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‘Manhattan In 75 Minutes’: First Look At Boston-New York Seaplane Service

Tailwind Seaplane Flying Over New York City

Angus Loten

Prior to the app, bookings might often be done by phone. Since its introduction, ‘we’re seeing double the digital engagement with our brand from last year’s high watermark,’ the CEO says

Tailwind Seaplane Flying Over New York City

Tailwind Air, serving mostly New York, Boston and nearby vacation spots, is planning to add more short-hop rides.

Seaplane operator Tailwind Air LLC is pushing further into the air-taxi market with more short-hop flights between downtown New York City and Boston, with a new mobile app drawing more passengers, the company’s chief executive said.

The Rye Brook, N.Y.-based startup, launched in 2014, this month plans to add direct flights from Boston’s Fan Pier Marina to Provincetown on Cape Cod, Mass., promising a 35- minute trip dock to dock, said Chief Executive Alan Ram. The company has also added flights from Manhattan’s SkyPort Marina on the East River to Provincetown via Fan Pier, he said.

Each of the company’s three Cessna Caravan EX amphibian seaplanes has eight seats. Passengers are allowed one bag weighing less than 20 pounds, which is then stowed under a facing seat or in the rear baggage compartment.

In addition to seaplanes, the company also operates 17 land aircraft under management, ranging from Gulfstream and Falcon jets to King Air and Pilatus turboprops. Its crew of 40 pilots includes 10 seaplane captains and co-pilots.

Tailwind currently offers direct flights to seasonal havens like the Hamptons on New York’s Long Island, and Plymouth, Mass., among others. Last year, it began testing direct flights between New York City and Boston, and now offers commuter packages of 10 one- way tickets starting at $5,950, going up to $26,250 for a 50-ticket book.

Since March, the company offers three to four daily flights from New York and Boston to various destinations. Flights only run during the daytime from early spring to late fall, and are grounded in winter months.

“You could leave your office on Wall Street and be in downtown Boston in less than two hours,” Mr. Ram said. He refers to the service as an air taxi, in part because it bypasses the long lines, baggage-claim scrum and transit time to and from sprawling airports at the edge of town.

But software also plays a key role, Mr. Ram said. Late last year, he said, Tailwind launched a mobile app, developed in partnership with a third-party vendor, on which travelers can scan daily flight schedules and reserve one of eight seats onboard.

”We generally close flights 90 minutes or less before takeoff, and if there’s an available seat you can hop on,” Mr. Ram said. With no Transportation Security Administration or baggage checks, passengers need only arrive at the pier around 10 minutes before their flight, he added.

Before the app, bookings tended to be done manually, with many regular passengers calling in reservations instead of going through the company’s website, Mr. Ram said.

Tailwind Site from iPhone Screen

Tailwind’s mobile app allows passengers to scan daily light schedules and reserve one of eight seats onboard its amphibious planes.

“Right now, we’re seeing double the digital engagement with our brand from last year’s high watermark,” he said. He expects to add a fourth seaplane by the end of the year, and three more by the end of 2023, he said.

The company, which operates on a 50-50 mix of angel-investor funding and earnings, saw its revenue double last year, Mr. Ram said, declining to give specifics.

Like Tailwind itself, the air-taxi industry is in its infancy—along with the fledgling efforts of the biggest players in aviation, which are adding electric and autonomous elements to it.

In January, Boeing Co. invested an additional $450 million in its air-taxi joint venture with Google co-founder Larry Page. The project looks to develop small, pilotless aircraft for short passenger trips in and around cities. Rival plane-makers Airbus SE and Embraer SA are also developing electric air taxis.

Last year, four startups designing ride-hailing aircraft known as eVTOLs—it stands for electric vertical takeoff and landings—went public through special-purpose acquisition companies. They include U.S. firms Joby Aviation Inc. and Archer Aviation Inc., Germany’s Lilium N.V. and Britain’s Vertical Aerospace Ltd. None is planning to start services before 2024.

Uber Technologies Inc., which floated its vision of flying taxis in 2016, two years ago sold its aerial ride-hailing division to California-based Joby, while taking an initial $75 million stake. Joby went public through a combination with Reinvent Technology Partners, a blank-check company backed by LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hoffman said the company is on track to launch operations within the next two years. “We’re on plan,” he said, adding that air taxis—especially in the form of electric helicopters—represent a chance to rethink the urban transportation space in a way that is cleaner and more efficient.

Smaller-scale firms operate on models similar to that of Tailwind. On Blade Urban Air Mobility Inc., headquartered in New York, customers can also book trips on helicopters and jets through a smartphone app, taking passengers to destinations roughly 100 miles away or more. (For comparison, Boston to New York is around 190 miles.)

Unlike eVTOLs, Mr. Ram said, Tailwind’s advantage is that its underlying infrastructure and technology are already in place—and have been for more than a century.

“The idea of an air taxi being able to land on every building or on the corner creates challenges of airspace integration and customer acceptance,” he said. “We’re concentrating it around existing infrastructure.”

Write to Angus Loten at angus.loten@wsj.com

Copyright © 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Tailwind Air Announces First Ever Seaplane Service to Provincetown from Boston

Tailwind Air Announces First Ever Seaplane Service to Provincetown from Boston

Boston Harbor or Manhattan’s East River Service to Provincetown Harbor, MA. Seasonal peak demand flights will reduce travel times by over 60% between downtown and the popular summer destination. Tickets from Boston to Provincetown start at $275. Flights operate May 25–September 6, 2022.

