Questions for those that have used Super Shuttle

[daffidyll]

Hi, We are thinking of booking Super Shuttle from DL to LAX. For those of you who have used Super Shuttle can you tell me how far in advance of your flight time they usually pick you up at the hotel? Do we tell them what time we'd like to be picked up??? If so, how much time do you think is good to make sure we get there and checked in with some time left over (but not HOURS and HOURS). Or do they just tell us what time they will pick us up based on our flight time we provide?

Also for those that have booked online, do you know why they are asking if we are flying international or domestic? Is it because they need to know what section of the airport to drop us off at or because you need to arrive even earlier for international flights vs domestic flights? I'm curious because my itinary is for some reason listing our LA to VEGAS flight international but that just sounds strange to me as I would think that would be a domestic flight. (We do originally fly international to get to the US though) Just don't want to make a mistake in booking and not sure how important that question really is?

Thanks to anyone who can help! Can't believe we will be there in less than a week! YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!!

 

[Tink208]

In my experience with Super Shuttle, the pick up to go the airport gets you to the airport very early. I had a good hour or more to hang out (after checking in) at the Long Beach airport the last time I was down in Anaheim. I think they want to make sure that if there is any kind of delay on the way you won't miss your flight.

I don't know about the international vs. domestic question. Hopefully someone else can help you.

 

[bumbershoot]

When I put the flight time, they gave me a choice of three timeframes. I chose the shortest time between pickup and flight, but that was still 2 hours before the flight. (and then they were 30 minutes early. and then my flight was delayed 1.5 hours)

I think, especially if I were just going to SNA airport (very close), in the future I might fudge the time of my flight, especially if I am not checking any luggage. The flight I mentioned above I had carry-ons only and was traveling alone, so it was just silly for me to be there so early.

But I think you're going to have a bit of luggage and you're traveling with more than one person. I don't have a frame of reference for what it's like to fly within a country that you've flown into, so I don't know if there will be hassles for your Vegas flight. But it's possible that you might want to just go along with their suggestions, just to be sure you have time to absorb any hassles that might come up.

 

[nancy drew]

can i ask a piggyback question about super shuttle? ive asked a few times but get different answers from different people (manager of hotel telling me one thing, you guys telling me other things, poor me is all confuzzled).

are children age 4 and under required to use car seats? i have sent an email in to super shuttle but i might get a quicker reply from you guys

thanks! and sorry to hijack your discussion!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

It's going to be CA law telling you the rule on that one. For me, I go above and beyond what the law says is the minimum, so I absolutely bring my convertible seat (by WA law, and I believe CA law, my guy could be in a booster right now), so finding out their rules is a non-issue, but I like knowing rules so I found this page for ya.

Car Seats and Pets

In many cities, children under 4 are not permitted aboard the van without a car seat. Also, different cities have different policies regarding pets. Please call (800) BLUE-VAN (258-3826) for special instructions for your city regarding car seats or transporting your pet on a SuperShuttle van.

They are bench seats with shoulder/lap seatbelts. If it were a bus, then no carseat required b/c no carseat possible (no seatbelts).

The driver I had from ONT was super-nice about helping me get my Scenera out of his van, when I was having troubles holding my suddenly-sleeping 3 year old while getting the seatbelt unstuck from whatever it had gotten stuck on!

 

[daffidyll]

can i ask a piggyback question about super shuttle? ive asked a few times but get different answers from different people (manager of hotel telling me one thing, you guys telling me other things, poor me is all confuzzled).

are children age 4 and under required to use car seats? i have sent an email in to super shuttle but i might get a quicker reply from you guys

thanks! and sorry to hijack your discussion!!!!!

Hi, Thanks for the replies!!! Nancy Drew, I asked Super Shuttle the same thing. This was their reply:


"1. Will our 4 year old be required to have a car seat?
No. Car Seats are Not required, however strongly recommended.
2. Can Super Shuttle supply car seats?
Car Seats are NOT Provided by SuperShuttle.
3. Do your shuttles have seat belts for normal seating? (someone told me they don't so would like clarification)
Yes, our vans all have working seatbelts. If they don't work I hope someone will call us & let us know.

Can you please provide any other information you feel will be helpful in regards to this?
Kids Ride Free Under 3 years old. 3yrs old & older pay van fare."

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if they are playing fast and loose with the definition of "carseat"?

California's new booster seat law raises age and weight limits. Beginning Jan. 1, 2002, children must be secured in a car safety seat or booster seat until they are at least 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds.

So they are answering your specific question and possibly making you happier (not having to haul whatever seat Australian law requires), but not including the booster seat thing.

Not that I can imagine the drivers having a freak-attack about it (unless in an accident or pulled over), but they do drive VERY fast, they text and talk on multiple business-related cellphones at the same time, and they write up your receipts, all WHILE DRIVING. I tell you, I wanted to be rear-facing in a 5 point harness during those drives (truth be told, I feel the same driving with my very focused, VERY excellent driver, brother, when in southern CA, LOL).

 

[nancy drew]

i tend to be a carseat nut myself, so this is a nailbiter issue for me. im traveling alone with my 2yo and 4yo, and between the two of them and all our stuff, id really rather not have to figure out how to haul 2 carseats through the airport as well. so hwile i really really really hate the idea of not using one for dd, i really cant figureo ut how to carry one seat on my back, put the other in the stroller, make both kids walk (And stay near me), and drag a diaper bag, a carryon (or two) and our luggage. i just cant figure it out. i know there is a portable booster seat my 4yo could use, but it requires top tethers, and im sure there arent top tethers on the shuttle.

so does the disneyland express bus run from SNA? i found a place to reserve it on orbitz or something, and its cheaper than super shuttle (And sounds safer, bumbershoot im scared after reading your description, it sounds like the shuttle drivers in jamaica) but it seems like no one uses it from SNA.

again sorry for the hijack, but im glad you are facing the same issue, maybe we can figure this out together!!

