Anybody done this recently, specifically from John Wayne? I'm a little nervous about the fact they try and get a full van before leaving. After a long flight, my family and I will be anxious to get going. Do you need a reservation, or can you just call them once you arrive? I imagine you HAVE to have a reservation for a hotel pick-up for a return. Leaving in two weeks!
You do need a reservation for the return; otherwise you'd have to sit in your hotel lobby wondering when one will come by. I have had reservations both times I used SS, and even tipped in advance once. At SNA you just walk out, across the lanes (you have a lighted crosswalk), and you can see the vans. No big deal if you don't have a reservation, but even easier with a prepaid ressie. They waited a few minutes at SNA, but only one guy showed up, so it was just the two of us. At the Ontario CA airport, he didn't wait. He took off once my son and I were settled. But instead of leaving, he just did a loop around the airport, hoping for more passengers. Felt better (sweltering day) than sitting in a van that's not on like at SNA, but was sneaky! That driver was why I didn't pre-tip for SNA, b/c I didn't feel it "worked" (though the driver did help me take out the carseat when DS had fallen to sleep on the trip from ONT and something got snagged in the beltpath). Anyway, I haven't had the experience of them waiting for a full van, not at all!