Tailwind Air Announces First Ever Seaplane Service to Provincetown from Boston

Boston, Mass. — Two exciting new destinations will be accessible by Tailwind Air seaplanes starting this summer, creating the fastest way to Provincetown, MA from Boston Harbor. Starting on May 25th 2022, travelers may now enjoy a nonstop seaplane flight directly from Boston Harbor (IATA Code: BNH) at Fan Pier Marina to Provincetown Harbor in Massachusetts. Flights from Boston Harbor are approximately 35 minutes from dock to dock and include complimentary water taxi/launch service to and from the seaplane. Tailwind will also offer nonstop and one-stop flights from Manhattan at Skyport Marina at East 23rd Street to Provincetown Harbor, MA.

“We are the only seaplane operator in the Northeast with scheduled commuter service, allowing a semiprivate, super-fast experience to hard-to-reach popular summer destinations, while also continuing to serve our core Manhattan to Boston Harbor customers,” said Tailwind Air Co-Founder and Director of Scheduled Services Peter Manice.

With the addition of Provincetown Harbor, Tailwind Air now serves four destinations from its Boston Harbor base. Manhattan is served three times daily seven days a week. Plymouth, MA is served daily. One-stop same plane service to East Hampton (HTO) is also available.

Manice explained, “We are excited to bring this new seasonal summer service and destinations to Bostonians and New Yorkers in addition to our existing seasonal summer destinations from New York to East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Montauk, and Shelter Island.”

Tailwind Air already offers daily flights to Boston, Manhattan, Plymouth and Bridgeport, CT.  It is the only seaplane commuter service out of Boston.

Frequent fliers are also encouraged to join the new Tailwind Air Fast Lane Club, a members-only experience offering huge savings and members-only perks, including everyday private fares on all routes from $35, extra baggage allowance, and companion fares among many other perks.  Tailwind also partners with the Omni Seaport to offer preferential rates on rooms for passengers. Fast Lane Club details can be found here: https://flytailwind.com/product/fast-lane-club/

A complete schedule for all flights operated by Tailwind Air can be found at flytailwind.com.

New Provincetown schedule (running May 25–September 5, 2022)

Schedule May 25 — Sept 5

For interviews, logistical help with photos/video or to schedule a demo flight contact:

New York and National
Charlie Smail
csmail@allforward.co
+1 (917) 975-6270

Boston Media Contact
Jessica Morris
jmorris@benchmark-strategies.com
+1 (203) 362-7806

About Tailwind Air’s Seaplanes

Tailwind Air is an experienced seaplane operator, flying a young fleet of modern, safe, and reliable Cessna Caravan amphibious seaplanes. With over 2,500 Caravans built, these aircraft operate with regional airlines throughout the United States and the world. Caravan Amphibians feature a highly reliable Pratt and Whitney turboprop engine, and include all the navigation, communication, and safety features of traditional air and watercraft. All flights are capable of landing on water or land and are flown with two pilots. Tailwind Air provides a comfortable lounge to accommodate guests in Boston and Manhattan, as well as light snacks and beverages. Seating in the executive cabin includes thirty-five-inch (35”) seat pitch (vs. 30-31” in standard economy airline seat) for ample legroom, as well as window and aisle access at every seat. Crisp air conditioning and unforgettable city skyline views are also included.

About Tailwind Air

Tailwind Air is a veteran-owned business, motivated by a passion for aviation and urban mobility. Founded in 2012, Tailwind Air is experienced in amphibious seaplane operations and committed to delivering time savings to customers by utilizing access to waterways and smaller airports closer to urban cores, like Manhattan and Boston Harbor. Tailwind employs a diverse and experienced team of more than 40 employees. In addition to seaplanes, Tailwind Air operates, charters, and manages a fleet of 20 aircraft based out of Westchester Airport, NY and Bridgeport, CT.  Tailwind Air is a FAA and DOT licensed direct air carrier with certificate number XORA037U

About Boston Harbor Seaplane Base (BNH)

The Boston Harbor Seaplane Base is the newest transportation option for Bostonians. Tailwind Air aircraft arrive and depart in the Boston channel adjacent to Logan Airport. Seaplanes station on a floating dock moored nearby and are transferred to the South Boston waterfront in about 7 minutes via a dedicated and enclosed water taxi. For more information about Boston Tailwind’s Boston seaplane operations, visit https://flytailwind.com/about-boston/.

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The One-Page Guide to Flying Private-ish

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How to charter semi private flights

By Laura Thompson April 15, 2022

Photo: Larry MacDougal/AP

In recent years, a handful of new companies have launched with “semi-private flights.” Each airline has its own slate of services and destinations, but all allow you to bypass the airport (you’ll go through a private jet terminal instead), and many cost little more than a business-class ticket. To understand the differences between each service, we spoke to passengers, flight attendants, and pilots

Consider ditching a major airline for these routes:

“Semi-private” flights from New York City are mostly geared toward Miami or Northeast vacation spots. Top companies in this market are Surf AirJSXTailwindTradewind, and Blade (it has seaplanes alongside its better-known helicopter option). Because these companies rarely, if ever, show up on sites like Expedia or Kayak, you’ll have to seek them out and book directly.

Acclimate yourself to their unusual pricing structure.

