From: hheagy@delphi.com
Subject: transportation to and from the airport
I thought some information on transportation to and from New
Orleans International Airport might be helpful, so here is what I
have on it.
there are 2 basic methods of getting from the airport into downtown
New Orleans.
The first is by taxi.  The rate is $21.00 for 2 people or less and
if there are more than 2 in one cab it is $8.00 a person.  The most
reliable cab companies are:  Service cab which I use and there
number is: 1-504-888-8294 (888-taxi) or 834-1400.  But you can only
use them if you are going from Jefferson Parish into Orleans Parish
or vise verse.  They can't take you from one destination in New
Orleans to another in New Orleans.  But you can use them for going
to and from the airport as the airport is in Jefferson Parish.
The only other exception to this rule is if a customer has a
charge account with a certain cab company they can go anywhere.
But the New Orleans police like to harass drivers from other
parishes so cab companies chartered for other parishes usually
won't pick up in high risk areas like the C.B.D. or the French
Quarter.  But cabs are easily found by the hotel doormen anyway.
Other cabs in New Orleans are:  United cab, which is the largest
cab company in the city, 1-504-524-9606 or 524-8380.  And Yellow
Cab 525-3311.
United has a strange exception to the rule about picking up
passengers only in their chartered parish.  They can pick up from
anywhere and go to anywhere in the state.  I don't know how that
came about, but that's what I am told.  Yellow Cab can only operate
within New Orleans just as Service Cab is chartered for Jefferson
Parish Yellow is chartered for New Orleans.  So either your
starting point or your final destination has to be within Orleans for
Yellow and Jefferson for Service.  
The other method is a shuttle service called Airport Shuttle. 
Their number is: 1-504-522-3500 and the rate to a downtown hotel is
$10.00 per person each way.  There is no discount for a round-trip
purchase.  
You should not have any trouble picking up any of these because
both are readily available near baggage claim.  But those are the
numbers if you need them.  
Even if you should get an independent cab driver the rate for taxis
is set by law so any taxi should charge you the same rate.  
Airport Shuttle also has a toll free number:  1-800-543-6332. 
However, they may answer the phone, "New Orleans Tours," and you
will have to ask to be connected to Airport Shuttle.  They do not
require reservations to go from the airport, but they request at
least 24 hours notice to return to the airport so they can pick up
from your hotel.  Their local number is: 1-504-522-3500.
So depending on how many people are going to the convention hotels
when you get in, one or the other could be the most economical to
use.  If there are 3 or more people willing to share a cab then the
cab is the less expensive way to go at $8.00 a person.  Even at 2
persons the rate per person would be $10.50 a person but if you are
by yourself then the shuttle is the cheapest way to go.
Just a footnote:  as most of you probably know, Louisiana is
divided into Parishes rather than counties.  Orleans Parish and
the city of New Orleans are the same.  Hope this
helps.
Harvey
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