It’s dark, and you’ve just stepped off an airplane, bleary eyed, and hauling loads of luggage.
The cold air bites into that newly acquired tan from your sunny holiday destination, and now you have to face the long drive home, and no one is available to pick you up.
Disembarking a plane late at night at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and then having to drive north along Highway 97 is not usually something any tired driver, or passenger, looks forward to.
Whether you are a frequent flyer or on that once-in-a-lifetime trip, the Vernon-North Okanagan airport shuttle, operated by Let’s Go Transportation, is a welcome sight. Its qualified and experienced staff do the driving for you.
“Trying to get transit between communities is difficult,” said YLW airport director Sam Samaddar. “There’s no point bringing people to Kelowna without being able to get to other communities.”
Many passengers also don’t want to hail a taxi or rent a vehicle from the airport due to the expense, or worry about long-term parking, or where they are going to stop for gas, added Samaddar.
Let’s Go director/owner Birgit Santana says its the customer service that sets Let’s Go apart from other transportation services.
“We try to keep our rates reasonable and have received positive feedback. Some have taken the time to call us after their shuttle to thank us,” she said, adding the shuttles even have an Internet plug-in.
At the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce recently to talk about the North Okanagan shuttle, Samaddar, Santana, Let’s Go operations manager Bob Guillet and Norm LeCavalier, chairperson of the Greater Westside Board of Trade, said the new service will not only help locals needing a ride to and from the airport, but will also benefit tourism, trade and commerce in the area.
“Airlines have high-mobile assets. Kelowna alone has 20,000 seats sold weekly flying to different destinations” said Samaddar. “We as an airport look at developing business cases where we look at postal codes of the people coming to town. We have many from this region driving to Vancouver who could catch a flight and wouldn’t have to worry about how they are going to get to and from the airport.”
The connectivity to different communities, such as Armstrong, could also help with ventures such as agri-tourism.
“It’s better to see the sites via bus than driving in cars,” added Samaddar.
Let’s Go, which is based out of Kelowna and has been in operation for the past four years, launched its North Okanagan airport shuttle service in November.
“This was also our first year at Silver Star and it was very busy,” said Santana.
The company operates under a reservation system, and has shuttles running to and from Vernon (with stops at the Best Western Vernon Lodge and Village Green Hotel).
The North Okanagan shuttle also stops at the Armstrong Petro Canada station, the Enderby Shell and Salmon Arm’s Prestige Inn.
In cases where flights are leaving in the early hours, or arriving late, Let’s Go will make some exceptions for on-demand pick-up if it is warranted, added Santana.
“It may be that we can’t always fit people, but if available we can do an on-demand trip, so the passenger doesn’t have to wait a long time at the airport,” she said. “We have had drivers going at 3 a.m. for passengers catching early flights and also late-night flights. Our reservation system is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.”
There are even cases where the shuttle driver will pick up and drop off people close to their homes.
“Elderly people feel comfortable with our drivers and service. Our drivers are personable. It’s customer oriented. We help carry luggage,” said Guillet.
Let’s Go has a fleet of 12-passenger Chevy Express vans, which accommodate trailers for skis and golf equipment, and can also provide a large 24-passenger vehicle for large groups.
“In the summer, we get a lot of destination weddings, where that shuttle is popular,” said Santana, adding the service also offers golf and wine tour shuttles around Kelowna and the South Okanagan.
“Our drivers are aware of all the attractions and events in the area as to help visitors who are curious about our wineries, food, bicycle tours, etc.”
Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper and Spallumcheen Mayor Janice Brown both agree the shuttle service is an asset to their constituents, as well as to both the city and region’s business.
“There has never been a shuttle service to the airport from Armstrong,” said Pieper,
“There is also no taxi service in Armstrong.”
Let’s Go also offers a loyalty program for frequent flyers.
“For people travelling around on council business, we have to fly a lot, so this will be very helpful,” added Brown.
“All people use the Kelowna airport, so they need to know what services are available and how people can find us.”
