JustOneDad: Why are you asking the question? It sounds like you are pretty comfortable with your decision. And it may be the best one for your kid. You know your kid better than we do.
@intparent There are dedicated luggage cars so the bags don’t have to be in the aisle.
I would give my child the $80 and have them choose which mode of transportation and then make their own arrangements for that choice. Then I’d observe what he/she does. Two of my 4 offspring would definitely have chosen the more expensive option (one is cautious and one doesn’t like any inconvenience), the third would definitely have taken the cheapest because she is quite confident of getting places and hates wasting money. The fourth one would have probably figured the extra cash in pocket was worth some inconvenience or problem (does not possess an inner GPS).
I find it hard to tell on the Internet whether a person is being frugal or is being cheap.
They sound substantially similar. Does one have no cost/benefit analysis associated with it?
A little off topic, but several have mentioned wanting their kids to take a cab or Uber late at night if they felt that was the safer alternative to walking or public trans. One of the things I like about Uber is my daughter does not need to worry about having a credit card or cash on her to use the service. Her account is set up with my credit card. Of course if she used it all time instead of public trans and abused the priviledge, imo, then I would consider removing my card from her account.
My main distinction between cheapness and frugality would be how consistent the parent is in teaching and modeling frugal living–as opposed to suggesting that other members of the family should avoid luxuries that the parent enjoys for himself or herself.
In other words, if you just bought a Rolex for yourself, let your kid take the shuttle.
I would add that in a family that models frugality, this would be less likely to be an issue–the kid will likely expect to take the cheaper option unless you urge him to take the shuttle.
Also, this is yet another discussion of whether some particular luxury is worth the cost or not. The answer always depends on your attitude and your bank account.
I need new parents - they never give me money for this. 
Give me the $80 and let me figure it out.
In all seriousness, I did this for 4 years at boarding school and just recently finished college move-in, I would opt for whatever had the fewer transfers. With 2 suitcases and a backpack, having already endured the airport hassle, the idea of schlepping luggage on and off vans/trains/buses is not appealing. For mid-semester and winter breaks, public transportation is just fine with me. Of course, much depends on the school in question. PHL to Penn, piece of cake; JFK to Yale, not so much.
For many first-years, starting school is stressful enough and I would avoid adding to that stress, if possible. I am assuming if JustOneDad’s son is accustomed to traveling in this way,and it is no big deal to his son or to him and his wife, the question would not be asked. I may be wrong. I don’t know why the question was posed.
Hunt, I like your post. Sometimes I have sympathy for the rolex wearing parent who won’t pay for the shuttle. However, if the parent has the rolex because of the education provided by his parents and those parents paid for the shuttle, I have no sympathy, unless there are extenuating circumstances that make this the best choice for that particular student.
Apropos of nothing, this conversation reminds me of the time I took the shuttle back to school after a holiday. The shuttle dropped you off at a hotel a mile or two from campus. This particular trip I got in around midnight and it was pouring rain. Cats and dogs pouring. It was so late there were no taxis at the hotel. So with no other options I walked back to my dorm and was literally completely soaked through before I got even halfway. Like, “look ma, I jumped in the pool and swam 10 laps with my clothes on while towing a suitcase”. Oh did I mention it was January in Pittsburgh? Yeah, it was a little cold.
Man oh man, I wish I’d ponied up for the taxi instead of the shuttle that time! Anyway back on topic, it all depends on your circumstances and your kid. I’d pay for the shuttle, but everybody’s situation is different. Although if it’s Freshman move-in day, then absolutely pony up for the shuttle. Other trips you can go cheaper.
Are these the super shuttles (or Mears or equivalent) that provide rides from airports? They are comfortable enough. But cushy?? I’d consider a limo cushy. But as we’ve discussed elsewhere, I don’t gut and clean my own fish. I consider that kinda mushy. So its all relative, so it seems.
Personally, I would send my child on the door to door shuttle service for the freshman move in. If you can afford it at all then do it. Why would you have a new freshman getting in and out of airplanes, airports, shuttles, trains and cars before their first big life transition unless it was your only option. You should pay and insist he takes the shuttle if you can afford it since you won’t be able to help with the move in this time around. At least try to make the transition as pleasant as possible for your student who will be one of the few moving in alone.
@skieurope In this case, the students’ parents pay for the big ticket items (tuition, room and board, medical insurance, etc.) and the students are responsible for all their other expenses, if that helps.
^If the student is paying for it out of it out of his own earnings, then it is the student’s decision what to do, not the parents. imho.
Now it sounds like it might not be your kid. If I were in that position with one of my relatives, and I was aware of the situation, I’d give the kid shuttle money. I have sometimes done the equivalent with younger relatives. It probably wouldn’t work for all families. Mine is used to me being a busy body.
ETA: If we were in that situation with one of our young relatives, my husband would urge me to go with the kid to move-in. I might or might not. I am pretty worn out from raising my own.
@justonedad - if you were to accompany your child with multiple suitcases to his freshman move in, would the two of take the shuttle, public transportation or rent a car?
I think this is getting silly. Justonedad, do whatever you want. You got our input. Do with it what you will. Someone is saving a bundle by sending this kid to freshman move in alone (if this is freshman move in). Someone wants this kid to take the public transportation too. Great.
Unless I’m mistaken, that is the face of transportation in the 21st century.
Sometimes we urge our kids to consider the costs of things, and to employ strategies to avoid wasting money.
Other times we buy luxuries for our kids just because we feel like being extra nice to them.
Mixing up these two strategies seems to work pretty well.
<<<<>>>>>>> ooh, maybe if said freshman found the travel to/from home/school to be such a serious hassle, they won’t want to come home. Well, some might find that a plus…
anomander,
My DS also got caught int he rain when he walked from the hotel shuttle. Maybe its a plot, lol. When I found out he walked in the rain, I told him he should have just gotten a room in the hotel! We’d have paid.
I consider transit costs (planes & transprt to & from the airport) to be big ticket items. My kids cover books & spending money, but I consider this part of the big ticket items I pick up.