While on-demand charters can cost tens of thousands of dollars, scheduled shuttle flights are priced comparably to first-class tickets from major airlines. JSX offers at least four flights per week to Miami starting at $769 one way and departing from the Westchester County Airport, where you’ll need to arrive only 20 minutes before takeoff (no busy TSA lines!). Mohammed Munshi, who works for an e-commerce start-up, recently flew JSX to visit family. “Regular airline prices were outrageously crazy during Christmastime,” he says. The tickets were less expensive on JSX, the seats had more legroom than commercial first class, and his Maltipoo flew for free. “I feel like I could have been a ballplayer, like six-foot-five, and I would have been good,” he says. Tradewind, which has daily flights under an hour to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and periodic flights to Newport, starts at $500 one way. “In the heat of summer,” says Jimmy Broder, who works in real estate and flies to Nantucket, “the prices are fairly similar to what you’ll find on a commercial flight.”


If you must fly to the Hamptons, consider Tailwind.

With flights to Sag Harbor or Montauk Wednesdays through Fridays, Tailwind has tickets that start at $695 each way ($100 cheaper than Blade’s). Its fleet of amphibious seaplanes takes off from an East River dock at 23rd Street; as with JSX, you can arrive 20 minutes before departure. Its seaplanes also fly to Boston, Plymouth, Bridgeport, and Shelter Island for as little as $75 one way. (A first-class Amtrak ticket to Boston costs roughly $300, and the trip takes over four hours, compared to Tailwind’s under two.) Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, who recently flew to Boston on Tailwind, says he was able to walk to the dock from his apartment: “The views of Manhattan from the plane were just spectacular. Once you land in Boston Harbor, you take a small boat downtown. It’s an adventure.”


Know when to book.

Fares move less in the hop-on-jet world than they do with commercial flights. In winter, last-minute flights to Miami can balloon to over $1,000. For Tailwind, book at least two weeks ahead — a $395 flight to Boston can surge to $695 the week of. And Tradewind sometimes has lower prices for Monday and Tuesday flights (for Martha’s Vineyard, it’s $427 on a Monday versus $855 on a Friday).


Probably give up on the dream of flying across the country.

Most semi-private operators use relatively small planes (around 10 to 30 seats). Few offer semi-private cross-country flights, but Set Jet — a members-only private jet service — plans to begin scheduled flights between New York and L.A. this year. To book those flights, you’ll need an “elite membership” ($1,000 per month), then seats are expected to start at $3,800 one way. Which is expensive — but less than chartering a truly private jet, which can cost at least $25,000.


Consider a membership if you plan to do this regularly.

Wheels Up lets you book private charter flights at an hourly rate; it has a $2,500 annual entry-level membership fee — a good value if you fly at least four times a year, says John, a family-office manager who has used the service. Its flight to Nantucket, on a nine-seater with leather recliners, leaves from White Plains and costs $795 one way. Members have access to “shared flights,” too, where you can buy a seat on another member’s private charter (partially booked flights are posted on the app) or even propose your own trip to split among members (the airline conveniently bills each party). Set Jet has an entry-level membership option ($100 per month) that gets you a flat-reclining seat on a plane with roughly a dozen others across the Southwest starting at $560 one way. And for an annual fee of $2,995, Tailwind offers one-way seaplane flights from Manhattan to Bridgeport for $35.

Taxiing slowly, the Caravan made its way past tugboats and barges before turning upriver and accelerating for takeoff.

And if you do want the full plane, get an “empty leg.”

Sometimes private jets have to fly without passengers — if, for instance, the plane’s last drop-off was in Chicago but there’s a charter leaving from Aspen the next day. To recoup some operating costs, they offer discounts up to 75 percent off to fill a plane that otherwise would fly empty. “Empty legs” often open up at the last minute and rarely include a return trip. Websites like Victor and New Flight Charters allow you to book empty legs at the last minute. You can set alerts for a destination — recently, an empty leg that popped up on Victor could fly 13 people from New York to the Bahamas for roughly $2,100 per person.

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Are Seaplanes the Fastest Way From New York to Boston?

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Tailwind Air has begun a full season of flights between the popular destinations.

By Jonathan WelshApril 4, 2022

Tailwind Air has started its first full season of flights between New York Skyports Seaplane Base (6N7) and Fan Pier in Boston Harbor. Pilots Holt Lindenberger and Adam Schewitz greet passengers on a recent day. [Credit: Jonathan Welsh]

For years before my wife and I were married, she lived in Boston and I lived in New Jersey. The typical Friday evening found me heading north directly after work in Manhattan, hoping to meet her for a late dinner.

That almost never happened because traffic jams often turned the 220-mile trip into a six-hour slog. Over the years, I tried the “planes, trains, and automobiles” on various routes to make the New York to Boston run, eventually concluding there simply is no good way to do it.

Tailwind Air disagrees. The Part 135 seaplane operator just began its first full season of flights between New York Skyports Seaplane Base (6N7) and Fan Pier in Boston Harbor. Flying direct from the easily accessible base at the east end of 23rd Street, the company touts transit times of an hour and 25 minutes, dock to dock. I had to give it a try.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=M50rOJF8VnM%3Frel%3D0

Last week, I was among the passengers boarding an eight-seat Cessna Grand Caravan on amphibious floats for an 8:45 a.m. departure from New York’s busy East River. Pilots Holt Lindenberger and Adam Schewitz greeted us on the dock, helped us get aboard, and stowed luggage before shoving off. The simple lack of check-in lines and crowded security checkpoints saves a significant chunk of time even before the engine starts.

This was no 737, but there were safety cards in the seatback pockets, which we read while Lindenberger gave the briefing. He and Schewitz transitioned seamlessly from ground crew to  flight attendant to pilot duties. Both seemed like they would be as comfortable in the Alaskan bush or Canada’s Yukon or Northwest Territories as they were in Manhattan. They said that while this type of flying is a great way to build time for pilots pursuing jobs with major airlines, they plan to stick with seaplanes, in which they have thousands of hours.

