Best non-taxi shuttle or car service from San Francisco (city) to OAK (Oakland Airport)?

October 1, 2006 11:10 PM

Best non-taxi shuttle or car service from San Francisco (city) to OAK (Oakland Airport)?

Have some friends in town, and I'd prefer getting them across the bridge in something a bit nicer than a taxi but not too much more expensive. Too many choices.

posted by Señor Pantalones to travel & transportation (12 comments total)

Super Shuttle is generally good. I prefer them TO the airport rather than FROM. You can pay a bit more than standard rate to get a nice Towncar to yourself.
posted by autojack at 11:49 PM on October 1, 2006

The Bayporter has worked well for me. Not sure about prices for the trek, but they are friendly and comfortable.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:50 PM on October 1, 2006

Yeah, definitely go Super Shuttle. You can pay online and everything. It's probably cheaper than a cab, even, and they tend to be very friendly.

I'm assuming you don't want to send them on BART... :X
posted by symphonik at 11:51 PM on October 1, 2006

Thanks for the tip about Super Shuttle. I got my hopes up reading autojack's comment, "You can pay a bit more than standard rate to get a nice Towncar to yourself," but found that the difference is actually $50 between a shuttle and a private towncar. Bummer. Any other suggestions?
posted by Señor Pantalones at 12:14 AM on October 2, 2006

I would second supershuttle for the same reasons autojack provides. To an airport is much quicker (no additional dropping off).
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 3:03 AM on October 2, 2006

If you are going to pay $50 more for a towncar, rent a car and drive them yourself. Friendlier, cheaper and just as easy.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 6:32 AM on October 2, 2006

SuperShuttle is $25 first person + $15/addl. I can't imagine how many friends you have that a private towncar is $50 less.. but I'd just take BART, myself, since it's way faster.
posted by kcm at 8:20 AM on October 2, 2006

super shuttle is terrible in los angeles.
ten times out of ten, the driver has absolutely no clue where you want to go. if you are not a local and can't direct them, you're in for a loooong ride as he will whip out a thomas guide and swearingly search for the street in question. oh, how to assume a local driver would know his territory.

I don't if it's any better in san francisco but the moment I didn't have to use them anymore, I stopped.
posted by krautland at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2006

I'd avoid Super Shuttle because it's allegedly the most expensive. Like kcm, I'd take BART, myself, to travel between the City and Oakland International; but I've had generally positive experiences with the "South and East Bay Shuttle" traveling between SFO and points south. I'd assume their East Bay activity is just as competent.
posted by Rash at 10:17 AM on October 2, 2006

kcm: the towncar is $50 more than the shuttle, not less. I should have speficied that, sorry.

bart/drive them yourself/etc.: q: "how can i do x?" a: "don't do x, do y". well, if those were options in this case, i wouldn't be posting on ask.mefi. i appreciate the advice but we're all smart folks here.

anyway, thanks for the responses! and yes, super shuttle is terrible in LA krautland -- the one time i took it, it made us late for a flight out of LAX, then the driver arranged a flight out of Ontario for us instead, and was late for that one too. That was fun.
posted by Señor Pantalones at 12:01 PM on October 2, 2006

BART + AirBART.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:34 PM on October 2, 2006

For Super Shuttle, call ahead to make sure they do cross-bay pickup. I have to use Bayporter because SS won't pick me up in Berkeley and drop me off at SFO. Opposite from what you are asking, but important to find out nonetheless.
posted by JLobster at 3:41 PM on October 3, 2006