Delta Partners With BLADE for Helicopter Transfers at JFK
Delta has announced a new partnership with the on-demand aviation company, BLADE, that will allow for seamless helicopter transfers between New York's JFK airport and Manhattan.
The new service will be available to Delta customers flying into and out of JFK. If you are flying from Manhattan, you'll arrive at one of BLADE's three lounges and then take your 5-minute helicopter flight to JFK. After landing a member of Delta's Elite Services team will collect your baggage and accompany you to ground transportation that will take you to your departure terminal. You'll be "expedited" through security, although it's unclear what that actually entails. And when boarding begins, you'll be escorted to your seat on the Delta aircraft.
For those flying into JFK, a Delta Elite Service member will meet you on the jet bridge for a domestic flight or after you clear customs on an international flight. After your baggage has been collected you'll be driven to a helicopter that's waiting to take off.
BLADE has already been offering transfers between New York's three main airports (and smaller NYC airports) and Manhattan but this is the first time a full-service airline has partnered with the company. This isn't the only expansion that BLADE has recently announced, in February the company started service in Los Angeles.
Flights are bookable through the BLADE app — when reserving a helicopter you'll see an option to add either a "Helicopter-to-Gate Special Escort" or "Gate-to-Helicopter Special Escort." Prices start at $250 (on top of the regular BLADE fare) and it appears that the price is per reservation, not per traveler, so you could potentially split the cost of a Delta escort with other passengers.
If you're interested in trying out BLADE for yourself, click here and enter referral code THEPOINTSGUY (case sensitive). You'll earn $100 in credit (which is applied in $50 increments) to use towards BLADE flights.
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