“It’s such a well-rounded style of flying,” Lindenberger said. “The changing conditions can be demanding, but we enjoy the challenges.”

We climbed to 7,500 feet, where we remained until it was time to descend into Boston. [Credit: Jonathan Welsh]

Both men have experience flying Tailwind’s service to the Hamptons during the summer. For those flights, they take off from the river and land on the paved runway at East Hampton Airport (KHTO) using their amphibious floats. 

Taxiing slowly, the Caravan made its way past tugboats and barges before turning upriver and accelerating for takeoff. Soon, we were passing over the 59th Street Bridge, LaGuardia Airport and the vast Queens waterfront with its many inlets and outcroppings.

Once over the Long Island Sound and clear of New York’s Class B airspace, we began a gradual climb to 7,500 feet, where we remained until it was time to descend into Boston. On the way, I spotted several airports that I have visited over the years, including Goodspeed in East Haddam, Connecticut (42B), and North Central State in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (KSFZ).

The flight felt more like an airline excursion than a typical general aviation outing. Changes in altitude and direction were almost imperceptible and it was easy to relax and enjoy the efficiency of going direct. Even though the Caravan was topping out around 140 knots, we made good time and arrived in Boston Harbor a few minutes ahead of schedule. A launch meets the amphib at a floating dock and shuttles passengers to the Fan Pier a few minutes away.

Certainly, a jet flying from Newark International (KEWR) or LaGuardia (KLGA) to Boston’s Logan Airport (KBOS) would spend less time in the air—probably about 40 to 50 minutes. But getting to your destination in Boston can take just as long. Tailwind gets passengers directly into the city, not to a remote outpost.

At $795 each way, the seaplane ride may be among the pricier ways of traveling between these cities. But you would be hard-pressed to find a faster, more scenic route.

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Tailwind Air and Airflow Partner on World’s First Amphibious Seaplane to Utilize Distributed Electric Propulsion

Cleaner, quieter regional service on the horizon for passengers and the communities we serve

San Francisco, Calif. and Westchester, NY – December 14, 2021 Airflow.aero, Inc., an aerospace company building a next-gen electric Short Takeoff and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft, and Tailwind Air, a veteran-owned amphibious seaplane and air charter operation, today announced a partnership that will bring all-electric aircraft to the commercial, amphibious regional aviation market. As the movement to decarbonize aviation grows, the regional, intercity market demands innovative solutions that leverage both emerging and mature technologies to ensure clean, safe, and efficient transport. Today’s Letter of Interest (LOI) commitment from Tailwind Air makes it the exclusive Airflow Model 200 floatplane launch customer for the Mid-Atlantic and New England region. Tailwind Air will collaborate with Airflow and intends to acquire twenty M200 production aircraft.

Tailwind Air delivers regional air mobility today by utilizing access to waterways and smaller airports closer to urban cores in order to deliver time savings to customers. Pioneering the first ever New York to Boston Harbor scheduled seaplane service in 2021, Tailwind Air takes advantage of existing infrastructure in new ways and will tap the capabilities of Airflow’s distributed electric propulsion system for carbon-free regional transportation.

“The flexibility that our aircraft provides is a way for existing operators like Tailwind Air to gain a competitive advantage, reduce emissions, and offer new services. They will now be at the leading edge of sustainable flight, and we’ll be able to further refine our aircraft design for today’s operations and tomorrow’s as well. Over the last year we’ve seen strong demand for our aircraft, especially an amphibious seaplane version. Our design lends itself well to the addition of floats and a partner like Tailwind to bring this to market is a win for the entire regional air mobility market,” said Marc Ausman, CEO and co-founder, Airflow. “On the heels of our collaboration with Pipistrel and investment from industry leaders such as Plug Power, we’re confident that our aircraft will deliver benefits in addition to sustainability including lower operating costs, quieter operations, shorter takeoff and landing distances, and faster cruise speeds.”

“We actively sought out a partner that could accelerate the timeline of electric aviation’s impact in our particular segment of the market. With its combination of distributed electric propulsion and a modern airframe that still uses traditional construction, flight controls, and the like, the Airflow aircraft has a definable development timeline and a clear path to certification. There’s a lot of exciting innovation happening in aviation, but not all of it will deliver a meaningful impact in the coming decade; we think this will.” said Alan Ram, CEO of Tailwind Air. “Both of our ambitious companies will see growth in the coming years thanks to this partnership as it is set up to ensure a smooth operational integration as Tailwind’s seaplane fleet becomes carbon-free while emitting a vastly reduced noise footprint.”

About Airflow

Airflow was founded in 2019 by five former Airbus Vahana team members to bring eSTOL capabilities to the passenger and middle-mile logistics market. The team is passionate about expanding aviation’s benefits to the world and has deep experience in aerospace and technology development. The founding team’s background includes Airbus, Eclipse Aviation, Northrop Grumman, Uber Elevate, Airware, and Scaled Composites. For more information, please visit: https://www.airflow.aero/

About Tailwind Air

Tailwind Air, founded in 2014 and based in Westchester County, NY, operates a fleet of Cessna Caravan amphibian seaplanes on scheduled and charter services throughout the Northeast. Tailwind is an FAA Part 135 operator with commuter authority and manages and charters an additional fleet of land aircraft ranging from large jets to regional turboprops.  

Media Contact

Kate Gundry

airflow@pluckpr.com

617-797-5174 

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Fast flights, long trains and seaplanes: What’s the quickest way to get to Boston from New York?

