Arizona Shuttle Service

I’m sad to write this review because there are a lot of perks to using this company. I think the cost is fair when comparing it against how much it would cost in gas, time and vehicle wear and tear to have a family member pick me up from the airport. The shuttles are comfortable, the drive goes by quickly and it feels safe. My last trip was where I had a problem. This company had provided water every time I’ve used their service so I was pretty surprised when after we got seated the other customers asked for water and we were told the company no longer supplies it. A group of us waited 20 minutes in no shade in 102 degrees at their pickup spot. Most of us rushed straight from baggage and the pavement/​lack of shade made it feel that much hotter. How cheap can you get that you cut something that most business in Arizona offer right away complimentary because the heat here is that dangerous? If you were going to cut this feature why didn’t you inform customers ahead of time? It could have been easy to to have a little moment where the lady making the reservations could say, «please prepare accordingly as we no longer offer water on our shuttles» or have a notice on the website for online reservations. Many of the passengers complained as they were repeat customers and had expected water to be included. An older gentleman onboard made a plea after we were on the road for us to be able to stop along the way for water. This plea was brushed aside and we never stopped. It’s understandable that businesses might look for ways to cut out extra costs but water is a pretty low blow. It makes me wary about what else will be cut. Will you sell the water to us later? Is that part of the plan? When will the fare hike kick in because that seems the logical next step. It’s a slap in the face to your customers.

I’ve taken this shuttle twice in the last month. Once I had a ride from Phoenix to Tucson but needed a ride back home. Another time I had a ride back home but needed a ride to Tucson. I used to take this shuttle frequently when I attended U of A, but since Unilocal is really popular now, I decided to take a gander at their rating. Yikes, 1.5 stars?! So I read the reviews, and for the most part they complained about a few things– the driving (reckless), the van (hot and cramped) and the price. Most of the complaints though were about the van and the TERRIBLE experience people had on it. So much so that some were suggesting taking a greyhound instead, since it was significantly cheaper. I decided to bite the bullet and paid the $ 41. It’s an hour and a half, how bad can it be?!
Ever since they took over for sky harbor express, I think they took over their vans. These are NICE, large, new Mercedes Benz passenger vans. Even if they were full, there’s plenty of leg room. The AC works just fine, the seats are comfy. They must have a new fleet because none of the previous complaints even applied. Your luggage is in the van, it’s no longer towed behind.
Yes the driving was a little fast, yes it’s expensive at 41 one way (they pretty much have a monopoly. It’s them or the greyhound) but if you need a ride between major cities in Arizona, they are a great company. Don’t let the other reviews scare you, like they did me.

Don’t show up at 1:55 for the 2:00 shuttle. Even when the driver agrees to wait the seconds it takes to register, the staff that drives the desk won’t allow it. Burocracy for the sake of burocracy. Currently enjoying their «lobby» for an hour until the next one. Jury is out on the rest of the experience.

My pick up point at 501 Park was under construction, and there was no sign posted anyway of where the van pick point was. I was 25 minutes early, walked around, finally called to see where I was supposed to meet the van… not at the pick up address but in an adjacent alley. I was talking to the customer service employee who was a jerk… the van could NOT wait. I ran up behind the van, waving, whistling, and the driver pulled away at exactly the pick up time, with me maybe 40 feet behind it. Seems it would have taken a few minutes to load anyway, but no. The next van arrived three minutes late, took 5 minutes to load, but that first van could not wait 30 seconds! I will NEVER use the people again. The driver was friendly, the customer service gal was horrid and I never received any reply from my follow up to customer service. These people will take your money, but they really don’t give a &%*$ about their lousy customer service.

Arizona shuttle is perfect if you are looking. For leg cramps and a slow paced ride. The small cabin is very uncomfortable and the buses are very slow. It will take you over 2 hours to get from Tucson to Phoenix. Not only that but the cherry on top is their rude unprofessional staff that is happy to assist you with absolutely nothing. 1 Star. Do not recommend. I’ve been on this shuttle serve 3 – 4 times now and it only got worse. Never again

Great people. Lowered their rate temporarily because they knew they had enough $$$
to outlast their primary competitor, Sky Harbor Express. So everyone who bought the
temporary $ 19 rate from Tucson to PHX Sky Harbor airport, you helped to drive the
smaller, but better LOCAL company out of business. Then the AZ Shuttle rates went right back to where they were, at $ 45 each way! So, you do business with AZ Shuttle, you do business with a sorry bunch. Reckless drivers, too, based on my personal experience.

Too expensive greyhound is only ten dollars. Van smelled of cigarettes and was freezing to death.

This would be an excellent investment for someone because many Tucsonans would flock to AZ Shuttle’s competitor. We Americans detest monopolies because they always lead to carelessness and inferior service.

