This article is sponsored by JetBlack, a premium limo service provider, and may include affiliate links. Recommendations are independent and based on consensus data.
Quick Takeaways
- Fastest Real Numbers: A flat-rate car service from LGA to Manhattan runs roughly $90-$150 with JetBlack, $75-$180 with competitors like Detailed Drivers and Blacklane, and $75-$110 with Uber Black off-peak — before surge pricing is added.
- TLC Insurance Floor: Standard black car operators carrying 1-7 passengers must hold at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage — not the $1.5 million figure that circulates online.
- Congestion Surcharge Confirmed: For-hire vehicles entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone (at or below 60th Street) add roughly $1.50 per trip, a program a federal judge upheld in March 2026 after the federal government tried to revoke its approval.
- Competitor Trade-Off: Blacklane bundles tolls, gratuity, and a 60-minute wait into one flat number with no itemized extras, but its all-in rate ($125-$180) runs meaningfully higher than most LGA-focused operators.
- Review Spread: JetBlack holds 4.0/5 on Trustpilot (47 reviews) and roughly 4.3/5 on TripAdvisor (241 reviews) — different rider pools, reported separately rather than averaged.
- Common Complaint: A recurring theme in JetBlack’s lower-rated Trustpilot reviews involves last-minute cancellations and refund delays on cash-flagged bookings — worth raising directly at the time of booking.
By: Marcus Whitfield — Contributing writer covering NYC ground transportation for JetBlack’s editorial partners. This is a disclosed fictional contributor persona, not a claim to any specific individual’s identity or credentials.
Fact-checked by: Alex Freeman — 30-year TLC-certified chauffeur and NYC DOT compliance advisor. Full bio
Last verified: August 20, 2026
Your flight lands at LaGuardia at 6:40 a.m. and your meeting in Midtown starts at 8:15. Every option for getting from LGA airport to NYC promises to be the fast one — the shuttle desk, the taxi queue, the rideshare app buzzing with surge pricing, the black car dispatcher who already has your flight number. Only one of those promises is usually true on any given morning.
LaGuardia sits just 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan, closer than JFK or Newark, and it’s the only major New York airport with no direct subway or AirTrain connection. That gap between “close” and “connected” is exactly why finding the right route from lga airport to nyc gets complicated for business travelers on a schedule they can’t miss.
This piece compares what actually happens when you book each option — flat-rate black car service, Uber Black, and the metered taxi queue for your transfer from lga airport to nyc — using published 2026 rates, verified TLC insurance rules, and real customer reviews rather than marketing claims. We looked directly at JetBlack’s published fares, cross-checked against Detailed Drivers, Blacklane, and rideshare pricing, and pulled current TLC and congestion pricing data so the numbers below hold up.
What Counts as Airport Car Service — And Why the Distinction Matters
Not every black-looking sedan waiting at LGA is operating legally, and the difference isn’t cosmetic. In New York City, prearranged transfers from lga airport to nyc via black car and livery service fall under the for-hire vehicle (FHV) tier regulated by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission — the same body that oversees yellow cabs and rideshare platforms, but with its own licensing lane. Prearranged, flat-rate car service sits in a distinct tier from street-hail taxis and from app-dispatched rideshare.
Under TLC rules, standard black car operators (1-7 passengers) must carry a minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage. Larger vehicles face higher minimums.
That’s the correct, current figure for tlc black car insurance — not the $1.5 million number that gets repeated across travel forums, which actually applies to a different vehicle-size tier. A driver who approaches you inside baggage claim without a prearranged booking, no matter how legitimate the car looks, is operating outside this system entirely. Taking a ride from an unverified driver at LaGuardia is illegal under New York State law and voids the insurance protections above.
For a business traveler, the practical implication is simple: prearranged, TLC-licensed service is the only option where the insurance coverage, driver vetting, and pricing are actually enforceable before you get in the car.
What LGA Airport to NYC Actually Costs — Real Numbers, August 2026
JetBlack publishes a flat rate of $90-$150 for LGA to Manhattan, with the range depending on vehicle class and destination zone. Detailed Drivers, a competitor that launched dedicated LGA operations in February 2026, quotes a lower entry point of roughly $75, positioned specifically at business travelers who want meet-and-greet service without the premium end of the market. Blacklane, the global luxury chauffeur platform, runs meaningfully higher — $125 to $180 all-in for its NYC sedan tier, bundling tolls, gratuity, and a 60-minute wait window into one number.
| Option | Base Rate | Tolls/Surcharges | Surge Risk | Fixed Rate? | TLC Licensed? | Realistic Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Black (LGA) | $75-$110 off-peak | ~$1.50 CRZ surcharge included in fare | High — up to 2x during peak/weather | No | Yes | $75-$150+ |
| Detailed Drivers | From $75 flat | Included | None | Yes | Yes | $75-$125 |
| JetBlack | $90-$150 flat | Included | None | Yes | Yes | $90-$150 |
| Blacklane | $125-$180 all-in | Included | Peak windows only | Yes | Yes | $125-$200 |
| Yellow Taxi (metered) | $35-$55 metered | Tolls + $0.75 surcharge + tip | None (metered, not surge) | No | Yes | $50-$75 |
Here’s the number most comparison guides skip: yellow taxi is technically the cheapest line item on paper, but it’s also the only option with zero flight-tracking, zero meet-and-greet, and a meter that keeps running in Grand Central Parkway traffic. For a business traveler whose real cost is a missed meeting, not a marginal $20, that trade rarely makes sense.
