Is helicopter transport free of charge? Of course, if you book the appropriate room.
Source: Marriott International
Traffic into Manhattan is expected to be as backed up as usual this summer after New York’s plans to implement congestion pricing have been postponed indefinitely.
But tourists staying at the city’s best hotels can avoid using the highway altogether.
Marriott International Luxury Group announced Tuesday that it will provide free helicopter transportation from John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport from July 1 through September 2.
The company says the switch will cut travel time from the airport to Manhattan to as little as five minutes.
The flight, operated by urban air mobility company Blade, is available to guests staying at least two nights at one of six Manhattan hotels.
- The St. Regis New York
- JW Marriott Essex House New York
- W New York – Union Square
- New York Edition
- The Ritz-Carlton New York Nomad
- The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown
Helicopter transfers will land at one of two Manhattan helipads: Blade Lounge East on East 34th Street or the new Blade Lounge West on West 30th Street, where a vehicle will be waiting to transport guests to the hotel.
To take advantage of this perk, guests must have more than just an entry-level room. You need to reserve a specific type of suite In those hotels.
and New York hotel rates hit record high With bans on immigrant housing and short-term Airbnb rentals, a suite at a luxury Marriott five-star hotel won’t be cheap.
Marriott Representative He told CNBC that a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Nomad’s Liberty Suite would typically cost about $3,500 a night.
Roundtrip transfers by Blade helicopter between JFK or Newark Liberty and Manhattan start at a base rate of $390 and rise to $500 for a “maximum flexibility rate.” Ground transportation to a Blade “lounge” or heliport location costs another $180, he said.
A spokesperson said Marriott’s summer special offers include both services.
But travelers who are staying in one of those six hotels, but not in a suite, aren’t completely out of luck: Those guests will be eligible for discounts on Blade’s services this summer, a spokesperson said.
Blade began operating its on-demand helicopter service to New York-area airports in 2019, a few months before UberCopter. At the time, a seat on Blade’s airport shuttle was priced at $195.
Uber Copter ceased operations in 2020.