By Tanner Saunders

New York City and Boston. The cities are tied by history, geography and even heated sports rivalries (think: Yankees versus Red Sox).

But, at just about 215 miles apart, the cities are also tied by a thick web of transportation links that cater to both business and leisure travel between the two Northeast metropolises. There are flights — including airline shuttles with hourly service — tons of trains, buses and, more recently, even a seaplane route. But it can be hard to sort out which options are the best mix of speed, affordability and convenience.

To help put it all in perspective, TPG sent four reporters on a rush-hour “race” from New York City to Boston, each one opting for a different route between the cities. Two flew by commercial jet (one on a 7:30 a.m. United Airlines departure from Newark and another on an 8 a.m. Delta Shuttle flight from LaGuardia). Another took Amtrak’s higher-speed Acela, leaving from Penn Station at 8 a.m. And, finally, our fourth racer decided to put the seaplane to the test with a scheduled departure that left from 23rd Street and the East River at 7:55 a.m.

To keep a fair and even playing field, each mode was selected for the departure that left closest to 8 a.m. TPG’s racers started at the Oculus transport hub at 6 a.m., which sits in New York’s Financial District just a stone’s throw from the World Trade Center. A winner would be declared for the first TPG staffer to reach the finish line: Faneuil Hall Marketplace in central Boston.

It’s the latest in TPG’s series of races that first began in 2019 with a race from New York to Washington, D.C. TPG has since followed with versions from New York to the Hamptons (did the helicopter service win?) and another from Boston to New York.

Now, the race series resumes in 2021 with our latest installment. Read on for a play-by-play account of each half-hour of the race as experienced by reporters Stella Shon, Vikkie Walker, Zach Griff and Tanner Saunders.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

6 a.m.

Zach: With a 7:30 a.m. scheduled departure from Newark Liberty International (EWR) Zach would be the first of the group to take off. He was in a bit of a rush to leave for the airport at 6 a.m., though the dark and damp Monday morning meant city streets were still sleepy. Ordering a Lyft to the airport — faster than taking the PATH train and connecting in Newark Penn Station — took just minutes, though the $56.66 price seemed a bit more expensive than usual.

Stella: Tailwind Air recommends that passengers arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled departure. Since Stella still had almost two hours to kill, she decided to go back to her apartment to catch up on work for an hour.

Tanner: Flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Tanner started his journey by calling an Uber to take him on the estimated 24-minute ride. It took about five minutes for the Uber to arrive and, before long, he was cruising across the Brooklyn Bridge on the way to his 8 a.m. Delta Shuttle flight.

Vikkie: There was no way Vikkie would beat Tanner or Zach to Boston, but she figured she might have a chance against Stella. At 6 a.m. sharp, she entered the 1 train WTC Cortlandt Street station. Vikkie briefly considered grabbing an Uber but decided to save some cash, paying the $2.75 fare and charging it to her The World of Hyatt Credit Card, which earns 2x on local transit and commuting.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

6:30 a.m.

Zach: By now, Zach was already enjoying free breakfast in the United Club in Terminal C of Newark Airport (Honey Nut Cheerios and packaged hard-boiled eggs). His Lyft receipt shows that he arrived at the airport at 6:19 a.m., and, despite a very busy morning at the airport, he cleared security with his backpack in just minutes. There were lines everywhere — both at economy and Premier check-in areas, and even at TSA PreCheck security. But with no wait at all, Clear saved the day.

Stella: By 6:30 a.m., Stella was back in her apartment. Facing only a 10-minute drive to the New York Skyports seaplane base, she was slowly getting ready to leave again.

Tanner: After a slightly wild Uber ride across Brooklyn and Queens thanks to rain and a wet highway, Tanner made it safely to LGA’s Terminal D. After closing out the $57 Uber trip, Tanner made his way through a surprisingly quiet terminal with essentially no wait times for any security line. Less than five minutes after he walked in he was past security and searching for caffeine to keep going.

Vikkie: Vikkie arrived at New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall at 6:30 a.m. There weren’t many people milling about, and the ceiling was bathed in pretty purple light. Vikkie’s train was scheduled to leave at 8 a.m., so she had ample time to relax. Her ticket was originally in Amtrak’s Acela business class, which generally doesn’t come with lounge access unless you’re an elite. Wanting to have a quiet place to nap and work, she applied a 12-hour upgrade to switch to Acela first class. She earned the upgrade after opening a brand new Amtrak credit card.

Vikkie decided to grab a quick meal and found the food selection had changed little from her last experience in the lounge. She opted for Apple Jacks cereal and cranberry juice.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

7 a.m.

Zach: Boarding began a full 40 minutes before departure. As a Premier 1K member, Zach decided to preboard — this way, he could settle in, grab some cabin shots and try working on his laptop before departure. That strategy failed. His seatmate boarded shortly thereafter, making it hard for him to use his 13-inch MacBook Pro without elbowing his neighbor. Though the plane would ultimately be faster than the train, the latter definitely would have offered more room to spread out.

Stella: Stella was now on her way in a Lyft to the marina, located on East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive. With plenty of visible signage, it was easy to find the marina and the Tailwind Air lounge. It was a small setup with just the necessities: a few couches and Wi-Fi.

Tanner: By 7 a.m., Tanner had walked the entirety of Terminal D to check out all its recent upgrades, since it was his first time there since Delta moved its shuttle service in 2019. Without lounge access, and not wanting to sit for a proper meal at one of the swanky restaurants, he grabbed a Red Bull for energy. He also bought a Sprite to toss in his backpack, since he figured the very short flight to Boston wouldn’t offer beverage service. Making his way to Gate 98, the very last one, Tanner took a seat to people watch in the half-hour he had until boarding.