Arizona Shuttle is in need of some serious competition! Yes, I got there on time, I was comfortable on the way up because I got to sit up front in a real seat. On the way home from Phoenix airport I sat in the very back, what a huge mistake! No leg room, hot and front desk people were bored and minimally helpful. «Sit down and relax». I heard them laughing at a woman quietly who looked a little different. I did not like that at all. Very young and untrained I guess. Each driver was polite and a safe person on the road. Just wish the van was more comfortable for the ride.

At the University and Park pickup location, the shuttle arrived 15 – 20 minutes later than the scheduled pickup time, and the driver greeted us in a friendly manner. He loaded our luggage into the back trailer that was being towed by the passenger van. When I tried to board, it was definitely a full van, and everyone looked pretty squished. Luckily, the front seat next to the driver was still open, so I got to comfortably sit «shot gun.» The driver informed us that we had one more stop at Ina and I-​10 and the we’d be on our way. He estimated 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Ina stop until we would arrive at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. He also offered us cold water and told us to help ourselves. I was dropped off at the Phoenix airport with plenty of time to catch my flight.
With my return shuttle ride from Phx to Tucson, the pickup spot was easy to find next to the Southwest baggage claim. The shuttle arrived 10 minutes later than the 8:30 am pickup time, and there was plenty of room as there were only 2 other passengers. I stretched out on the seat and napped the whole ride back. We were also offered cold water and was told it’d be about 1 hour and 30 minutes until the Ina stop.
I bought my round trip shuttle ticket online with a coupon code that saved me $ 5 off each way, so I paid $ 34 each way. I definitely plan on taking this shuttle if I ever have a flight out of Phx again since it was easy, convenient, and reliable.

Well, I was pretty hot under the collar when I posted about being denied home pickup because I called one minute after the deadline. And I stand by those remarks.
However, the shuttle driver couldn’t have been nicer or more professional. The bus was clean, felt safe, and had working seatbelts. And he went above and beyond in helping me with my luggage and chasing after me with a forgotten item. He was, however, a substitute driver, not a regular …

Most miserable ride to the airport ever! 90 degrees out yesterday (June 1, 2013) and the van driver only turned on the air after two of us complained. Even after that, the van (which has 415,000 miles on it) had no coolant — we about roasted. Shuttle was 20 minutes later. Never ever again. Never.
BTW: I really wish I’d read the reviews before booking as prior reviewers in 2012 had the EXACT same experience I did. I was in a Turkish Prison!
Updated: I contacted customer service; they were very kind in offering to give me a voucher for my next ride. I replied that there wouldn’t be a next ride and I’d prefer a refund which they did. Pretty impressed with that.

worst! A/​C does not work well. I felt like a cow on a freight truck. Do not sit in back seat!!!
HOT HOT HOT

I rode the Arizna Shuttle from the Pheonix Airport to Tusconand it was horrible experiece. I followed the instructions of the airport information desk and waited at the curb for the shuttle. When it arrived, a representative of Arizona Shuttle told me that I had been dropped from the shuttle manifest because I had waited outside instead of inside at their desk. My seat was given to someone who had walked up, even though I had a prepeaid reservation and my confirmation said nothing about checking in at their desk. I had to wait another hour for a spot on another shuttle, even though the other passenger would have given me my seat back.
In the hour that I waited I saw two more people inconvenienced by the shuttle. One shuttle even left early and stranded an elderly lady in Pheonix for the night. The worse part was that Arizona Shuttle wouldn’t refund her ticket, even though they admitted it was their fault. On top of it all, their staff was so rude to her that she looked like she was going to cry.
This company is dishonorable.

