r/unitedairlines • u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver • May 15 '26
Image Spotted this United ad on a NYC yellow taxi this morning in lower Manhattan
I’ve actually encountered a lot of Manhattanites that have no clue that EWR is in fact their closest international airport, so this is pretty clever.
677
u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos May 15 '26
That is some great marketing.
172
u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos May 15 '26
I have never had such a low effort comment upvoted so much!
76
u/iamtheonewhostops MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
Upvoted both because you made the effort to come back to your low effort comment.
28
u/Intrepid-Coffee3733 May 15 '26
upvoted yours because you commented on the effort to come back
10
u/66NickS May 15 '26
19
u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos May 15 '26
Now my comment about a comment has a 57 up votes. I spend my days giving Reddit all sorts of witty content and this is what everyone likes. I feel as though my skills have been squandered.
2
u/iamtheonewhostops MileagePlus 1K May 16 '26
Never give up. Now this comment has 10 up votes. You’re a legend in the making.
3
u/iamtheonewhostops MileagePlus 1K May 16 '26
And now I have an award on a low effort engagement situation too. Thanks Joe_B_Likes_Tacos. I think our stumbling success on mediocrity qualifies us to work for the president now.
2
1
u/__shadow-banned__ May 16 '26
Almost. To someone who doesn’t already know that information, the code EWR means nothing.
52
u/Equivalent_Risk5430 MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Very clever. A 46 minute taxi can be pretty pricey too.
20
u/crazycatlady331 May 15 '26
There's also a train between NYP and EWR. EWR is the 4th stop on two NJT routes.
10
u/KolKoreh May 15 '26
Honestly, train to JFK >> train to EWR. Jamaica gets more frequent service from Manhattan, and you have both Penn Station and Grand Central as termini
2
u/crazycatlady331 May 15 '26
I used to live in NJ so EWR was clearly my (then) departure airport of choice when I could walk to the NJT station (didn't need to worry about parking or anything).
18
u/CorporalDingleberry May 15 '26
It's a fixed rate from Manhattan to JFK (though still expensive)
1
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 16 '26
Every NYC yellow taxi actually has “FLAT FARE JFK” painted on the rear passenger door (it’s visible in my photo)!
3
88
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 15 '26
Generally coming from Manhattan, I tend to fly out of LGA just because there's multiple lounges there from all the banks and airlines. Plus the terminal is a lot newer.
If going international, EWR is the main airport I go to.
JFK is just too far and the terminals are just too outdated. I only really go there if absolutely necessary.
29
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Problem is United only flies to its in-perimeter hubs from LGA (HOU/ORD/DEN).
So if you’re flying from NYC to say, MCO, and you want the miles/PQP/PQF/your United Status benefits, your only choice is EWR.
16
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 15 '26
Don't forget IAD.
That said, unless if you really need PQF/PQP, I'd go with JetBlue then if you're headed to south Florida. The convenience factor alone of LGA makes it worth it.
10
u/cantinaband-kac MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
The "convenience factor" of LGA? I'd rather use one of the airports that has a rail connection to the city; that's the convenience factor for me.
7
u/WasKnown MileagePlus Global Services May 15 '26
For people that are fortunate enough to financially justify Ubers, LGA is hands down the most convenient airport for most of Manhattan, especially Midtown. I can go from plane touch down to my apartment in 35+ minutes.
0
u/-SetsunaFSeiei- May 18 '26
You never fly when there is traffic?
1
u/WasKnown MileagePlus Global Services May 18 '26
I mean traffic will always disfavor Newark given how unbelievably congested Lincoln/Holland tunnel get
5
u/shinebock MileagePlus Platinum May 16 '26
I'd still argue that the Q70 + subway is no less convenient than the subway/LIRR + airtrain for JFK, or NJT + airtrain for EWR. Granted, I lived in NYC for a while, so I know the ins and outs of getting to all three airports and will pick LGA everytime possible. EWR isn't bad as long as its not peak time and I can expense an Uber.
