I need a "car service for dummies" book.

[jo-jo]

We are planning on using a car for our Dec trip. Can one sit in the front seat? DH has issues with knees and usually front seats are easier. Does the driver help with luggage? Do you meet them inside or outside baggage claim. Returning home, will they drop you off at check in for your airline.

Last trip we flew SW and then walked to ME. Dragging/ rolling two suitcases and walking the 7 miles to the ME bus was just too much for us. I moved the suitcases, while DH moved himself with the rollator with a carryon bag on the seat.

My thinking is we just to go baggage claim and get car from there? Am I wrong?

 

[SteveH]

@jo-jo I the current safety protocol for ride share (uber/lyft) is all passengers sit in the back nobody up front. You might want to consider something like an Uber XL which can take up to 6, my thinking is the larger vehicle might better accommodate your husband in the back seat.

This is right from the Uber website:
Reduced passengers during COVID-19
To allow for more distance between riders and drivers, passengers are no longer allowed to sit in the front seat when riding with Uber. This means every ride requested with Uber will have one less passenger seat available.

 

[jo-jo]

Thanks for the info, but I should have been clearer. We are looking at a car service like tiffany or Happy Limo (just to name few).

 

[Ross Kratter]

Thanks for the info, but I should have been clearer. We are looking at a car service like tiffany or Happy Limo (just to name few).

Most companies like those have enough leg room in the back seats of their cars that someone who likes to ride in front for that reason wouldn’t mind the back.
Most of the local companies will have the driver meet you at the bottom of the escalator to baggage claim. They will help you with luggage.
Yes, they will drop you off right at the door for your airline’s check in counter, or curbside if your airline offers that.

 

[SteveH]

Thanks for the info, but I should have been clearer. We are looking at a car service like tiffany or Happy Limo (just to name few).

Thanks for clarifying I agree with @Ross Kratter most of the town cars have plenty of leg room in the back, but you may want to call or email Tiffany or Happy Limo direct to see if sitting up front is an option if the backseat is to cramped.

 

[focusondisney]

And currently, most car services aren’t assisting with luggage retrieval. We have made 4 trips so far this year. We have only seen 2 drivers at the escalators. Not 2 each trip, just 2 total. Precovid, there were always several drivers waiting for their passengers. I think it has to do with where they can park while waiting. We use Tiffany every trip. Precovid, the driver would meet us at the escalator, help with our luggage & walk us down to their car which was in a drive inside the airport. Now, we get our luggage & text the driver when we’re ready. We fly SW & we just walk right outside the door nearest to our luggage carousel. The driver loads he luggage in & out of the car. But we do roll it outside ourselves. You don’t have to go up or down elevators or escalators, just right out side the door. There are luggage carts available but it really is a matter of a few yards.

 

[Snowysmom]

We used Tiffany Towncar in May. The driver met us at the baggage area and helped with the luggage. The car was parked nearby and he went to get it while we waited with the luggage. The towncar back seat was very roomy. Going back to the airport we were dropped off right outside the airline checkin.

 

[Woodview]

We are planning on using a car for our Dec trip. Can one sit in the front seat? DH has issues with knees and usually front seats are easier. Does the driver help with luggage? Do you meet them inside or outside baggage claim. Returning home, will they drop you off at check in for your airline.

Last trip we flew SW and then walked to ME. Dragging/ rolling two suitcases and walking the 7 miles to the ME bus was just too much for us. I moved the suitcases, while DH moved himself with the rollator with a carryon bag on the seat.

My thinking is we just to go baggage claim and get car from there? Am I wrong?

Here is an idea Go to baggage Claim Pay the $ fee to Release a Luggage Cart

& then walk to elevator & go to ground level & walk to ME bus stop.

 

[jo-jo]

A luggage cart might make it a bit easier, but the walk is still just as long. Plus the steps on the bus have become hard for my DH to climb.

I know we could also get a wheelchair for DH but we aren't at that point yet.

 

[jo-jo]

We used Tiffany Towncar in May. The driver met us at the baggage area and helped with the luggage. The car was parked nearby and he went to get it while we waited with the luggage. The towncar back seat was very roomy. Going back to the airport we were dropped off right outside the airline checkin.

