Looking for the best ways to get to LaGuardia airport? Drivers and passengers now have a new option with the Via and Port Authority LGA Connect program. If you’re a New York driver, you may see a lot more trips from Via soon! RSG contributor Chonce Maddox Rhea shares more information about this program and how you can get started with Via below.
NYC Via drivers may be getting a lot more airport trips starting this month! In general, getting to and from places like Manhattan and Queens from the airport has been expensive.
But Via, a public transit rideshare company, recently announced that it has partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to launch LGA Connect. This flat-rate rideshare service will provide transportation for passengers from LaGuardia Airport to all five boroughs.
Curious about Via? Check out our Via Driver Overview to learn more about how Via works and in which cities you can sign up with Via.
How It Works
LGA Connect is a flexible ride service that will allow passengers to book rides 7 days a week between 8 am and 1 am.
Passengers can book rides with a credit card through the Via app or with the help from a dispatcher at an eligible LGA Connect pickup point at the airport.
Via is a unique rideshare service in that is assigns convenient nearby pickup points that customers may have to walk to. This is helpful to drivers especially in the NYC area because they can pick-up at convenient street corners instead of searching for specific addresses.
LGA Connect rides will have a pickup point outside of Terminal C/D. Via’s algorithm will match multiple passengers who are headed in the same direction into a single-vehicle so this can help you cut down on time and gas.
Are you an NYC driver interested in the LGA Connect program? Make sure to sign up with Via to get started today.
An Attempt to Cut Down on NYC Congestion?
It seems like it. The main goal of Via and the PANYNJ is to hopefully reduce private trips to and from the airport while introducing congestion-reducing, convenient and affordable shared rides.
LGA Connect can be a good alternative for passengers who currently take a bus or rely on taxi, rideshare or private car service.
How Much It Costs
LGA Connect will cost passengers a flat-rate of $15 for rides booked from LaGuardia to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. It will cost $20 to get from LaGuardia to Staten Island and the Bronx. More than 30 million travelers fly into LGA every year, so it makes sense why Via is hoping to reduce city congestion and traffic with this shared ride service.
Drivers can benefit too by potentially seeing an uptick in airport trips as LGA Connect is piloted over the next few weeks. On average, Via drivers earn a median of $20.99 (after expenses) per hour while Uber drivers earn a median of $14.17 per hour.
Driving with Via in NYC
Via first launched in NYC in 2013 and has since expanded to various other cities. You’ll want to have a large enough vehicle to transport multiple passengers at once, and Via offers a leasing program where you can rent a Mercedes Metris. You can use your own car as long as it is a 2019 or newer non-luxury vehicle or a 2005 or newer luxury vehicle.
Via often offers promotions for drivers who lease the Mercedes Metris and there are two main ways to earn: blue mode and flex mode.
With Blue Mode, drivers earn at a guaranteed hourly rate and pick up and drop off as many passengers as Via assigns. You can take breaks in Blue Mode by pausing the app. Flex mode allows you to get paid for every trip you complete. You’ll earn money based on a published rate card that pays similar to UberX or Lyft Classic.
For Flex Mode drivers, Via has stated they will add a sharing premium for each additional passenger ranging between 5% and 20% depending on your city and how many additional riders you get. This is more motivation to be apart of LGA Connect if you’re driving in NYC.
Via offers late-night driver promos as well.
Signing Up For Via
To start driving for Via, you need to be 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, at least one year of driving experience, and be able to pass a criminal background check. In New York, you’ll need a TLC license if you don’t already have one.
LGA Connect is just one of many services that Via will start implementing. They are also launching an on-demand public bus service in partnership with the City of Jersey City.
Via partners with transit companies in other cities across the country to offer similar pickup services. This is helpful to drivers who are looking to get more bang from their buck by picking up multiple passengers and getting consistent trip requests.
Ready to get started with Via? Sign up to drive with Via here.
What are your thoughts on Via’s new LGA Connect airport rideshare?
-Chonce @ RSG
