To kick off our trip, I met up with my friend at JFK and we took a BLADE helicopter to Manhattan. This time, we chartered the whole helicopter to avoid the luggage issue of our prior journey.
BLADE Helicopter Charter Review – From JFK Airport To Manhattan
My friend prefers the Casa Cipriani Hotel in New York, which is located in downtown Manhattan. The Downtown Manhattan Heliport is adjacent to the property, which was another reason to charter (and therefore avoid having to travel to West 30th Street or East 34th Street). Instead, we could be dropped off right at the hotel.
The cost for the charter was $1,875. It was not comped or discounted. Yes, a splurge.
From JFK, a BLADE representative was waiting outside in a black Lincoln Navigator and drove us over to the heliport at JFK, a five-minute journey. Cost = $100.
Our helicopter was waiting and we were told we could depart when we wanted. There is not much of a lounge at the General Aviation Terminal at JFK, but we sat down for a moment and had a drink (sparkling water).
Then it was off to the helicopter, for the brief 10-minute journey to Manhattan.
My friend was traveling with a lot of luggage, but when you charter a helicopter (with room for up to five passengers), you can bring the heavy bags onboard…which we did.
We lifted off and flew right over an EVA 777 freighter and then a Delta Air Lines 737-800. It was a cold gray day with a cloud ceiling overhead.
Flying over Brooklyn, the Manhattan skyline drew closer and rays of sunlight even peaked out.
We passed Governor’s Island and could see Lady Liberty in the distance.
Coming in, we flew right next to the Casa Cipriani, showcasing how this hotel literally sits directly above the ferry port.
And just like that, we touched down at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. We stepped off, walked though the terminal, and into a waiting car from the hotel that would take us next door. Our luggage was brought behind us and we were shortly on our way.
CONCLUSION
What an efficient journey! This sort of thing is for the rich and I was happy to tag along for the ride, though it is not something I would regularly do. It’s by far the best way to travel between JFK Airport and Manhattan and while the Blade scheduled services run as little as $195 per-person, it is great to have your own helicopter. Oh to dream…
I guess it makes sense since the heliport is right next to the hotel. Other than that, traffic gets you if you have to actually go into the city. Fun Fact* That gas station on the FDR has the highest prices in the all of Manhattan.
@Rob … the gas station price was the reason why the helicopter was so expensive , no ?
Safe? More than a little risk.
Time saving? Only if your hotel is close by.
Fun? YES.
With smartphones and tablets, you can work while in a taxi.
Charters save time. Regular flights are questionable is it saves much time.
@derek … the blade is attached to the engine with a big nut . So , rather than “blade” , the helicopter ought to be called “nut” .
@Alert … an almond doesn’t lactate. So , rather than “milk” , the drink ought to be called “nut juice” .
@Eskimo … +1 .
Nearly $2k for a short hop and they can’t even include the price of the transfer from the passenger terminal to the general aviation area? Dinging $100 for that doesn’t scream “class.” They’d be better off just building it into the overall price.
Separately, if the downtown heliport was literally next door to your hotel, why get in a car to go there?
My friend’s checked baggage.
Always a joy rolling with heavy packers…
I’m surprised that they can’t include the transfer as part of the charter price. I stopped doing blade cause I hate staying anywhere near the Blade Lounge West. Yes, Equinox is a decent option but still inconvenient
I am easily in the wealthiest 1% globally. Nearly all LALF readers are… Maybe even 0.5%, but compared to actual wealthy people, I may as well be poor. It’s an interesting world we live in.
The 1% by net worth is about €1m ($1.1m by 2022 figures). I might just about be in there if I include the value of my pension, but I wouldn’t make the 1% income distribution cutoff. I expect that the typical LALF reader is in the opposite position (i.e. easily in the top 1% for income but not quite there for wealth).
No matter what we tell ourselves, for this type of cohort (‘mass affluent’ let’s say) things like the helicopter charter aren’t really unaffordable but rather a matter of interests and priorities. If I went after a promotion to senior management, my income would likely be sufficient to justify always staying in at least upper upscale, if not proper luxury, hotels instead of the mix of Ibises, Novotels, and NHs I tend to use. But I would have less time and energy to travel because of the high-pressure job and the need for regular appearances in the office. Equally, if my colleagues who are envious of the intercontinental business class trips I take [using miles and/or creative routings] swapped their shiny lease car for a 22 year old one like mine, they could use the savings to do at least one long-haul trip in premium economy every year [with no need for mile ‘hacking’, positioning flights etc].
Owning and maintaining a private jet, an helicopter, or even a flying car is in a different league indeed, but at that point it’s more about the prestige it gives you as opposed to the actual use case.
@PM … your 22 year old auto is more reliable than the more expensive recent autos , per the mechanics .
Well, it’s Japanese and it rarely breaks down, although there are things that need fixing or replacing every so often.
@PM … Japanese is a good choice . I am a Jeep man myself .
Not sure you’re just trying to troll or you have no clue yet you want to brag about your wealth.
But the net worth of an average American is already in the top 1% globally.
It’s normal that you feel poor, the top 1% American is on average 10 times wealthier.
@Eskimo, I am not convinced that the average American has over a million dollars in assets. But I imagine their income will not be very far from the global 1%.
@PM, That’s from The Federal Reserve’s 2023 Survey of Consumer Finances.
And despite general understanding, assets alone doesn’t equal to net worth. Having a million in cash that the bank lend it to you doesn’t make you worth a million.
As far as income, it’s not a good indicator of wealth. Blowing all your annual $1M salary on blackjack doesn’t get you into the top 1% wealth.
I’m not bragging or trolling, I just find it amazing how much wealth people can accumulate. $2,000 to save a little time getting in from the airport is something I’ll probably never understand
It all hinges on how much one values their time. Earlier today I was told about a senior manager where I work wanting to pay ‘travel costs’ for a group of staff that we will be taking over from another organisation. Very kind of them, but most people in that area rely on public transport and the difference in costs will be between zero and negligible. However, the change can increase the commute by as much as an hour each way, and the cost of time hadn’t been factored into the calculations. The issue just had not crossed the minds of senior management or the HR people supporting them.
When I am visiting a super exotic place, I consider my time to be worth hundreds and hundreds of pounds per hour and I am happy to pay for time-saving services. When I’m flying within Europe, however, the value of my free time tends to zero and I will happily work from the lounge all day as opposed to enjoying 4 hours wandering around BRU/FRA/MUC and arriving early evening at my destination.
“hundreds and hundreds of pounds per hour”
Who’s bragging now ?!
I am not, the point is that the value of someone’s time is subject to huge variance depending on the circumstances.
That’s an Escalade, not a Navigator 😉
“the luggage issue of our prior journey…”: the hyperlink is broken. Have been thinking about Blade but that 25 lbs of luggage weight seems inadequate.
Fixed link.
Cool, I guess.
Matthew and all readers. Why do you persist in taking helicopter flights? It is not morally defensible. This is ruining the lives of millions of New Yorkers. I know of people who moved out of the City because of helicopter noise, including a multi-nominated Grammy artist. The JFK flights fly very low over densely populated residential neighborhoods all day long. If that is not enough, your carbon footprint is equal to 20-40 Ubers. It YOU don’t adjust your behavior, who will?
@Andrew … Depends how you look at it . Whilst I served in the Army I found helicopter noise day and night rather comforting . If it was very quiet , I awakened worried .
If it was an air ambulance helicopter out where I live , I would think it a lifesaver .
Also , I don’t think he “persist in helicopter flights” … this was a one-time event for the purpose of this trip .
LOL
$2k…is the new $20!
Cool pics!