I have a big international move from Augusta, GA to Tanzania coming up and there’s no other service I trust to get me to Hartsfield-Jackson than Groome Transportation! My first time hearing of this super convenient transportation services company was sometime during my college years in Atlanta around 2014, but they originated in Richmond, Virginia in 1934. Groome Transportation offers shuttles to airports in 12 states across the US, college campus transfers, group charter services, and pick-ups, etc. Their service is impeccable! Drivers are safe, timely, courteous, and sometimes comedians with their way of giving you the rundown on everything you need to know about your ride. I'm sure all the offices are great, but I’m here to talk about my personal experience with the Augusta branch! There have been at least 2 occasions where the Augusta branch has been a life-saver for me! But we’ll get to that after you take in everything you need to know.
First things first, the office is located at 615 NW Frontage Rd, near Sam's Club on Bobby Jones Expy. You’re able to park your car for free at this location for up to 30 days, but to prevent any worry of car theft I suggest using Uber or Lyft. Or you could have a nice send off from friends and family if they want to see you off on your travels. Although, if you’re military and will be having your send off closer to home on base, the Augusta Groome does service Fort Gordon for pick up and drop off. The price is a little higher for this option but completely worth it given the distance and exclusivity of entrance on base. Meet at the Welcome Center for your ride!
For most of us, we'll be departing from the office. The space is bright and clean, has a good amount of seating, and you can buy snacks from the vending machines if you forgot to pack some for your flight. On most occasions you may not even need to go in because you can walk right up as you see your driver. They’ve never been late for any of my rides so far!
Your first interaction with the actual employees could be when you arrive for your ride, or it could be over the phone if you have questions or concerns beforehand. Booking is easy, and you save money on each ride when you do so online. Honestly a steal at $60 per ride considering the amount it would have cost to drive and park somewhere around Atlanta. It’s the best way to save yourself the hassle. Their online system is efficient and won’t allow your ride to be overbooked. It’s simple enough and has a great user experience for any customer; I guess that makes them sort of like the Apple of transportation services, right?
As for reaching them over the phone, the hold times are never very long, they answer pleasantly, and get you clear, concise answers on any direction you need to take.
Continuing with the experience, it's so straightforward and simple that you forget how things could even go wrong. Even when your ride may have a stop in Thompson or in Greensboro to pick up another rider, the process is still smooth. The Greensboro pick-up location is right off exit 130 at Chick-fil-A so it gives you another chance to grab something to eat or just a stop for the bathroom. Ask your neighbor to tap you for the pit stop if you’re a heavy sleeper! 😆
Alright, so you know there are mishaps with travel all the time. Are you ready to see how Groome Transportation saved the day?
I had an emergency while out of the country and needed to return home. Imagine the pain of rebooking my entire itinerary of flights and transportation all the way down to getting my shuttle ride back to Augusta 😅
With all my changes, booking their shuttle kind of slipped my mind until I was actually sitting there on my flight to Atlanta. Scheduling my ride online wasn’t going through for some odd reason - it was a response that I’d never seen. I hated to call and catch those international roaming charges, but I was in a rush to get this done before the flight attendants came around! I quickly gave the receptionist my details and she told me that I was getting that error because the time slot I needed was full. Sadly I was arriving late and had to book a hotel, but she gave me the next best times and went ahead and told me how many seats were available on each. I appreciated that because that info helped me determine whether or not I needed to check out from my hotel early or later, with minimal time waiting around at the airport. A perfect example of the Augusta Groome employees thinking fast on their feet while still providing top tier service!
This second one is something we can all relate to, especially with the airport of reference being the busiest in the world! IYKYK, it’s so easy to get turned around at Hartsfield-Jackson. Traffic is always crazy. Are you going domestic or international? Where exactly is YOUR terminal? Is everything still in the same place as it was when you passed through 3 months ago? How long does it take to walk from baggage claim to the shuttles?
So. Many. Factors.
There came a day that I got turned around and went to the wrong terminal. Okay, so here comes the STRESS … 🙃
GPS was showing that I’d arrive to the right spot at the minute my shuttle would be pulling off! I called the receptionist and they relayed the message as soon as they could: to hold off just 1-2 minutes for me as I’d be walking (okay let’s be realistic, I was RUNNING through domestic) up to meet them right at that moment.
I’ve never been an athlete so my lungs were at their last capacity as I was moving with at least 80 pounds of luggage with me. I made it to the big sliding doors but felt so defeated when I caught a glimpse of a van heading out for the exit 😅
Then I looked to my right and there it was! My driver got the message and was already on the lookout! I ran up as he was checking the last name off and securing the riders, so I was so grateful for their understanding. I'm glad they value their customers and follow ethics that create loyal ones! Now that’s how you build a brand!
I’m clearly biased toward the Augusta office, but If you somehow find this article and are hoping for the same quality from a branch near you, check out their website for the list of airports and cities they service.
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