Vikkie: Vikkie was still hanging out in the lounge. She tried to nap, but found it far too chilly to get comfortable. The Wi-Fi was strong, however, so she settled into a velvet seat and caught up on a Netflix show.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

7:30 a.m.

Zach: Zach paid just $118.40 for his one-way flight booked less than a week before departure. At that price, he thought that perhaps United was having trouble filling up the plane. He was wrong. The plane ultimately pushed back with just a handful of empty coach seats. As for upgrades, only two Global Services passengers got the coveted bump to first class, leaving 54 elites — business travel is clearly coming back — in the coach cabin.

Stella: As one of only three passengers on the flight, getting set up was a breeze. The crew weighed Stella’s bag to ensure that it was under 20 pounds and gave her an amenity kit with pretzels, a small water bottle, alcohol wipes and earplugs for the ride. Although Stella arrived 45 minutes before departure, she recommends that passengers skip the lounge altogether and come exactly when Tailwind Air suggests: 20 minutes prior to departure.

Tanner: Still waiting to board, Tanner failed, again, at a Super Hard level on Candy Crush while listening to the business travelers around him make early morning phone calls and organize meetings with colleagues.

Vikkie: At the lounge, Vikkie swapped out her cranberry juice for a La Colombe coffee with two creams and one sugar.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

8 a.m.

Zach: Though the United flight was scheduled at an hour and 15 minutes, it took just 42 minutes from takeoff until touchdown. The seatbelt sign was off for just about 10 minutes, so Zach stayed seated throughout the flight. Wi-Fi was available for $5.99, but it barely worked, so he resorted to staring at the clouds and doing some offline work. At least he was able to grab the final extra-legroom window seat on the flight — there was a misaligned window, but it sure beat the more cramped spot he originally had.

Stella: Although it was a gloomy morning in Manhattan, the rain finally subsided as the seaplane was arriving. The crew had informed Stella the seaplane would be about 10 minutes late due to weather conditions. The seaplane circled the East River before docking at 8:02 a.m.

Tanner: Sitting comfortably in his Delta Main Cabin seat near the rear of the plane, Tanner chatted with his neighbor about the necessities of caffeine on a Monday morning. The entire boarding process was quick and easy, and with the 2-2 seat configuration, felt much less stressful than on larger planes.

Vikkie: Vikkie’s train pulled out of Penn Station on time. She was seated in first class, which was half empty and mostly quiet. There was no chance she would win, but she figured she would at least have a more comfortable ride up to Boston than the others.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

8:30 a.m.

Zach: Zach’s flight parked at Gate B24 at 8:29 a.m. From there, he was off to the races to try to become the first to arrive at Faneuil Hall. He exited the secure area at 8:37 a.m. and decided to take the Blue Line downtown. Though Google Maps was showing it was just a 13-minute car ride on surface roads, Zach didn’t want to gamble with rush-hour traffic. Taking a ride-hailing service definitely wasn’t in the cards, since he knew from an April trip that pickups required a long trek to the garage.

Stella: Boarding was simple and easy. We were in the air by 8:04 a.m. — just two minutes after the plane docked at the marina. Arguably the best part of this flight was the sweeping views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. The seaplane flew near New York’s JFK before turning north to Boston.

Tanner: Having taken off slightly earlier than scheduled, Tanner’s Delta flight was already preparing for its descent. The quick flight didn’t stop him from connecting to the Wi-Fi. For $4.95 he was able to purchase 30 minutes of connectivity, though the rather slow connection was only available for less than 15 minutes of the flight. As he expected, there was no drink service on the shuttle.

Vikkie: Vikkie’s train was passing through Mamaroneck in New York’s northern suburbs. She wasn’t ravenous but ordered a fruit plate, mostly because she had a craving for pineapple.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

9 a.m.

Zach: At 8:55 a.m., Zach was finally boarding the Blue Line subway. At Logan, the Blue Line departs from a station that isn’t attached to the terminal; reaching it requires a (free) shuttle ride. Zach ended up on Route 55, the slower shuttle bus that stops at all terminals. As the bus slowly made its way along its route, Zach thought about ditching his original plan and hopping in a cab instead.

Stella: By 9 a.m., Stella was well into her flight. With only eight passenger seats, everyone had both aisle and window access. Overall, Stella found the leather seats comfortable, and the engine was not as loud as she had expected. Stella didn’t end up using her Sony noise-canceling headphones or the earplugs from her amenity kit. She was able to even fall asleep for 30 minutes.

Tanner: Tanner’s plane had touched down at Boston Logan 10 minutes earlier, and Tanner found himself wondering if the taxi time would be longer than the entire flight.

Vikkie: Vikkie’s train was just pulling into Stamford, Connecticut. It was going to be a long day — at least compared to her airborne competitors.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

9:30 a.m.

Zach: In the end, Zach was glad he stuck with the Blue Line. It took just three stops and under 10 minutes to reach the State Street station in central Boston. From there, it was a four-minute walk to the finish line at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. He was the first to arrive at 9:06 a.m., easily winning the race measured both by when he arrived and total door-to-door time. Better yet, his $2.40 metro ride was significantly more affordable than taking a cab or a ride-hailing service, which would have cost $20 or more.

