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Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

gothamair.com

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Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#61

Post by nerfhammer »

adevine wrote: post #51
nerfhammer wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly by having the service on-demand they have fewer liabilities so you don't go out of business if demand drops off, which is what did in US Helicopter. Helicopters as a Service. On the other hand if they're too successful maybe the company they're chartering from could decide to offer service themselves and cut them out

They're not the carrier. From the bottom of the page: Gotham Air is not a direct air carrier but rather provides technology and information services enabling consumers to obtain aircraft charter and shared aircraft charter services from FAA certified and DOT registered air carriers who exercise operational control over all flights .

Right, they don't own any aircraft or facilities. It's like uber pool for helicopters

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#62

Post by dogma1138 »

For 99$ this is something that doesn't even require you to be some hedge fund brat to use. Not sure what the current cab prices are these days, but i remember paying about i think 80$ for a cab from JFK to central Manhattan. You can get it a bit cheaper if you book a car service instead of grabbing a cab from the airport but it's still not sums that would break anyone's pocket.

A taxi from central London to Heathrow can easily cost 90 quid unless it's a booked minicab which then drops it to 40-60 quid, you can take the heathrow express but thats also 40 quid both ways + additional fare to get to paddington.

I would love to use this service both for the speed and the experience (unlike the scenic traffic jam you get otherwise) just to get a sky high tour of NYC...

Too bad it's never gonna scale, there probably will be huge limits on the amount of luggage you can take (which will make it either very expensive or completely unusable for international travelers) and the costs are going to go trough the roof quick enough.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#64

Post by seanmcdirmid »

lmm wrote: post #59
dragonwriter wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Seems like blatant false advertising to have "$99" in big text and nothing but an asterisk to indicate that this is a rate you're allowed to have exactly once ever. All kinds of services advertise one-time introductory rates that way.

Not where I live they don't. Is this a US thing?

EasyJet exists in Europe you know...

You really have to read the fine print of their promotions.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#65

Post by mikeash »

dragonwriter wrote: post #52
mikeash wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like blatant false advertising to have "$99" in big text and nothing but an asterisk to indicate that this is a rate you're allowed to have exactly once ever.

> Seems like blatant false advertising to have "$99" in big text and nothing but an asterisk to indicate that this is a rate you're allowed to have exactly once ever. All kinds of services advertise one-time introductory rates that way.

Got an example? I've seen plenty where the introductory rate is bigger, but the fact that it's an introductory rate is still made adequately clear, as is the true price. I could be misremembering or oblivious, though. I'd happily call others blatant false advertising as well if so.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#66

Post by mikeash »

azinman2 wrote: post #53
Animats wrote: post #7

Footnote on ad: "Promotion rate flights are for first time flyers only and limted to a single use. Other terms and conditions may apply." HeliNY, for which they are a reseller, charges $925 for that trip as a charter. Aircraft capacity is 5 (maybe 6). So the regular price, assuming they make you wait for a full helicopter, is probably about $200.

Lame. Now it really is for the 1%. At $99 I can imagine a family wanting to take one to reduce stress and complexities. How long until drones can take us? :)

I'd take my family on it in a heartbeat if it was $99 for the whole helicopter, like a taxi. But it's certainly $99/person, so taking a family would get pricey. And much worse after the first ride!

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#67

Post by larrys »

adevine wrote: post #51
nerfhammer wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly by having the service on-demand they have fewer liabilities so you don't go out of business if demand drops off, which is what did in US Helicopter. Helicopters as a Service. On the other hand if they're too successful maybe the company they're chartering from could decide to offer service themselves and cut them out

They're not the carrier. From the bottom of the page: Gotham Air is not a direct air carrier but rather provides technology and information services enabling consumers to obtain aircraft charter and shared aircraft charter services from FAA certified and DOT registered air carriers who exercise operational control over all flights .

Exactly I've seen a few services like this advertised exactly the same way (WSJ ads some run by former industry execs).

Interesting thought that the picture of the heli contradicts that (says "Gotham Air" on the side). That's no small point actually. Gives someone who doesn't read the fine print the idea that they do operate the aircraft. I understand why they do that but it is a bit deceptive.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#68

Post by bdamm »

azinman2 wrote: post #53
Animats wrote: post #7

Footnote on ad: "Promotion rate flights are for first time flyers only and limted to a single use. Other terms and conditions may apply." HeliNY, for which they are a reseller, charges $925 for that trip as a charter. Aircraft capacity is 5 (maybe 6). So the regular price, assuming they make you wait for a full helicopter, is probably about $200.

Lame. Now it really is for the 1%. At $99 I can imagine a family wanting to take one to reduce stress and complexities. How long until drones can take us? :)

Drones that can carry people are likely to be more expensive than existing aircraft that can carry people.

Why? Because they have to meet the same safety requirements as existing aircraft, but carry enough electronics to fly the aircraft as autonomously and as safely as a human pilot, which I think is actually a substantial hurdle to overcome.

Re: Gotham Air: Manhattan to JFK in 6 minutes for $99

#69

Post by ghaff »

dogma1138 wrote: post #62

For 99$ this is something that doesn't even require you to be some hedge fund brat to use. Not sure what the current cab prices are these days, but i remember paying about i think 80$ for a cab from JFK to central Manhattan. You can get it a bit cheaper if you book a car service instead of grabbing a cab from the airport but it's still not sums that would break anyone's pocket. A taxi from central London to Heathrow…

OT but I've never really understood the Heathrow Express economics--and I've asked Londoners and they've never been able to give a good explanation either. I take the Piccadilly line in and I've never understood the justification for taking the Express. Maybe if I were staying right around Paddington but not if I'm going to have to take the tube or a taxi anyway.
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