is the opportunity to experience what we call this multimodal aerial ridesharing journey," Anil Nathan, general manager of aviation for Uber, tells Elite Daily. The copter is pleasantly, if not extravagantly, lush - leather seats, Uber-branded headrest coverings, and good legroom. Once the door of the chopper closed, we were able to speak in normal voices and carry on a conversation like in any Uber. Before arriving, I assumed I would have to wear the kinds of noise-muffling headphones you see people wearing in the movies, but it turns out those might be only for the movies. While it's plenty loud on the helipad, the interior of the helicopter, which seats five, feels a lot like a regular Uber. The helicopter ride itself is surprisingly smooth. On the return ride with only two passengers aboard, we still found ourselves with assigned seats, which the check-in staff pointed out to us before we boarded. The check-in procedure also asks how much you weigh and assigns seats, which is important for weight distribution. Uber Copter passengers must get safety instructions by video or from a staffer before they're allowed on the helicopter, which lays out things like the exits and life vests (thankfully, we didn't need these). Passengers are allowed one small piece of luggage, like a carry-on suitcase, and one personal item.Ĭrucially, when you arrive at the helipad, there are some steps to go through. When you land, an Uber car is waiting to take you the five or so minutes to your terminal. The premise is simple: an Uber car picks you up and drives you to the helipad on the East River, where you check in with your regular state ID or driver's license and are escorted to your helicopter for an eight-minute jaunt across the East River to the airport. Kennedy Airport in Queens, and the point is to literally hop right over all the nightmarish traffic that raises your blood pressure. The service, in partnership with helicopter operator HeliFlite, runs exclusively from lower Manhattan to John F. Uber Copter is the latest addition to the Uber options, and is available only in New York City as of Oct. I have to say, regular cars might be ruined for me after this.
If you haven't heard yet, Uber is integrating helicopter flights into its routine, so if you're asking what Uber Copter is, I can lay out this VIP-style experience.
So when I got the chance to skip over it all, you bet I took it. As someone who is late absolutely everywhere in my life, trying to make a flight is a unique form of anxious torture that involves traffic, non-refundable fees, and the near-inevitability of forgetting some crucial form of ID. The only form of hell worse than being at the airport, is getting to the airport.
0 kommentar(er)
