Village Airport Van Terrible Service
 

My last two experiences with Village Airport Van were complete disasters and if you use airport van services might want to know. I will never use your company again and will actively advise others not to also. NOTE: The company advertises vans leave every 30 minutes.

May 2- Landed at Orlando Airport and got to parking space A-45 at 1:25pm. Van showed up at 1:30. At 2:10pm I asked the driver when he is leaving. Driver said not till the dispatcher releases me and there are 2 people with their luggage coming down the stairs. These people never showed up. The van finally left at 2:40pm- an hour and 15 minutes after I got there.

May 19- My son got to space A45 at 6:30pm. No van. I called the office and was told the van would not get there until 7:20pm, and then would wait 30 minutes for other passengers, which would be 7:50pm or 1 hour 20 minutes after my son got to the parking space. My son then called Uber and took that to The Villages.

Conclusion: There is no excuse for this. Their current policy is to load up the vans to increase profits, no matter the discomfort to your customers. But they continue to advertise on your website the vans "leave every 30 minutes."

Suggestions: Stop advertising 30 minute schedules. Stop loading up the vans to increase profits at the expense of having satisfied customers. (This van packing also means extended times for picking up to the airport and coming back to The Villages. And with Fenney now drawing customers, it can be well over 2 hours sitting in the van.) Hire more drivers.

Excuses: None really. They blamed it on Covid, but bad service from anyone is now blamed on Covid.

Reacation from TOTV Members: Please do not attack me. I wrote this for three reasons. One, to advise people what to expect from this company if they use them. Two, just to blow off a little steam. Three, I have taken this up with the company and hope they might reconsider how they operate.

Never had a problem with Workman's, always on time with pick up and drop off as scheduled.

Used them a few times with no problems. I've also used private limos if time was of a concern.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

I have used The Villages Airport Van for over thirty round trips with no problems what so ever. I highly recommend them.

The only problem we have had coming from MCO to TV. is with all the expansion down south, we are usually the last off the van.
But it's a nice tour!

Villages Airport Van is not the same as The Villages Transportation which is now called Workman Transportation. They are the dependable ones.

We used the Village van for years, but it began to get more and more annoying to be picked up first and end up going all over TV to pick up and then one time we had to come off the highway and pick someone up at a hotel and they were not even ready. Almost missed flight. So now we use private transportation, costs more, but the convenience is worth it.

Driving yourself is the only way to go. Plenty of low cost, off site lots. Come and go on your schedule and no "tours".

Not recently because prices for rentals are insane now, but in the good old days (end of 2019) we'd rent a car from Enterprise here and leave it at MCO. Once it was $35 including tax and after coupons and senior discounts. Did the same thing coming back. Under $45 (due to airport fees) and left it here. Picked it up here the night before and it was a 1 day rental.

Maybe once rental prices drop it would be worth doing it again. We are renting a car at DCA (Wash DC) June 2-6th and it's $500 !!!! Last year it was under $125. They wanted $790 for pickup in PHL and return DCA for the same time. Nuts.

My daughter and her friend waited two hours to leave. They blamed it on Covid. I called company and they were rude. Asked to speak to management and never got a callback. Willl not use again.

Wheelchair
 

The problem I’ve had, is finding a wheelchair accessible airport van. They all seem to have them but they’re always out of service.

Agreed. On 5/19, got on their van at MCO at 3:15, but didn't leave A45 space until 4:00. Same excuse as was given to mneumann02. Didn't get home until 6:15, after touring everywhere from Fenney to Spanish Springs for drop-offs. Never again!

Village Airport Van
 

I have used VAV over the past couple rears and have never had a problem.

We use private transportation only. $40 each way per person. No wait. No hassle.

Best ride to MCO is from Vinny's Car Service
Mobile (352) 205-6606.
Not cheap, but very reliable.

What is the name of the private company for $40. Number please

You need to contact David...he's a Private professional Villages resident Driver
Pristine driving record
Private Chauffeur straight from The Villages to airport (or anywhere) and his rates are highly competitive. I heard he will drive your car home up north
His number 503-866-0987
Or 503-550-9188
Ask for David

OP, please clarify which company you’re complaining about. Village Airport Van (yellow stripe) of Workman’s Airport Shuttle?