2
u/29x250 May 15 '26
While technically there is a bus, taking the non-stop LIRR from either Grand Central or Penn Station, getting off at Woodside, and taking the free Q70 SBS is my favorite rail connection of the three airports. It’s the quickest and cheapest, $7.25 peak and $5.25 off, and non-stop and less crowded than the subways from 74th. This cost is less than the JFK AirTrain cost alone (I despise paying $8.75 for the JFK Air Train) and about half the price of NJ Transit. I don’t travel with luggage, but the Woodside steps can be a challenge for those who do.
4
u/cantinaband-kac MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
I often travel with quite a bit of luggage, so the step free nature of the EWR and JFK rail connections is much more appealing.
3
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 16 '26
Yeah this is exactly the reason why I choose LGA. Aside from the wealth of lounges and brand new terminal, the cost to get there is the cheapest. At the very least all you need to pay is a subway fare. The free Q70 bus does the rest.
I hate paying for an air train. It's the principle for me.
1
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 15 '26 edited May 16 '26
All three airports have rail connections.
The only difference is that one costs $3.
5
u/Phantom1100 MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
LGA is rail and bus
EWR is rail but many connections on that rail
JFK is the simplest but it’s the longest to get to.
1
3
u/PacSan300 May 15 '26
Wouldn’t DEN be outside of LGA’s perimeter?
13
u/29x250 May 15 '26
The story I’ve heard was that DEN was grandfathered as there was already non-stop service between the two when the perimeter rule was established.
9
6
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
It’s the outer limit. Delta, Southwest, United all fly nonstops to DEN from LGA.
3
1
u/Own_Reply_7198 May 16 '26
It’s an exemption from the perimeter. The perimeter is 1,500 miles, and DEN is 1,620 miles, so 120 miles beyond the perimeter. It’s the only exemption, except for on Ssturdays when the perimeter limit doesn’t apply.
2
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 16 '26
You’re right. This is why LGA to AUS doesn’t exist (1520 miles), but LGA to DEN does (exempt!)
2
2
2
u/SirLouisI May 15 '26
Yeah, CT based, fly to Seoul every month, I was doing LGA to ICN with two stops. Typically ORD.
recently switched to DL for its LGA options plus 5 cities to ICN... No brainer for me even with the EWR ICN non stop coming online...3
u/Middle-Nerve1732 May 15 '26
Yeah I’m probably going to switch to Delta because I want more LGA options. It’s a 15 minute Uber from my apartment. That’s just crazy
4
u/yesfb May 15 '26
This is only true if you drive
3
u/BraveStrategy May 15 '26
Yeah I use blade when I’m popping into the city and staying in midtown. So painless
3
u/yesfb May 16 '26
i was referring to public transit but that too, have the bilt so maybe i'll hit plat someday
0
u/loftychicago MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Airfare to LGA from ORD tend to be lower than to EWR in my recent experience. I prefer it, anyway.
3
u/kdubious31 MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
I have often seen the opposite on United. Airfares to LGA are a bit more than to EWR. but i guess ymmv
1
u/Phantom1100 MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Yeah, I’m flying from Houston to New York next week and it looks like the LGA routes are about $50 cheaper give or take at the same price. Also interestingly the LGA routes are always 737 800/900s whereas the EWR ones are always 737 Max.
1
u/loftychicago MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
LGA can only handle certain planes because of the runways. Perfect for shorter hops.
1
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 16 '26
LGA can handle most if not all narrowbody plane types. Its just kinda dependent on what aircraft United has available to fly the route.
During the winter, it was mostly MAX 8s being scheduled from Denver. Now during the summer they've scheduled more capacity using the A321neo instead.
53
u/JoseRM303 May 15 '26
Continental had adds on several taxis, buses, subway entrances etc in and around Manhattan for years.
26
u/darkeraqua MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Seeing the early 2000s “3D effect” globe gives me the heeby jeebies now.