Stella: As the seaplane began its descent, Stella could finally start to see Boston from afar. Unfortunately, since there was low cloud cover this morning, the crew couldn’t land on Boston Harbor. Instead, the seaplane landed at 9:33 a.m. at the Signature private terminal at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

Tanner: Tanner’s flight deplaned very quickly and the gate was right next to the exit. He made his way out of the airport and was able to get an Uber in about five minutes for the roughly 10-minute, $23.32 ride to Faneuil Hall. By 9:30 a.m. he was on location, but realizing he’d arrived in second place.

Vikkie: Now passing through Milford, Connecticut, Vikkie ordered another coffee and resigned herself to the fact that she had over two hours to go. All of the other racers were now on the ground in Boston.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

10 a.m.

Zach: By 10 a.m., Zach was already comfortably seated, working on his laptop and catching up on the day’s news. It was a quiet morning in Quincy Market.

Stella: The crew informed Stella that only 15% of flights are diverted to Logan. When that happens, Tailwind Air has a backup plan for its passengers to help them get to their final destination – a covered water taxi that leaves from the Hyatt Regency right by the airport. Stella took the hotel shuttle to get to the Hyatt, then the water taxi to Pier 4 in Boston.

Tanner: After buying a hot coffee to warm up on the brisk Boston morning, Tanner found Zach in Quincy Market and sat down to process the pros and cons of his quick commute from New York City.

Vikkie: Was passing through Middlesex County, Connecticut, east of New Haven, heading for New London.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.)

10:30 a.m.

Zach: As Zach (and the team) continued to wait for Vikkie, it became clear to him that flying was easily the fastest way to get between New York and Boston. As long as the airspace is open and the FAA’s penalty box isn’t in use, Zach will always be on “Team Airplane.”

Stella: With the hotel shuttle and water taxi, it took about 20 minutes to get across Boston Harbor. From there, the meeting point at Faneuil Hall was a 10-minute Uber ride. If your seaplane ride happens to land at Logan instead of the Boston Harbor, Stella recommends taking an Uber (or the Blue Line) straight to your final destination. While the water taxi views were lovely, she would have saved a lot more time. Her arrival at Fanueil Hall put her in third place in the race.

Tanner: Having recently made the drive to Boston and remembering the insane traffic (especially in Connecticut), Tanner concluded that the 30-minute flight to Boston was absolutely the best way to get to Beantown. It saved so much time and Boston’s airport — unlike those in New York — is close to the city’s business centers, tourist attractions and educational institutions.

Vikkie: Vikkie was still on the train. As Vikkie arrived in New London, Connecticut, she caught up on a few work emails and aimlessly scrolled Twitter. She would have checked Instagram or Facebook, but found they were both curiously down.

11 a.m.

Vikkie: Arriving in Providence, Rhode Island. At least the view was nice!

11:30 a.m.

Vikkie: Vikkie logged into a work Zoom meeting, but the Wi-Fi on the train was too unstable; she could barely make out the contents of the meeting. She hoped she didn’t miss anything important.

12 p.m.

After arriving at Boston’s South Station at 11:42 a.m., knowing she was dead last, Vikkie figured it couldn’t hurt to grab a bite to eat before meeting the others at Faneuil Hall. She can’t seem to get lucky in a TPG race, as she came in third place in the race from Boston just two years prior. After a quick Uber, Vikkie finally arrived to meet the others, who gently ribbed her for insisting on taking Amtrak when traveling on the East Coast. They may have a point.

Key Takeaways

Amtrack AcelaCommercial JetSeaplane
Pros– Great lounge in New York City, which you can take advantage of if a top-tier elite or traveling in first class
– Decent foot room and doesn’t feel cramped, unlike traveling on a regional jet
– A large table at which to eat and work
– Ability to work uninterrupted from boarding to arrival.
– The fastest way to get between cities
– The shortest time in motion
– Airport lounge access, and you can earn and redeem frequent flyer perks
– You can arrive at the pier 20 minutes before arrival; virtually no lines are involved
– Near private experience with no more than eight passengers on board
– Pick up and drop off from the heart of downtown New York and Boston with beautiful views
Cons– Slow, especially between New York and Boston
– Poor Wi-Fi, which can make it difficult to work productively
– Can be pricey unless you book far in advance or score a deal
– Hard to be productive with airport transit, quick up-and-down, limited room
– Prone to delays during inclement weather
– Expensive; prices began at $395 one-way
– Working is a challenge since there’s no tray table or Wi-Fi
– When flights are affected by weather, you’ll land at Logan rather than Boston harbor, lengthening your overall travel time
– Can only bring up to 20 pounds of luggage

Amtrak Acela: With an 8 a.m. departure on Amtrak Acela, the train virtually ensured Vikkie would finish last compared to her high-flying racemates. But she also (mostly) prefers comfort over convenience and Amtrak’s Acela first class offers that. From ample legroom on the train to a meal and a gorgeous lounge, Vikkie felt relaxed when she pulled into Boston. The Moynihan Train Hall’s location in Midtown New York City makes it accessible almost anywhere, and she saved on what likely would have been a costly Uber by taking the subway ($2.75).

Commercial jet: Flying in the morning was the fastest option. Traffic was light in New York and the morning rain turned out to be a non-issue. There were no air traffic control delays or ground stops. But it was not the most productive way to travel. Between the Uber or Lyft ride, the airport lounge, security and waiting for takeoff and landing, the plane travelers were working, at best, in a series of short bursts.