And currently, most car services aren’t assisting with luggage retrieval. We have made 4 trips so far this year. We have only seen 2 drivers at the escalators. Not 2 each trip, just 2 total. Precovid, there were always several drivers waiting for their passengers. I think it has to do with where they can park while waiting. We use Tiffany every trip. Precovid, the driver would meet us at the escalator, help with our luggage & walk us down to their car which was in a drive inside the airport. Now, we get our luggage & text the driver when we’re ready. We fly SW & we just walk right outside the door nearest to our luggage carousel. The driver loads he luggage in & out of the car. But we do roll it outside ourselves. You don’t have to go up or down elevators or escalators, just right out side the door. There are luggage carts available but it really is a matter of a few yards.

We can manage the luggage for that long. Mostly I need to know procedure.

Thank you for all the replies.

 

[Lewisc]

Here is an idea Go to baggage Claim Pay the $ fee to Release a Luggage Cart

& then walk to elevator & go to ground level & walk to ME bus stop.

OP may be flying with SW. Get luggage. Take elevator up to level 3. Walk to opposite corner of terminal. Then take elevator to ground level. If you want meet n.greet ask when you book. Drivers seem to be avoiding meet n greet
Covid concerns entering terminal and I think higher airport charges

 

[jo-jo]

OP may be flying with SW. Get luggage. Take elevator up to level 3. Walk to opposite corner of terminal. Then take elevator to ground level. If you want meet n.greet ask when you book. Drivers seem to be avoiding meet n greet
Covid concerns entering terminal and I think higher airport charges

yes, we are flying SW.

So you're saying we would still need to carry luggage a long distance. That seems to be opposite what others are saying. They make it sound like get bags, on same level walk out door , get in car.

 

[Lewisc]

yes, we are flying SW.

So you're saying we would still need to carry luggage a long distance. That seems to be opposite what others are saying. They make it sound like get bags, on same level walk out door , get in car.

Long distance for DME. Short distance for car service or ride share.

My post was in response to poster I quoted who suggested luggage cart and DME

 

[jo-jo]

Long distance for DME. Short distance for car service or ride share.

My post was in response to poster I quoted who suggested luggage cart and DME

I misunderstood.

 

[Marrila]

yes, we are flying SW.

So you're saying we would still need to carry luggage a long distance. That seems to be opposite what others are saying. They make it sound like get bags, on same level walk out door , get in car.

These are good questions to email and ask your potential car service. I liked Tiffany. There are lots of others as well.

 

[GoingSince1990]

There are services that will take your luggage directly from your home to the hotel and back. We have used one called Luggagefree.com in the past. More expensive than airline checked baggage, as you would expect, but it sounds like you would benefit from this kind of service as you can then stroll directly off the plane and into an Uber (or car service car).

 

[jo-jo]

One more question , but maybe not the last. Our return flight is 12:40 pm. Do they tell you when they pick you up or do you request a time?

 

[jo-jo]

There are services that will take your luggage directly from your home to the hotel and back. We have used one called Luggagefree.com in the past. More expensive than airline checked baggage, as you would expect, but it sounds like you would benefit from this kind of service as you can then stroll directly off the plane and into an Uber (or car service car).

Thanks for the suggestion but we are too cheap to spend $200 on car service and $400 on luggage service.
Carrying luggage 100-200 ft isn't the issue. It's carrying it a few thousand ft that's the problem.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm not sure what I did, but I added my response to GoingSince1990 quote and I've spent the last 20 mins trying to fix it and failed.


My response is..........
Thanks for the suggestion but we are too cheap to spend $200 on car service and $400 on luggage service.
Carrying luggage 100-200 ft isn't the issue. It's carrying it a few thousand ft that's the problem.

 

[GoingSince1990]

I'm not sure what I did, but I added my response to GoingSince1990 quote and I've spent the last 20 mins trying to fix it and failed.

My response is..........
Thanks for the suggestion but we are too cheap to spend $200 on car service and $400 on luggage service.
Carrying luggage 100-200 ft isn't the issue. It's carrying it a few thousand ft that's the problem.

Your response is there, but you accidentally included it in the quote, so it doesn’t show up unless the quote is expanded. It’s actually a shame in your situation that skycaps don’t seem to be much of a thing anymore. I’m old enough to remember them hovering around baggage claim with their massive carts, and you could hardly touch your bag without them coming over and offering to help. I guess the rise of luggage with rollers helped put them out of business.