I have used his company for at least 12 years. Never a problem.

Aaa

Me too. Ive never had an issue at all and never waited more than 10 min for the van to leave. Ive used this service numerous numerous times and wouldnt use any other rides.

I agree about the extremely long trips if you're north. I think they should start having vans for the north and vans for the south.

This is not new for these folks. Our last trip with this clown show was in 2019. We spent an hour just picking folks up for the trip. The van had a service engine light on and a low tire pressure warning light. The driver ignored it. After nearly colliding into a car on a lane change, we decided if we get to the airport in one piece we were done.
We now use Creative Concierge only. They cost more but we feel very confident with them, especially during the year of Covid. They are great in communicating and are always timely.

This is the Ad I found for Villages Airport Van. It does NOT advertise pickup every thirty minutes to be fair.

Village Airport Van - Airport Shuttle/Transportation for The Villages

Same here living in the north end near RT 42 I was always the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off. The solution was find a private car service to MCO, then take Workman’s Transportation back to LSL.

Whenever I go to MCO (Orlando), I drive about 2 miles past the airport and park at Omni Parking and Rental. I park in their lot and take their shuttle to the airport.....they drop you off where you need to be. You tell them when you are returning, and they will be there to pick you up .... once in a while you may have a 15 minute wait, as they shuttle to both terminal A and B. Their shuttles are very clean, and their service is on time. AND IT ONLY COSTS ABOUT 4 DOLLARS A DAY TO PARK THERE.
I will say, however, that Workman Transportation is a great way to get to the airport if you don't want to drive. They are dependable and on time ..... Kudos to them!

Ohiobuckeye
 

I agree, if they’re telling you they leave every 30 mins. & they don’t then fees should start getting deducted. But then again they might say, find another way back to TV.

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Flying 'out west' for a couple weeks, in a couple weeks. I decided to go with Village Airport Van, after some consternation. Used both VAV and Creative Concierge over the years before 'the plague'.

Hope they deliver AOK service... BTW re driving/parking to MCO... been there done that. NOW when we travel for more than a couple days - I want SOMEONE ELSE to do the work. Don't need that hassle anymore. Just my opinion.
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Exactly why we stopped using them and use private transportation. Waiting in a hot almost filled van for people to show up that never do. Waiting, always waiting.

I totally agree. The company is mot keeping up with the population.

You are correct in your assessment of the services offered by this company. We stopped using the Village Van prior to the pandemic when we spent more time getting to and from the airport than we spent in the air flying. They also need to organize the trips by location in The Villages so riders are not in the van for hours while people are dropped off or picked up.

Should be two different van - one for below 466A other above

That may be because you live in last stop Fenny. From Bonneybrook, I am the first to be picked up and then we go for a joy ride throughout The Villages. Even stopped at the Microhotel off 301 by the Turnpike. Almost an hour to finally get on the Turnpike. No more!!! I’ll use the bus for their punctuality.

What transportation is this?
Thxx
:clap2::clap2:

who do you use

Annnnnddd, I read on here all the time about golf carts going to fast and we're retired, so what's the rush? I don't mind waiting.
:ohdear::ohdear:

Try Groome, used them a few weeks ago to the airport but have no comment on pick ups. $33. I had one bad driver with the airport van but that was a few years ago. Waiting unfortunately is at their discretion even tho it can be so long. Many private drivers in TV that are fairly reasonable

When you tell Village Van what flight you are catching, they tell you we'll pick you up about x o'clock. A few days before your flight, they change it to much earlier. So instead of a 7 AM pick up, it's now like 5:30 AM and you tour The Villages picking up many other passengers before getting on the turnpike with a full van.
On one trip our driver went through two red lights on the way back from the airport. When I called him out on the danger, his reply was "I've been driving a lot longer than you!"
We don't use them any more, "loyalty points" or not.
We get a friend to drop us off at the Workman Shuttle Terminal in LSL instead. Nice comfortable ride. I'm surprised The Villages Operating Company sold this profitable shuttle business.

Skip

Sorry to hear about your last experience getting back from MCO. If you'd like to consider an alternate shared ride shuttle with home service and a fixed schedule, Groome Transportation now operates in The Villages and is $33 each way. We'll also send you a link to track your vehicle prior to pickup. Have a great day!

look again