Seaplane: Tailwind Air advertises that the seaplane is the fastest way to get to and from New York to Boston, getting you in and out within two hours. For those who view time as money, this is a real advantage over a typical commercial flight, which requires ample time to go through security and to get to and from the airport. Unfortunately, Stella flew on a rainy day with low cloud cover, meaning that the flight time was longer and — the real clincher — that it landed at Boston’s Logan International Airport instead of the seaport. Stella was still impressed with the experience of the seaplane (and especially the views of both New York and Boston!), but consider that it may be pricey and — if there’s poor weather — may not be the fastest way to get you to your destination.

Cost Breakdown

Amtrack AcelaDelta ShuttleUnited ShuttleSeaplane
Time from the Oculus to Faneuil Hall6 hours, 9 minutes3 hours, 36 minutes3 hours, 14 minutes4 hours, 30 minutes
Time in motion3 hours, 42 minutes from departure to arrival34 minutes from wheels up to wheels down42 minutes from wheels up to wheels down1 hour, 28 minutes from wheels up to wheels down
How we got to station/airportMTA subway ($2.75)Uber ($57.36)Lyft ($56.66)Lyft ($21.77)
How we left station/airportUber ($7.53)Uber ($23.22)Blue Line “T” ($2.40)Lyft ($9.78)
Ticket cost$131$104 or 8,000 Delta SkyMiles$118.40$595
Transportation cost per minute$2.61$0.85$0.91$2.32

Overall Thoughts

While our three reporters who flew to Boston all arrived rather quickly, the diversion of Stella’s seaplane to Logan is proof that taking a flight can be easily complicated by weather and other delays. Though the two shuttle flights were neck-and-neck, Vikkie’s Amtrak journey was exactly what we expected: slow and steady.

But even though the train was slower this time and weather affected the seaplane, it doesn’t mean that one of these four options isn’t right for you. Based on where you live, simply getting to one of the New York City area’s three airports could add a significant amount of time depending on traffic and the time of day. And even if it’s slower, sometimes a nice, long train ride is the perfect way to spend a few hours taking in the scenery. The single-biggest perk of the train, however, might be the ability to work uninterrupted from boarding to arrival.

It’s also worth noting that both Vikkie and Stella’s total transit time likely would’ve been much shorter had they not had to begin the race at the 6 a.m. starting point. One of the advantages to both the train and the seaplane is a convenient, in-town location for departures. For both of those options, showing up 20 minutes before departure is all that’s needed — very different than the early arrival one needs to navigate airport security and make it to a gate when flying commercial.

Whatever option you decide to take, be sure to follow TPG for more exciting races in the future – and the tools and knowledge you need to find the best way to take your next trip.

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Need to Get From New York to Boston Fast? Hop on a Seaplane.

A speedy—and highly scenic—new way to travel from New York City to Boston is also one of the oldest: the storied seaplane

By Barbara Peterson Aug. 31, 2021 8:16 am ET

THE FIRST seaplanes in 50 years to fly scheduled service between Boston and New York City splashed down in their cities’ respective harbors this summer, and even the most jaded travelers took notice. These partly waterborne journeys clock in at about 90 minutes, beating traffic jams at an airport checkpoint—or on I-95—any day.

Tailwind Air promotes its flights as the fastest downtown-to-downtown trip in the market. But you can also think of them as time-travel back to the golden age of flying. Seaplanes have been around for more than 100 years. The terminal on the East River in Manhattan where you take off was built in 1936, when scarce airport runway space favored these maritime depots.

The 1930s was also the heyday of the flying boat—a bulky vessel whose fuselage acted as the hull, floating it when the plane was in the water. These flying ships plied Pacific and Atlantic routes and reached their apogee (or nadir, depending on your viewpoint) with Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, a gigantic wooden flying boat that required eight engines to get aloft—which, on its first and only flight in 1947, it managed for just 26 seconds. Though modern aviation advances ended the flying boats’ run as passenger planes, a few still operate today, fulfilling industrial functions such as carrying water to fight fires.

The amphibious Cessna Caravans operated by Tailwind hardly resemble the glamorous “Pan Am Clippers” of the past; they’re diminutive, single-engine floatplanes with pontoons. Capable of landing on land as well as water, they are mainly drafted for sightseeing excursions or, in Tailwind’s other market, ferrying well-heeled weekenders and commuters from Manhattan to the Hamptons in a mere 40 minutes.

With a capacity of eight passengers—arranged single file, so everyone has a window—neither Tailwind flight offers much luxury but they’re still not cheap. Fares start at $395 one-way for the New York City to Boston route, which, as of Aug. 31, will offer four flights every weekday. And because the fleet doesn’t include flying icebreakers, the seaplane will only take off March to November.

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Baystate Business: Seaplane Ride (Radio)

See full article

Bloomberg Baystate Business for Wednesday, July 28, 2021

– Bloomberg News reporter Angelica LaVito talks about how Boston’s biotechs are pulling out all the stops in a frenzied hiring boom (5:32)

– Aaron Jodka, research director at Colliers International in Boston, on new commercial real estate numbers (11:10)

– Tim Ritchie, President, Museum of Science, on the progress of their vaccination campaign and how business is going at the museum (21:26)

– Dr. Vanessa Kerry, CEO of Seed Global Health, on the rise in Covid cases in Massachusetts (27:45)

– Janet Wu reports on the seaplane ride out of Boston Harbor as Tailwind Air is set to begin seaplane service to New York (41:53)

– Bloomberg Radio and TV Washington correspondent Joe Mathieu talks with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on a potential infrastructure deal (55:28)

Hosts: Tom Moroney, Joe Shortsleeve and Kim Carrigan

Producer: Dan Pierce