READ THE FINE PRINT! BIG SKY SHUTTLE CAN (AND WILL) CANCEL YOUR PRE-RESERVED AND PRE-PAID AIRPORT SHUTTLE if they can't fill your shuttle van with 5 or more passengers.
Every tourist visiting Big Sky faces the same decision when planning their trip: "rent a car, or trust an airport shuttle?" WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND RENTING A CAR INSTEAD OF TRUSTING BIG SKY SHUTTLE.
BIG SKY SHUTTLE CAN and WILL SCAM YOU. Details below:
I have travelled to Big Sky for the past 3 years with friends, traveling across the country to do so. I took Big Sky Shuttle from the airport to the mountain a few years ago and had an ok experience, so recommended it to a friend who needed to arrange for an early flight out of Big Sky in order to attend a work obligation as she is a physician. My friend booked days in advance with Big Sky Shuttle for a 3am shuttle in order to make an early flight. She made the decision NOT to rent a car to have her own transportation specifically because she could pre-reserve and pre-pay the $56 for the Big Sky Shuttle to the airport at this time. Shortly after my friend had made the effort to travel to Big Sky Ski Resort (she had gotten a ride from friends from the airport out to the mountain) - she received an email at 3:00am from Big Sky Shuttle that her $56 ride to the airport had been cancelled because there were not at least 5 passengers pre-booked, and that instead, she could book a PRIVATE Big Sky Shuttle option for over $200. -- WHAT A SCAM!
We called several times to discuss with the owner, Tracy, who was very defensive and hostile in discussion of this business practice. She texted my friend "I'm sorry you are so mad. I can't run a shuttle to the airport with one passenger for $56." --- Well, in that case BIG SKY SHUTTLE SHOULD NOT ADVERTISE THIS AS A SERVICE BECAUSE TRAVELERS make plans around them and it is DISHONEST to offer it, allow people, and then cancel the shuttle simply to protect their own profit margins over their customers. This business practice takes all of the RISK and puts it on the customer, and Big Sky Shuttle takes NONE of the risk. As a travel service, particularly to an AIRPORT, it is THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to offer dependable service if they advertise it. Consider their business model: sometimes there may be 10 passengers on the 3am shuttle, and they will make way more than enough to cover the gas, sometimes there may be 1 passenger on the 3am shuttle, and they will profit less, but it is THEIR responsibility to offer a reliable shuttle, or passengers won't trust them and will stop booking (this statement does NOT include inclement weather, which is another case involving safety -- I am specifically talking about canceling shuttles to protect the company's own profit margins). I know that is the case for myself, all my ski buddies, and everyone I talk about traveling to big sky with in the future.
Don't let yourself get SCAMMED or stranded out at the Ski Resort, DO NOT TRUST BIG SKY SHUTTLE, a company more interested in their profit margins than in their passengers' well-being. read more