route was along the Hudson, pretty great views of Liberty. I had my SLR, but only did phone pictures. out of tourist embarrassment. Flew direct over Governors Island, so perhaps about 1 km from the Statue of Liberty.
I was the only person on my flight, and they went as scheduled. Apparently. no cancellations for load. Reading the advertisement, regular schedule makes it viable to operate at the price.
choice of seat, including front left.
two people met flight at JFK, took my carry on luggage, straight into an Suburban to terminal. Beat friends, who left the midtown hotel just before me, by about 30 minutes.

 

[Matt_01]

Has anyone done Blade either to or from JFK-Manhattan ?
Traveling HBO and staying downtown. This looks like an attractive option.
View attachment 275712

What a timely post, 5-6 months ago when we were booking the Sep-Oct 22 trip I came across the Blade web page and thought it would be good deal to save time, at $195 seemed like a good deal but in the end the numbers did not stack up.

 

[justinbrett]

Would be a good option, but 25lb bag limit is a bit of a deal breaker if you’re on a big trip from Australia. I know they can take your bags by ground but the increased cost makes this a bit excessive. Get an Uber and a bottle of Vueve and you’re still ahead.

 

[Vic]

I gotta say, this certainly wasn't a value proposition when I did it. I think it was about double the cost of a Suburban from town to JFK including tips. Still it is only about A$300.
Solo traveller with hand luggage only... Pay a bit more, get a bit more.

Multiple pax, that's marginal to nothing

 

[justinbrett]

The other thing, if you're staying in midtown, you've still got 20-30 streets of Manhattan traffic to deal with, which could add another 30 minutes to your trip. Be nice if they could land on the roof of your hotel.

 

[RooFlyer]

I gotta say, this certainly wasn't a value proposition when I did it. I think it was about double the cost of a Suburban from town to JFK including tips. Still it is only about A$300.
Solo traveller with hand luggage only... Pay a bit more, get a bit more.

Multiple pax, that's marginal to nothing

Plus sometimes, It’s worth doing something expensive just to do it. Like staying at the TWA hotel at JFK for me.

IIRC it was @Princess Fiona who stayed there & reviewed and led me to follow later. Maybe Blade for me sometime soon?

 

[Vic]

The other thing, if you're staying in midtown, you've still got 20-30 streets of Manhattan traffic to deal with, which could add another 30 minutes to your trip. Be nice if they could land on the roof of your hotel.

I didn't really have a problem with getting to the departure point. I got from around 6th and 54th down to the Blade lounge at 30th street, and the friends were still on the island having left the hotel before me.
But 100% landing on the roof would've been nice...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I’m booked
TR to follow