SuperShuttle van

SuperShuttle is Shutting Down Because Uber is a Thing

This morning, I woke up to news that SuperShuttle — the well-known van service that carries passengers to and from numerous airports across the country — would be throwing in the towel before 2020 rolls around. According to reports, the last rides will take place on December 31st, while those with reservations beyond that date will apparently be automatically refunded. As a past user of the blue and yellow shuttles myself, I was momentarily surprised by the headline… until I gave it a couple seconds of thought.

It doesn’t take much imagination to guess the main culprit for SuperShuttle’s collapse: ride-sharing. In many cases, travelers can take an Uber or Lyft to/from the airport for a price that’s competitive with what the shuttle service would charge. Well, outside of times when the formers are engaging in surge pricing, at least. To that point, those who continued to use SuperShuttle even after the advent of Uber weren’t just the tech-illiterate Boomers some might assume them to be — they were those who appreciated upfront pricing and the comfort of knowing they’d already reserved their ride.

Personally, I counted myself among that group before making the switch from SuperShuttle to ride-sharing just a few years ago (I know, I’m a bad Millennial). Unfortunately for them, like many others, I realized that it was far more convenient and comfortable to get a ride directly from the airport to my hotel instead of waiting for six other people to get dropped off ahead of me. Sure, Uber might be a bit pricier in some situations, but 1) it was typically worth it and 2) there’s always Uber Pool if you really want to save money and get a tour of town as the people get dropped off.

To be fair to SuperShuttle, it’s actually not like they didn’t attempt to adapt to new technologies as they emerged. I remember being impressed by how the service would text me when I landed and provide me directions to where to catch my van — something I always found helpful. They also have their own app, though I can’t say I’ve ever used that.

Of course, all joking aside, it is sad that many will lose their jobs as a result of SuperShuttle’s closure. Moreover, as I learned from this L.A. Times article, some drivers actually own their own vans. On top of all that, one can’t help but sympathize that this news came just before Christmas and that so many employees will likely start off 2020 unemployed.

Ultimately, while many travelers may have moved on from SuperShuttle, it’s fair to say that they did offer a reasonably-priced service that helped those on a budget avoid high parking tolls and taxi fares. Heck, that’s exactly what led me to use them when setting off on some of the most memorable trips of my life. So, for that, I thank them.

Author

Kyle Burbank

Founder ~ Moneyat30
Kyle is a freelance writer - including being the head writer for Fioney.com. He also serves as editorial director for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com. In 2015, Kyle and his wife Bekah moved from Los Angeles to Springfield MO in pursuit of greater financial freedom. Together, the pair enjoy travel, coffee, and spending time with their dog Rigby. Additionally, as of 2023, they become first-time homeowners.

Other Articles by Kyle Burbank

happy couple looking outside a cab window

My New Vegas Preference: Why I've Been Going Back to Taxis

There's no question that Uber has been a game changer for travelers and commuters alike. Not only did the platform provide an often less expensive competitor for traditional cabs but also made them easier to hail and pay for. Plus, it provided plenty of people with a solid side hustle...
elevators inside Atlanta Marquis Hotel

Travel Tuesday: Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel Review

Over the years, I've spent countless hours in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but have never really ventured into the city itself (other than driving through it on road trips). So, when it was revealed that FinCon 2024 would be held in Downtown Atlanta, I relished the opportunity to finally explore...
Robinhood Presidential Event app

Trying Robinhood's Presidental Election Market: A Brief How-To

Is the upcoming presidential election not giving you quite enough anxiety? Then what if you also had money riding on it? Well, if you're a Robinhood customer, now you (potentially) can! That's right, early this week, Robinhood unveiled its Presidential Election Market. Here, eligible customers can purchase event contracts tied...

Leave a Reply

The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get Posts in Your Inbox
Featured Articles
happy couple looking outside a cab window

My New Vegas Preference: Why I've Been Going Back to Taxis

There's no question that Uber has been a game changer for travelers and commuters alike. Not only did the platform provide an often less expensive competitor for traditional cabs but also made them easier to hail and pay for. Plus, it provided plenty of people with a solid side hustle...
elevators inside Atlanta Marquis Hotel

Travel Tuesday: Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel Review

Over the years, I've spent countless hours in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but have never really ventured into the city itself (other than driving through it on road trips). So, when it was revealed that FinCon 2024 would be held in Downtown Atlanta, I relished the opportunity to finally explore...
Robinhood Presidential Event app

Trying Robinhood's Presidental Election Market: A Brief How-To

Is the upcoming presidential election not giving you quite enough anxiety? Then what if you also had money riding on it? Well, if you're a Robinhood customer, now you (potentially) can! That's right, early this week, Robinhood unveiled its Presidential Election Market. Here, eligible customers can purchase event contracts tied...
Money Nerds Unite - FinCon Atlanta 2024

FinCon 2024 Recap: Returning to the Conference After 5 Years

It's hard to believe but, prior to the last week, it had been five long years since I attended a FinCon event in person. After going to my first event in 2018, I attended the 2019 conference in Washington D.C. — and then, well, you know. Even though FinCon had...