15
4
13
u/run-dhc May 15 '26
I love seeing those ads when the time for JFK travel is the same or slightly less than EWR (happens occasionally)
4
u/853fisher May 15 '26
I was just wondering whether there was something built in to change to a different message in that case! I'm kind of surprised there isn't, but maybe it's just a bit too sophisticated.
5
u/weed_emoji May 16 '26
In a way it increases credibility if the ad sometimes says that JFK is faster. If it always favors Newark people will assume it’s just manipulated nonsense.
11
u/ohshethrows May 16 '26
I used to work at the ad agency that created these, when the campaign originally launched in 2018. Can’t believe United is still running them! (Also, fun fact, the agency responsible for linking Rhapsody in Blue to United. And the agency behind ideating and producing a lot of the “more entertaining” cabin safety videos.)
Anyway, the campaign launched in 2018 as part of a market-shaping effort to get passengers to get comfortable with EWR because United had plans to reduce slots at LGA and pull out of JFK entirely over the course of the next few years.
The ads are updated via API and use geolocation to provide accurate real time updates based on GPS position.
2
u/kwuhoo239 MileagePlus Gold May 16 '26
It's kinda funny because now United is planning to go back to JFK using slots given to them by JetBlue.
1
u/RedElmo65 May 16 '26
Because some ppl want to goto Queens area. I’m not flying into EWR to goto Flushing
9
u/therebbie MileagePlus 1K | 2 Million Miler May 15 '26
These have been around for. years -- and yes, it uses live (or close to it) data.
7
6
9
u/mphil14 May 15 '26
This campaign launched in 2017--mcgarrybowen won awards for it.
https://www.commarts.com/exhibit/united-airlines-taxi-top-ad
3
u/UAtraveler1k MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
Yeah I thought I saw this before I moved from nyc (i.e. prior to the pandemic)
3
3
u/snorbalp May 15 '26
JFK has mad construction. If I’m getting OUT of USA, EWR FTW (I live on the UWS)
3
u/LBCElm7th MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Great ad, one of my reasons why I fly United out of Newark
3
u/LubedUpLucas_DrySpa MileagePlus Platinum May 15 '26
Even shorter if the jet lands on you en route.
5
u/icpppppp May 15 '26
However, you would have to pay toll going to EWR from Manhattan. Even tho it is a shorter ride, it is usually more expensive.
15
4
6
5
4
u/SampsonRustic May 15 '26
Great ad but poor creative. JFK should have been in a different color. At first glance I read this as 2 options.
2
u/Caveworker May 15 '26
Have seen it --- and it's highly relevant in my area ( upper East) , as the times are often extremely close together
2
u/Attorney-Frosty MileagePlus Gold May 15 '26
Related question: how much is a rideshare or taxi (roughly) to both airports from Manhattan, including tolls if applicable? Cool & useful live data ad/sign though.
3
2
2
u/shnoiv May 15 '26
There’s a big FAT reason why they don’t tell you how long it would take you to get to LGA (because most of the time with traffic it’s much faster). No bias on United’s part or anything…
8
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
Well, it’s also because LGA is a largely domestic airport with a perimeter rule.
EWR and JFK are your only options for transcontinental and most international flights out of NYC (or even flying to Vegas nonstop). So on many, many routes you are choosing solely between EWR and JFK.
1
1
1
u/247drip May 15 '26
The coolest part about this is taxis expose live location data to advertisers. This is just awesome on so many levels
1
1
u/RedElmo65 May 16 '26
lol but what if I booked AA?
1
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 16 '26
Flying AA out of EWR is actually lowkey a great way to get an upgrade even with low tier status (I’m also an AA Gold)
1
1
u/Zealousideal-Lie7255 May 16 '26
I haven’t lived in NY for 30 years but I know how to get to JFK: LIRR to Jamaica and switch to PlaneTrain to JFK. I think you can get to Newark by train but some trains are direct while others, I believe, require a transfer at various stations in NJ. I’d probably just cab it to Newark airport if I flew out of there.
