Rider Policies

First Coast Transit operates three main trip types: FCT Events, Customer Organized Groups, and Local & Custom Rides. Because each trip type is scheduled differently, booking and cancellation rules also differ.

Riders should book 48 to 72 hours in advance whenever possible for local rides, airport transportation, and standard custom requests. Earlier notice gives us more flexibility to coordinate drivers, routing, pickup windows, and available seats.

Event trips and larger group trips may require booking further in advance depending on destination, route structure, seat demand, and whether deposits or full group commitments are required.

A trip is considered confirmed once First Coast Transit has approved the booking request and sent the rider or group coordinator the trip confirmation details. Confirmation may include payment instructions, pickup details, route timing, or final operating status.

Once a trip is confirmed, your seat or ride slot is being held for you. For group trips, confirmation also means vehicle time and route capacity have been set aside for that group.

Cancellation rules begin to apply once the trip is confirmed.

Cancellation and refund rules depend on the type of trip booked. Riders are responsible for reviewing the correct section below before booking.

FCT Events are trips created, posted, and coordinated by First Coast Transit. These may include Philadelphia events, casino trips, theme park trips, shopping trips, nightlife trips, seasonal outings, airport runs posted as shared rides, or other publicly listed trips.

For event trips, a 50% deposit is due at booking to reserve your seat. The remaining balance is due 14 days before the trip date.

• 15 or more days before trip date: Full refund of the deposit or payment made
• 8 to 14 days before trip date: No cash refund. Payment converts to trip credit for a future FCT trip
• 7 days or less before trip date: No refund and no trip credit
• No-show: No refund and no trip credit
• If FCT cancels the trip: Full refund of all payments made

Customer Organized Groups are trips requested and coordinated by a rider or group coordinator. Examples include airport group pickups, work ride groups, private outings, weddings, dorm pickups, and other custom group transportation requests.

• Once a private or customer organized group trip is confirmed and scheduled, cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable unless a stricter trip-specific policy applies
• Group pricing may be based on the vehicle, route, or full trip commitment rather than individual riders
• Individual riders within a private group must coordinate any refund requests through the group coordinator, not First Coast Transit
• The group coordinator is responsible for collecting and submitting group payments unless First Coast Transit states otherwise in writing

NYC flat-rate trips follow their own booking and cancellation rules. The total trip price is $425 for the group.

• If booked more than 14 days before the trip: a $50 non-refundable booking fee is due immediately and the remaining $375 is due 14 days before the trip
• If the remaining $375 is not paid by the 14-day mark: the booking is not confirmed and the $50 booking fee is forfeited
• If booked 14 days or less before the trip: the full $425 is due immediately
• If a fully paid NYC trip is canceled 24 hours or more before the trip: refund is 50%
• If a fully paid NYC trip is canceled under 24 hours before the trip: no refund

Local and custom rides include airport rides, work rides, local transfers, and one-time transportation requests that are not part of a posted event trip.

• More than 24 hours before the ride: Refund available
• Within 24 hours of the ride: No refund
• Large group rides booked on a 48 to 72 hour timeline: Non-refundable once confirmed

Riders who do not show up at pickup without prior cancellation are not eligible for a refund or trip credit.

Seat reservations are non-transferable without prior approval from First Coast Transit.

Routes often include multiple riders across different pickup locations. Staying on schedule helps everyone arrive on time. Please be ready at your pickup location a few minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

Vehicles cannot wait for late riders because delays affect everyone else on the route.

To keep trips running smoothly for everyone, riders are responsible for reading trip details carefully, booking early when possible, being ready at pickup time, monitoring trip status, and communicating changes as soon as possible.

These guidelines help keep trips organized, efficient, and reliable for all riders.

First Coast Transit uses more than one payment structure depending on the trip type. Some bookings are priced per seat, while others are priced per vehicle or per group.

FCT event trips are generally priced per seat and may require a 50% deposit at booking with the remaining balance due 14 days before the trip date unless a specific listing states otherwise.

NYC flat-rate trips and private group transportation follow their own payment timeline. NYC flat-rate bookings use the locked $425 group price and may require either a $50 booking fee or full payment up front depending on how close the trip date is at the time of booking.

For early NYC bookings, the remaining $375 must be paid by the 14-day mark or the booking is not confirmed and the $50 booking fee is forfeited. Trips that are booked 14 days or less before departure require the full $425 immediately.

Riders may be required to actively acknowledge the applicable booking, payment, and cancellation policy before payment is taken.

Cash payment for NYC or private group trips may be allowed only with prior authorization from First Coast Transit. Cash authorization is a limited exception, not a standard payment option. In approved cases, one person, usually the group coordinator, is responsible for the remaining balance at pickup, and the trip does not depart until that balance is paid.

If a balance payment is not received by the due date, First Coast Transit reserves the right to release the seat, cancel the reservation, or mark the trip as not confirmed. If you believe a charge is incorrect, contact First Coast Transit directly before initiating a dispute with your bank.

Changes to destinations, pickup areas, additional stops, passenger counts, or custom routing may affect pricing and availability. Approved changes are not guaranteed once a trip is confirmed.

Contact First Coast Transit as soon as possible if anything about your trip needs to change.

If weather, traffic, or operational delays affect your trip, riders will be notified by SMS, email, or other available contact methods when possible. Safety is always the priority when making delay or cancellation decisions.

Riders can contact First Coast Transit by phone, email, Discord, or the website contact form. Please contact us as soon as possible if your trip plans change.