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
I don’t like to give negative reviews, but public transportation is a serious business — it’s not like a cold steak in a restaurant. Safety is serious business.
I have had my first and my last trip on Arizona Shuttle. The telephone reservation experience was very, very pleasant. Quick and efficient. I booked a trip for the end of the day from Phoenix to the Tucson Speedway stop. I also arranged for a ride home from the shuttle stop ($ 20 additional). More on that later…
The desk staff at Terminal 2 in Phoenix was pleasant enough, but bored. I was instructed to take a seat and wait. The shuttle arrived and I was escorted out to the shuttle van and my baggage was put in the trailer behind the shuttle.
I boarded the shuttle van and noted that it was very warm. I assumed that the driver would crank up the AC once we got moving. We departed the airport and headed toward Tucson on I-​10. It was still really hot, so I asked the driver to increase the AC. He stabbed at a few controls on the dashboard and the unit in the rear of the van roared to life. It never did cool down, however — apparently there are only two settings, «Gobi Desert» and «Turkish Prison». He chose the Prison. Thank heavens it was after sunset and the sun wasn’t heating up the van. Oh, well. It’s only an hour and a half, or so.
Then he got a message — turn around and get some more passengers. What!!! We were already 15 minutes away from my terminal, hot and I was already sweaty. We circled around and went back to pick up more passengers at the airport. I had been in an airplane all day and just wanted to get back home! 2^nd big black mark in my book. The obviously faulty AC was the first. By my watch, it took 35 minutes to get back to the same place on I-​10 were we had been turned around. 35 more minutes in a Turkish Prison.
Finally headed south to Tucson. Seemed to be passing a lot of trucks at a pretty good clip. I checked mileposts against a stopwatch (my iPod app). The math showed the speed to be 80mph. The speed limit is 75. Okay, we all do about that in a passenger car, but this conveyance was a 15 passenger Ford van with a trailer! Go look up the stats on that rig. Super-​susceptible to roll-​over crashes. And, if towing a trailer some official safety agency recommendations are to not carry any passengers at all! It is a very unstable vehicle due to aft loading and control problems. Fatality rates for the 15 passenger Ford van are several times higher than for passenger sedans (NHTSA). I prayed that the driver would not make any quick maneuvers.
And the maintenance on the vehicle was lacking, at least I inferred so by the extreme unbalance of the rear tires, above which I was seated. Even at 50 mph the shaking was horrible. At 80mph it became physical. I actually had to hold my tongue between my teeth to keep them from rattling together from the extreme shaking due to unbalanced tires. So, I wondered if the same contractor that maintained the Arizona Shuttle tires, also cared for their brakes and other safety systems. I am certain that this van was unsafe at any speed!
Well, we did reach Tucson without any fatalities. Then ran a very RED light (not yellow turning to red, but RED RED RED) near the University then arrived at the Speedway stop.
My assigned ride home was a no-​show and the office was abandoned. The van driver could not find the keys to the other vehicle that was to have taken me home (remember that I paid an additional $ 20 for the delivery home). So, he took the 15 passenger van with its trailer to my home and dropped me off. He was a nice enough guy so I gave him a nice tip — really as much in gratitude to be free of their clutches and much as anything else.
So, if you value your teeth, your spinal cord, or your life — WALK.

Terrible terrible service, late and rude drivers… Will never use again… Wish I could give 0 stars.

I have friends and family in Tucson, but tend to fly into Phoenix due to the significant difference in the cost of airfare. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Arizona Shuttle Service. It costs me $ 39, which is less then the airline rates.
The shuttles arrive when they are supposed to, and I’ve had very little waiting. The drivers have been nice and helpful with my luggage. The drive is as pleasant as the I-​10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson can be. I’ve used a few of the different pick up/​drop off spots in Tucson, and they seem to cover the different areas around Tucson well.
I plan on using Arizona shuttle service in the future anytime I need to do the Tucson/​Phoenix run.

These guys have changed the way I travel to and from Arizona. I use them up to six time a month, and while I have had the odd cranky driver or minor delays, I have always arrived on schedule. Drivers are courteous and and more importantly, safe. They will always offer to book a cab to my final destination.
Their staff at the airport and in Tucson are friendly and knowledgeable. I inadvertently showed up in Phoenix on the wrong day, and re booking me was done without any hassle nor additional charges.
Their equipment is modern, safe and they always have a bottle of water for all the passengers.
Flying out of Phoenix gives me greater options to the East Coast with cheaper flights.
Their web site is excellent, and easy to use, even when overseas.
I have turned on many of my fellow travelers to the Shuttle with very positive response.

I’ve been using Arizona Shuttle off and on for 8 years. It’s not perfect but it gets the job done and the last few times I’ve used them they’d really seemed to have upgraded their vehicles. The last time I rode it the vehicle was actually a 24 person bus. It was really spacious but it didn’t have seatbelts which did feel a bit scary driving down the death trap that can be I-​10.
They’re timely aside from unavoidable traffic delays on I-​10 and offer a shuttle every hour for most of the day.
It can feel pricey and unglamorous but when I need them I’m glad they’re there.

A bloody rip off, I’ve taken this from UA to Sky Harbor Phoenix/​Sky Harbor Phoenix to UA over the years, hundreds of times, & all those times, it was a miserable experience.
You’re crammed in with a bunch of rude, inconsiderate, selfish idiots, stuffed in like sardines. The last time we were stopped on the highway out of Phoenix by the stupid highway patrol because a «baby snatcher» was thought to be on our van, that cost us 2 hrs.
There’s always a damned «talker» on the van who yaps all the way. Bring a book or pretend to sleep. Oh, they don’t give you water either so you’ll be dehydrated in the heat. Once I got a lousy little cup of water. If you’ve just come in from Mexico to Sky Harbor Phoenix & still have diarrhea/​digestive symptoms, it’s not fun riding in claustrophobic conditions w/​out a toilet or toilet break.
One Way
Book at least 1 day prior to departure $ 32.99
Same-​day travel $ 42.99
$ 65.98 Roundtrip
Greyhound
One Way
$ 26.25
Not much savings & Greyhound sucks as well, they missed me at Phoenix/​Sky Harbor a few times & I’ve had to sleep there.
The best thing to do is just pay one of your pals to take you or stuff yourself into a suitcase & mail yourself to Phoenix, cheaper too.