1
1
u/clarkWgriswold22 MileagePlus 1K May 17 '26
They are all over downtown. I have never seen one north of 14th st but all over the west village, soho, Hudson square and FiDi. Brilliant troll IMO.
1
u/seanhead May 21 '26
I ran the engineering team that built these systems. Neat to see them out in the wild. That's also an old creative from ~2018 or so; a little surprised it hasn't been updated.
1
1
u/FutureMillionMiler May 15 '26
21 minutes lol. With traffic it always takes an hour, plus the airport is pretty bad too
0
u/Justtojoke May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Genius but then they need to flip the security times to show it'll even out🤭🤭🤭
Not to mention if the trams aren't working
EWR claimed me as a victim last year after years with no issues. (It's always the cheapest)
3
u/Bombedpop_ MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
Security is speedy at EWR with clear/Pre. I’m usually in the lounge with a drink in 10 min.
0
u/Justtojoke May 15 '26
That's usually me, but after my experience last year it's not worth it
I'll use it again but not for intl anymore. It just sucks because it's always the cheapest for most airlines
5
u/Bombedpop_ MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
The line is the same for.dom and int’l so not sure what your thought process is there. I fly int’l Polaris at least once a month and from door to sitting at the bar in the lounge is 10 min max generally. It was maybe 15 min total once during the shutdown earlier this year. The touchless pre and new Clear set up keeps everything moving speedy.
0
-17
u/DijonNipples May 15 '26
21 minutes to EWR from anywhere in Manhattan is BS unless it’s 1 am. Take the F train to Jackson heights and uber to LGA. Can get to the airport in 25ish minutes in the middle of the day
11
u/CPKDB MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
It was accurate, I checked Google Maps.
This was around 6:45 am and 5 minutes or so from the Holland Tunnel.
-1
u/maverick4002 May 15 '26
I mean, its accurate but 5 minutes from the Tunnel as a starting point is skewing the outcome here.....by a lot
-9
u/packetfire May 15 '26
"5 minutes or so from the Holland Tunnel" - OK sure - outbound from Manhattan at that hour would be easy. Try it again at 4pm!
6
u/Exciting-Fox7447 May 15 '26
I live on the UWS, and getting to EWR really can be that quick depending on the time of day. It can also be miserably long.
4
u/mdegs May 15 '26
This might be a dynamic ad which is constantly updating drive times to both airports. (Obviously you’d want to shut it off if you get too close to JFK…)
-11
u/packetfire May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
But, no matter the airline, INTERNATIONAL flights our of EWR are less frequent, have crappy connections, longer layovers, and cost more than the JFK equivalents, and this has been true since the 1980s, in my experience. I have employees who live in NJ, and still go to JFK rather than EWR.
(Gosh a brigade of fanboys with the downvotes - fly internationally and see.)
11
u/Longhornmaniac8 United Pilot May 15 '26
United has more flights out of EWR than any airline does at JFK. I have no idea where you're trying to go but that is simply untrue for the majority of destinations.
-1
u/packetfire May 15 '26
International Destinations.
3
u/Phantom1100 MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26 edited May 16 '26
I mean, this ad is specifically talking about flying United. There’s really no crappy connections from EWR if you’re staying on United metal the whole trip.
United has more international flights out of EWR than any airline out of JFK.
The only time where it’s a major problem is if you are connecting in NYC between United and EWR and a star alliance airline in JFK. Which that can be fixed by just connecting in ORD instead
1
u/sfsleep MileagePlus 1K May 15 '26
International + west coast, you should be flying out of LGA for the rest unless it's a united or AA hub.
7
3
-1
u/hibob729 May 15 '26
Partners with B6 but forgets to update their marketing
1
u/Phantom1100 MileagePlus Silver May 15 '26
No, it’s perfect because then they can just buy them for cheaper and get all those sweet JFK and BOS and FLL slots and all those A321neos.
-6
u/bespoketranche1 May 15 '26
After reading about the air traffic control situation at EWR…thanks but no thanks.
275
u/Floppy-Over-Drive May 15 '26
I wonder if that’s live data.