shuttle

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Service from Brilliant Transportation

Increasingly concerned with comfort and less with some stodgy image, luxury buyers are ditching the traditional limousine in favor of more commodious modes of transportation. A few months ago, we brought you news of the exclusive Sprinter Grand Edition from Mercedes-Benz Manhattan, but if laying out $190,000 for the privilege of riding in an opulent van doesn't strike you as a smart buy, you may want to turn to Brilliant Transportation.

The luxury shuttle service operates fleets in New York and Los Angeles. Its vans -- based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter -- may look like delivery trucks, but inside they're more luxurious than a Maybach.

Four leather arm chairs and a plush rear bench distinguish the interior, along with a pair of 32-inch flat-screen televisions, with wireless headphones, satellite TV and an eight-speaker sound system. There's also wireless internet on board, a color printer and speaker phone.

If you're chartering a jet from coast to coast, we couldn't think of a better way to get to and from the airport on either end.

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Tags: brilliant, brilliant transportation, brilliant van, car service, luxury car, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz sprinter, shuttle, shuttle service, sprinter

Another Nail In The Shuttle Coffin?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings

Last month when I wrote about the fate of Boston-New York shuttle flights I touched on the subject of the popularity of luxury bus lines between the two East Coast cities. Well the deal just got a bit better on one of them. One of the most popular bus options, the luxurious LimoLiner, which we first wrote about way back in 2005, has just cut their one-way ticket price, from $89 to $49. The offer is good until January 31 and you have to buy a ticket at least two weeks in advance to get that rate. The LimoLiner has reclining leather-seats, satellite TV and radio, sockets and plugs at every seat, cell-phone signals, two separate wi-fi areas, free snacks and drinks and a clean washroom with fresh flowers.

[via NBC New York]

Tags: boston, limoliner, new york, NewYork, shuttle

Does Delta's First Class Shuttle Cabin Signal The End of Shuttle Flights?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Back in March I reported on the fact that it seems that shuttle flights between cities on the East Coast like New York, Boston, and Washington haven't been faring too well in recent years. Joe Brancatelli who writes the Seat 2B column for Portfolio says that the recent news that Delta will add first-class cabins to its shuttle flights between New York, Boston, and Washington isn't a positive sign; it proves that the shuttles may well be on their way out. The shuttles have become less profitable and the shuttle aircraft which are equipped with standard first- and coach-class cabins can now be used on any flight path. In the 1980s large shuttles used to run every hour and promised no reservations needed. Now the remaining shuttles use smaller aircraft and fly less frequently especially on weekends and non-peak times.

Is this the last gasp of the shuttle flight? It certainly seems like it, the rise of technology, the high-speed Acela train, private jet charter services and even luxury bus lines have made shuttle flying less and less attractive. Like Joe Brancatelli, I'm a little nostalgic for the shuttles of my youth but in these days when it seems that hardly any flights go smoothly and airlines are struggling to stay afloat it seems like the shuttle is an idea whose time is long gone.

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Tags: airlines, delta, flights, shuttle

From the Airport to the Hotel...

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

In today's Wall Street Journal, there is an interesting blurb on prices around the world, comparing the rate for the same service in different locations. In this case, the service is a one-way private transfer from an airport to a luxury hotel, as booked through that hotel or their concierge. All the prices have been converted to US dollars and the difference in various markets is quite surprising, especially since the distance being considered was that of a very central location. As a starting point, the cost in New York was $167 per person. In Manila, the transfer was a mere $42, while it was $74 in Sydney and $100 in Hong Kong. The three locations more expensive than New York were London, at $171, Paris at $170 and Tokyo, at an almost shocking $382. It's enough to make you think twice about arranging your own transportation. After all, it certainly couldn't be much more expensive and by calling around, you might even be able to arrange nicer transportation.

Tags: airport, global, globe, hotel, international, international travel, limo, prices, shuttle, towncar, transportation