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Change/cancellation policy update
OSSA will no longer accept change requests for existing shuttle reservations. If you need to change your registered time, you must now CANCEL that reservation and attempt re-reserving a seat for the newly desired time. OSSA can make no guarantees that seats will be available after an original reservation is canceled.
The cancellation system will remain open until Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM.
Look up your reservation here.

Airport shuttle

In conjunction with the UNC Department of Public Safety's P2P bus system, as a benefit to its members, OSSA operates shuttles to Raleigh-Durham International Airport for major university break periods.

Breaks serviced

For the 2007-2008 academic year, shuttles will operate for all major breaks excluding Winter Break:


  • Fall Break
    Classes end Wednesday, 17 October @ 5:00 PM
    Shuttles depart campus Wednesday, 17 October from 10 AM until 6 PM
    Residence halls remain open during Fall Break
    Shuttles return from airport Sunday, 21 October between 2 PM and 10 PM

  • Thanksgiving Break
    Classes all day Tuesday, 20 November, no classes Wednesday, 21 November
    Shuttles depart campus Tuesday, 20 November from 10 AM until 6 PM
    Residence halls CLOSED during Thanksgiving Break (beginning 10 AM Wednesday, 21 November)
    Shuttles return from airport Sunday, 25 November between 2 PM and 10 PM

  • Spring Break
    Classes end Friday, 7 March 2007 @ 5:00 PM
    Shuttles depart campus Friday, 7 March 2008, every hour on the half-hour from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM
    Residence halls CLOSED during Spring Break
    Shuttles return from airport Sunday, 16 March 2007 between 2 PM and 10 PM

    • Please note that there is no shuttle service for Winter Break due to high variance in students' exam schedules. Also, shuttles do not operate at the beginning nor at the end of the academic year.

    Operating times

    For the breaks listed above, shuttles run:


  • To the airport the day on which classes end from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM, on the hour, every hour
  • back to campus the day before classes resume from 2 PM until 10 PM, about every hour

    • Registration process

    In order to ride the shuttle to the airport, students will need to pre-register online. Each shuttle can accomodate 25 students along with one piece of luggage and one personal item. The registration system opens approximately two weeks prior to the beginning of each break and remains open for a week, after which cancellation requests are processed. The registration system will re-open temporarily for any newly emptied seats to be filled. No sign-up is necessary for the return trip to campus.

    Return shuttles

    Shuttles return to the campus the Sunday before classes resume, approximately every 60 minutes between 2 PM and 10 PM. Students should wait for the bus at purple-colored bus shelter labeled 'Prearranged Transportation' in front of Terminal A at RDU. OSSA members do NOT need to make a reservation for the return shuttle, even if they did not ride the shuttle to the airport.

    Pick-up locations

    Buses depart every hour, on the hour, with alternating service between north campus and south campus:

    P2P Lot (South Campus): Located on the north side of Manning Drive between Morrison Residence Hall and UNC Hospitals, the bus will depart from the parking lot behind the bus shelter. Times served: 9:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 5:30PM

    SRC (North Campus): Buses will depart from South Road, opposite the New Student Union, just east of the Student Recreation Center. Times served: 10:30AM, 12:30PM, 2:30PM, 4:30PM

    How long does it take to get to airport?

    Depending on traffic, the ride to airport takes approximately 25-35 minutes. Because most airlines suggest arriving at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to flight departure time, OSSA suggests that students register for a shuttle no less than 2 hours before their flight departure time. Remember that congestion through check-in lines and security may be heavier during popular holiday break periods.

    Neither OSSA nor the Department of Public Safety may be held responsible if students miss their flights for any reason.

    No guarantees

    OSSA has more members than seats available on the airport shuttles. For this reason, we are not able to offer any guarantee that students will secure a seat on a shuttle or that their desired departure times will be available. The registration system operates strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. OSSA is not able to make any concessions to this policy. If for any reason a student is not able to make a suitable reservation, there are a few alternative transportation options (see below).

    Alternative transportation

    If you need to travel on dates other than those serviced by the airport shuttles, or if you were not able to secure a shuttle reservation, there are a few available options:


  • Check the OSSA rideboard for anyone offering to drive to your destination or to post a request for a carpool.
  • Reserve a cab using the RDU Airport Taxi service. A one-way trip usually totals $35 to $40.
  • See if other OSSA members would be interested in sharing a cab to the airport by posting a message at the rideboard.
  • Ride the Triangle Transit Authority bus line. Cost is approximately $2.00 and due to various transfers that need to be made, the trip to the airport can take as long as one to three hours.

    • Any questions?

    Please direct any questions regarding the airput shuttle service to our webmaster, Wilson Lian (webmaster [at] unchost [dot] org).

    Questions about alternative transportation options should be directed to Student Services chair Gregg Found (found [at] email [dot] unc [dot] edu).