[rahulnair23]

SuperShuttle is an interesting service. I used it a fair bit in the DC metro area, since Dulles Airport is not very accessible by public transport.

My main observation was that your circuity factor (the time deviation from direct travel time) was always larger the earlier you booked. So if you booked your trip online a week in advance, it appears they would assign your request to a van, and then as other new 'relevant' requests came in, they would get added on.

Essentially, your trip became the 'anchor' that drove the overall schedule. So depending on your trip characteristics, the best strategy appears to book on the day!

[bane]

Something to also think about. Some hotels near airports run a service where, for a small fee, you can park in their lot (even long term for a few days) and use their free shuttle service to the airport. In my experience this can be incredibly cheap vs. any other alternative.

They get a little fee, plus the appearance of a fuller looking lot (they look like a more popular hotel), you get dirt cheap parking and a shuttle back and forth to your car.

You have to call around a bit to see if a hotel offers it or not, but once you find one that does, it can be a great deal.