(BTW, bumbershoot, i am quite sure i "know" you from another board where i had the same username and was very active in the slings and baby carrier thread. good to "see" you again!)

 

[daffidyll]

I wonder if they are playing fast and loose with the definition of "carseat"?



So they are answering your specific question and possibly making you happier (not having to haul whatever seat Australian law requires), but not including the booster seat thing.

Not that I can imagine the drivers having a freak-attack about it (unless in an accident or pulled over), but they do drive VERY fast, they text and talk on multiple business-related cellphones at the same time, and they write up your receipts, all WHILE DRIVING. I tell you, I wanted to be rear-facing in a 5 point harness during those drives (truth be told, I feel the same driving with my very focused, VERY excellent driver, brother, when in southern CA, LOL).

Yeah, we are bringing a backless booster because it's the only thing I can think of that will definitely work in the u.s. cars and although certainly not ideal I'm hoping it's going to work. I totally forgot about the cell phone use over there. Here it is illegal to use one while driving (not to say I don't see people doing it though!). Now, I'm back to wishing we could do Disney Express if it weren't for the fact we have too much luggage to haul up the street.

Also, sorry Nancy Drew, I didn't quite read your post right.....I didn't specifically ask them about children under 4 but I'm pretty sure the shuttle vans fall under the category of public transportation where a carseat isn't 'required' (same rules would apply as for a 4 year old).

 

[mrs.beast]

We rode super shuttle in Dec. and they required carseats/boosters for my DD3 and DD4. It is CA law to ride in booster until 6yrs or 60lbs and super shuttle did enforce it both to and from the airport.

 

[nancy drew]

daffidyll i hope you will come back with a report of your experiences!!!

i got a reply from super shuttle, saying " car seats are not required but strongly recommended". so its interesting that online they say they dont require them, but in person they do. im very glad for the safety aspect of it, but i wish they would consider that people would prefer not to bring them. maybe have rental carseats available or something. that way people who dont need a carseat for the entire trip can still keep their kids safe on the journey to and from the happiest place on earth.

 

[spaceace510]

when is ur trip daffidlly? I am considering Supershuttle for my trip in mid-april. If ur trip is first, please post back. If mine is first i will happily post back.
Thanks

 

[daneenm]

so does the disneyland express bus run from SNA? i found a place to reserve it on orbitz or something, and its cheaper than super shuttle (And sounds safer, bumbershoot im scared after reading your description, it sounds like the shuttle drivers in jamaica) but it seems like no one uses it from SNA.

We used it from SNA a couple of years ago. We were the only ones on the bus. To be honest, at the time we were heard to say...'we should have taken Super Shuttle!' We would up waiting at least 20 minutes for the bus and during that time we were approached 4 or 5 times by Supper Shuttle asking if we were waiting for them. They seemed to be accessible faster than the bus.

They use vans, so I do not see how they can say car seats are not required as they would be required in any passenger van.

--Daneen

 

[nancy drew]

We used it from SNA a couple of years ago. We were the only ones on the bus. To be honest, at the time we were heard to say...'we should have taken Super Shuttle!' We would up waiting at least 20 minutes for the bus and during that time we were approached 4 or 5 times by Supper Shuttle asking if we were waiting for them. They seemed to be accessible faster than the bus.

They use vans, so I do not see how they can say car seats are not required as they would be required in any passenger van.

--Daneen

who uses vans, super shuttle or disneyland express? to me the DE looks like a bus service, which is why they dont require carseats. super shuttle is vans, which do (apparently) require carseats (though in email correspondence it seems they are loose on that?).

 

[spaceace510]

I'm pretty sure SuperShuttle uses the vans and Disneyland Expresses uses the busses...i believe...i'm going off of info i've gotten from other threads

 

[Vala]

I haven't used Disneyland Express yet, but Supershuttle definitely uses vans.

 

[smilnjen]

I used the DRE on our trip to and from LAX. with my 7yo, 6yo and 4yo. It was a bus so we did not need carseats. The drivers were nice/helpful and we got to watch a movie to dland and then another one back to the airport. Although I liked the DRE, I think I will use the super shuttle next time as it kind of sucked waiting for the scheduled bus and I would reather schedule a pick up with the super shuttle on MY schedule. Although, I guess it would be hard to lug three booster seats....

 

[daneenm]

who uses vans, super shuttle or disneyland express?

Super Shuttle. DE is a bus.

--daneen

 

[mo3bys]

We used Supper shuttle from SNA to PP in December 07. We had our 1 yr, 5yr and 6yr old with us. Our travel agent told us we didn't need a car seat. I wish we had brought one. It was the scariest ride. The driver was talking on his phone and texting the whole way there. Not only that but we had made reservations and still had to wait for 30 minutes in the van 'waiting' to see if anyone else needed a ride. ( he was over talking to the other drivers and smoking ) When he was finished smoking we took off. We saw the Disneyland Bus come and go. We wished we were on that one We even had an appointment time for the shuttle to pick us up the last day of our trip. When it was 30 min late the hotel called them and supper shuttle had lost our reservation. They finally sent someone to pick us up, we nearly missed our plane. I think we just had a really bad experience. But I think we will use the Disneyland Express bus next time

 

[bright_eyes97]

do either the DE or the Super shuttle only go to specific hotels? Or can they take you to any in the general area of the park? We'll probably be staying at the Candy Cane Inn and flying into LAX.