Going from Grehound bus terminal, Jacksonville, Florida to Jacksonville, airport

[p_s_92]

I hear the trip is around 20 mins by cab if there is minimum traffic and fair weather. I will be reaching the Greyhound bus terminal around 9:15 am and have to catch a domestic flight(Jetblue airlines) at 11:30am so need to be at the check in terminal by 10:15am since I have to check in one bag. Day of travel is Saturday and I am new to Jacksonville.

1. Can I reach the airport from the bus terminal using any sort of shared shuttle/taxi instead of taking a cab by myself which can cost me around 40 or more(including tips) as the distance is around 15 miles?

2. As per http://jtafla.com/Schedules/showPage.aspx?Sel=155 there is a City bus at 9:55am which stops under the Skyway monorail tracks which can take me to the airport around 10:35am. However, city buses on weekends are generally 10-15 mins late in my town so it could easily reach by 10:50am. Also, 10:35 am is late since I need to be in the airport by 10:15am. Are there any other bus options for me?

3. I see shuttle services like http://www.jtafla.com/Schedules/Dinsmore_River_City_CS.pdf and Highlands Ride Request https://jta.jtafla.com/SiteDirectory/busroutes/Routes/HighlandsRideRequestADAWDI.aspx but don't know if they go to airport, have the greyhound bus terminal as a stop and operate on Saturdays. Can anyone suggest some budget shuttle services(costing around 5-10 like a bus fare) which may operate on Saturday?

4. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[urbanlibertarian]

You may be able to make a shuttle reservation here www.jaxairportride.com or here www.jaxairportlimo.com
Probably your only chance of getting a shared ride shuttle without making a reservation would be to walk to the nearby Omni Hotel.
And yes, it's a $40 cab ride from downtown to the airport but there are almost always cabs waiting at the bus terminal.

[ProjectMaximus]

Honestly, 30 min prior is the cutoff for checking a bag at the Jax airport. So you could conceivably make it if the bus isn't terribly late.

[p_s_92]

You may be able to make a shuttle reservation here www.jaxairportride.com or here www.jaxairportlimo.com

Thanks, but the rates are about 40 just like a cab. I was expecting a shuttle would take more people so would split(and hence lower) the cost for each passenger.

Probably your only chance of getting a shared ride shuttle without making a reservation would be to walk to the nearby Omni Hotel.

How far is the Omni Hotel from the greyhound terminal by walk? And, how much would that shared ride shuttle cost approximately?

And yes, it's a $40 cab ride from downtown to the airport but there are almost always cabs waiting at the bus terminal.

Is it OK to take any cab or certain ones are better than others in terms of pricing, safety for a newcomer etc?

Thanks for your suggestions and time.

[p_s_92]

Honestly, 30 min prior is the cutoff for checking a bag at the Jax airport. So you could conceivably make it if the bus isn't terribly late.

Thanks, but most airlines tell you if you are not at their terminal 1 or 1.5 hours before flight departure time, they can refuse to let you board. I know I can use online check in to save some time, drop the bag at the area, go to checkpoint to save some time.
Also, how reliable are the city buses on Saturday? In my town, sometimes they are 10-15 mins late and occasionally don't even come on weekends.

[urbanlibertarian]

"How far is the Omni Hotel from the greyhound terminal by walk? And, how much would that shared ride shuttle cost approximately?"

The Omni is about 2 blocks east of the greyhound terminal on Bay Street.  The shared ride shuttles tend to be about half the cost of a cab.  The Omni's front desk should have price and availability info.

[p_s_92]

The Omni is about 2 blocks east of the greyhound terminal on Bay Street.  The shared ride shuttles tend to be about half the cost of a cab.  The Omni's front desk should have price and availability info.

Thanks a lot.

[exnewsman]

You could take the CT3 (Airport Shuttle) from the Rosa Parks Station - leaves at 10:02am Saturday and arrives at JIA at 10:32am. Just used it on a return flight and it was right on time. Cost is only $1.50.

It's about 6 blocks from the Greyhound station to the Rosa Parks station though. It you have wheels on your bag shouldn't be a problem - especially considering the savings.

[ProjectMaximus]

Honestly, 30 min prior is the cutoff for checking a bag at the Jax airport. So you could conceivably make it if the bus isn't terribly late.

Thanks, but most airlines tell you if you are not at their terminal 1 or 1.5 hours before flight departure time, they can refuse to let you board. I know I can use online check in to save some time, drop the bag at the area, go to checkpoint to save some time.
Also, how reliable are the city buses on Saturday? In my town, sometimes they are 10-15 mins late and occasionally don't even come on weekends.

I fly about once a month and generally arrive 30-60 minutes prior to domestic departures depending on the airport. That said, I'm obviously not offering you any insurance so for your own peace of mind it's probably worth it for you to make other arrangements to get there sooner.

So I think Omni might be your best bet. But make sure you are prepared in case Greyhound is early or late. It would be good to have the bus and shuttle schedules with you. As for your question, the city buses are probably not very reliable on the weekend (or in general for that matter).

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It's about 6 blocks from the Greyhound station to the Rosa Parks station though. It you have wheels on your bag shouldn't be a problem - especially considering the savings.

Or a block & a half to the nearest skyway station.  Just sayin'.

[tufsu1]

yeah...but the Skyway doesn't always run on Saturdays

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

You're right. 

My bad.

[02roadking]

"You could take the CT3 (Airport Shuttle) from the Rosa Parks Station - leaves at 10:02am Saturday and arrives at JIA at 10:32am. Just used it on a return flight and it was right on time. Cost is only $1.50.
It's about 6 blocks from the Greyhound station to the Rosa Parks station though. It you have wheels on your bag shouldn't be a problem - especially considering the savings."

Best bet:  http://www.jtafla.com/Schedules/showPage.aspx?Sel=155

[Traveller]

I don't think you necessarily have to trek to the Rosa Parks station to catch the Airport Shuttle.  I believe that route goes by the Central Skyway Station at Pearl & Bay, even if it doesn't show up as a timestop on the outbound schedule.  You'd just want to be there at or before the previous timestop (9:47 at Kings Ave. Station).  I could be wrong, though.  You might want to call JTA to be sure.

http://www.smartmaps.com/test/jtfladtmap.htm

[p_s_92]

You could take the CT3 (Airport Shuttle) from the Rosa Parks Station - leaves at 10:02am Saturday and arrives at JIA at 10:32am. Just used it on a return flight and it was right on time. Cost is only $1.50.

Thanks, but in my town buses on weekends are generally 10-15 mins late. So, if the CT3 reaches the airport at 10:45, Jetblue(my airline) may refuse to check in my bag since they recommend passengers to be in airport before 90mins for domestic flight.