Continental Airlines is offering premium passengers complimentary helicopter
transfers from its New York Newark hub to Manhattan. The eight-minute transfer
offers the choice of drop-off points in midtown or downtown Manhattan.
Business Traveller first reported on the partnership between Continental and US Helicopters earlier this year (see online news January 11), but at that stage all passengers were liable for a $160 charge for a one-way transfer. This has now been waived for passengers travelling in BusinessFirst (the carrier's business class product) on J and D class fares, although applicable taxes must still be paid, amounting to around $30 for a return trip.
Eligible passengers can choose from pick-up and drop-off points in downtown Manhattan (at the Wall Street heliport) or midtown (at the heliport on East 34th Street). Those with return tickets get transfers to and from the airport, while one-way tickets earn a single transfer.
Other than the speedy transfer to and from the city, the added advantage of the partnership is that luggage is automatically through-checked in both directions. So premium passengers arriving in New York do not need to wait at the carousel for their bags to arrive, while those leaving the city can check in for their flight at the heliports in Manhattan (as well as completing security checks here), and proceed straight to the departure gate on arrival at the airport.
US Helicopters operates scheduled flights Monday to Friday – for more information visit continental.com, flyush.com.
Report by Mark
Caswell
