After spending hours on a plane, the last thing you want to do is think about how you’re getting home from the airport.
I live just seven miles from Boston Logan International Airport, yet getting there on public transportation means taking two T lines, a bus, and hauling luggage through three transfers. It should take about an hour, but I’ve had to abandon my plan to take the T after waiting on the platform for 20 minutes and hop in a last-minute rideshare, usually getting stuck paying surge pricing.
Uber and Lyft aren’t much better. I don’t like scheduling a pickup in advance for the ride home in case my flight is delayed, since they’ll charge a hefty cancellation fee if my plans change. So I wait until I land to request a ride. More than once, I’ve waited 10 minutes for a driver, only to have them cancel at the last second. And after a long-haul flight, the last thing I want to do is trek to the remote rideshare pickup area at Logan with a suitcase in tow.
Before a recent trip to Australia that involved a 24+ hour travel day on each end, I decided to make life easier and book Blacklane for my airport transfers. Blacklane is a luxury chauffeur service that promises a stress-free ride to and from the airport. This is my honest review.
Booking Blacklane
Booking a ride to or from the airport with Blacklane couldn’t be easier. You can download the app or simply book through their website. I received notifications when my chauffeur was assigned, when he was on his way, and when he arrived at my house, which eliminated my fear that a driver wasn’t going to show up.
If you’re booking a pickup from the airport, Blacklane gives you the option to input your flight number. They automatically track your flight and notify your chauffeur of any delays or changes, so they can adjust the pickup time accordingly. You can also choose how long after your flight lands you’d like to be picked up, and they’ll wait free of charge for up to one hour after that. I opted to have the chauffeur arrive 30 minutes after landing to give myself time to deplane and grab my luggage.
The Blacklane Experience
On the way to the airport, my driver arrived early in a spotless luxury Mercedes and waited nearby until I texted him that I was ready. The car was spotless and stocked with bottled water, phone chargers, and heated backseats.
Since Blacklane is licensed as a professional limousine company rather than a rideshare, the driver was able to drop me off at the departures curbside. If you’ve ever had to drag your luggage through from the rideshare zone at Boston Logan, you know what a convenience this is.
On the way home from the airport, my flight actually landed early, and my chauffeur was already waiting. He sent clear text instructions about where to meet him, which was in a location convenient to baggage claim for my flight. My luggage took longer than anticipated to come out, so I ended up about 20 minutes later than my estimated pickup time. Having Blacklane’s one hour of free waiting time eliminated any stress I had about making my driver wait. When I was ready, my chauffeur was standing outside the car with a sign with my name on it, making my ride easy to spot, and he immediately jumped to help me with my bag. The luxury Suburban was spacious, spotless, and stocked with San Pellegrino waters, a nice touch after a long and dehydrating plane ride.
Everything is included in the Blacklane price, from taxes to gratuity. When the ride ends, you simply step out of the car without worrying about tipping, rating in the app, or surprise surge fees. While it’s definitely a premium price compared to a standard rideshare, the stress-free experience is worth every penny in my book. If you value your time and want to start (or end) your trip on a high note, I’d highly recommend giving them a shot.
Blacklane Vs Uber & Lyft
- Blacklane stands out from Uber and Lyft in a few key ways:
- Every driver is professionally vetted.
- Vehicles are clean, high-end, and well-maintained.
- Pricing is a flat rate with no surge fees.
- You can choose from executive sedans, luxury SUVs, or sprinters for larger groups.
- Curbside airport pickup and drop-off—no rideshare corrals.
- Chauffeurs actually assist with luggage.
Overall, Blacklane offered a much more seamless experience than rideshares, which made a huge difference when starting or ending a long travel day. I’ll definitely be using them for airport transfers in the future.