Every for-hire vehicle entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone — at or below 60th Street — now carries a per-trip nyc congestion pricing surcharge, roughly $1.50 for black cars and rideshare, $0.75 for taxis. A federal judge in the Southern District of New York ruled in March 2026 that the federal government’s attempt to revoke the program’s approval was unlawful, and the MTA has continued operating it without interruption since. Flat-rate providers like JetBlack, Detailed Drivers, and Blacklane fold this surcharge into their quoted price; Uber and taxi riders see it itemized separately on the fare.
The honest value call: if your trip is discretionary and you’re traveling light, Uber Black off-peak or a metered taxi both undercut black car service on price. If you’re landing during a predictable surge window — Sunday evenings, weather delays, event nights — or if a missed pickup costs you a client meeting, the fixed rate stops being a premium and starts being insurance against the one morning it actually matters.
Real Passengers, Real Trips: What Business Travelers Actually Experienced
Case Study 1 — TripAdvisor Reviewer, 5 Stars, 2025
The Situation: A first-time JetBlack customer had an early-morning flight — the kind of departure where a late pickup means missing the boarding call entirely.
What Happened: The assigned driver, identified in the review as Xavier, communicated proactively ahead of the pickup and handled the early start without a hitch. The reviewer described the process as smooth from booking through drop-off.
Why It Matters: For a business traveler with one non-negotiable meeting to catch, punctuality on an early departure isn’t a bonus feature — it’s the entire value proposition of paying more than a taxi fare.
Case Study 2 — TripAdvisor Reviewer, Corporate Booking
The Situation: A corporate administrator booked JetBlack for the first time to shuttle visiting clients between a hotel and the company’s facility.
What Happened: The driver arrived 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled pickup, and email confirmations gave the booker a clear paper trail on timing — useful for expense reporting and for coordinating a multi-stop corporate itinerary.
Why It Matters: For corporate accounts booking on behalf of someone else, the ride itself matters less than whether the confirmations and timing hold up without a follow-up call — that’s where process, not just the car, earns repeat business.
Case Study 3 — Trustpilot Reviewer, Repeat Customer
The Situation: A recurring business customer relies on JetBlack specifically for early-morning meeting departures, not one-off airport runs.
What Happened: The reviewer noted consistent on-time performance across years of repeat use, specifically for flights and early-morning meetings.
Why It Matters: Repeat business travelers are the toughest reviewers to retain. A multi-year pattern built around punctuality signals operational consistency rather than one lucky trip.
Not every review is glowing. A pattern in JetBlack’s lower-rated Trustpilot reviews flags last-minute cancellations and slow refund handling on cash-flagged bookings — worth raising directly at the time of booking, especially if you’re paying by card in advance and need a firm cancellation window in writing.
How to Book an Airport Transfer for Business Travelers Without Getting Burned
Booking lead time matters more at LGA than at JFK, simply because LaGuardia’s ground transportation options are more sensitive to time-of-day surge and to Grand Central Parkway backups. Book 24 hours ahead where possible to lock in flat pricing before demand spikes.
Before you accept a quote, confirm what “fixed rate” actually includes. A genuinely flat rate covers tolls and the Congestion Relief Zone surcharge with no line-item surprises at drop-off — ask the dispatcher directly rather than assuming from the website copy. Confirm the cancellation policy and grace period in writing, not verbally, since this is precisely where JetBlack’s lower-rated reviews cluster.
For laguardia airport terminal pickup, know your terminal in advance — LGA’s post-redevelopment layout means Terminal B, C, and D pickup points differ, and a driver who doesn’t have your terminal confirmed will waste ten minutes finding you. Flight number provided to the dispatcher ahead of time is what makes real-time flight tracking possible in the first place.
Booking Checklist — Save or Screenshot This
- TLC license verified at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/
- Fixed all-in rate confirmed in writing (tolls + congestion fee included)
- Grace period confirmed: starts at [ ] landing / [ ] scheduled arrival
- Cancellation window: _______ hours for full refund
- Driver name + vehicle details sent at least 30 min before pickup
- Flight number provided to dispatcher
- Quote from at least one other provider obtained for comparison
The Industry in Honest Terms — How This Market Actually Works
LaGuardia served roughly 31.8 million passengers in 2024, per the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, following an $8 billion terminal redevelopment that transformed lga airport to nyc transfers for millions of travelers. The NYC for-hire vehicle market underneath that traffic is enormous: the TLC licenses more than 80,000 active for-hire vehicles across the five boroughs, spanning black car and livery bases, high-volume rideshare platforms, and the yellow and green taxi fleets serving the lga airport to nyc route.
Black car operators sit in a regulatory tier distinct from high-volume TNCs like Uber and Lyft — both are TLC-licensed, but black car bases operate on prearranged, flat-rate bookings rather than app-based surge dispatch. That structural difference is exactly why uber black lga pricing swings with demand while a black car quote doesn’t move once it’s confirmed.
Among the named competitors here, Detailed Drivers’ strength is its newer, business-traveler-specific LGA operation with a lower entry price point; its weakness is a shorter operating track record at this airport specifically. Blacklane’s strength is global consistency — the same booking standard in 300-plus cities — at the cost of a real price premium over LGA-focused operators. Uber Black’s strength is on-demand availability with no advance booking required for an lga airport to nyc ride; its weakness is that LaGuardia sees surge pricing on a meaningful share of business-hour trips, which erodes the price advantage exactly when a business traveler needs reliability most.
All prices, regulatory requirements, and operational details for your lga airport to nyc transfer are verified as of August 20, 2026 and subject to change. TLC insurance minimums, congestion pricing surcharges, and taxi flat rates are set by public agencies. Verify current figures at tlc.nyc.gov and nyc.gov/dot before booking your lga airport to nyc ride. Any reliance on this content is at your own risk.
Not every operator delivers what its homepage promises. The ones worth booking publish their TLC base number, itemize what’s actually included in a flat rate, and have a review history — good and bad — that you can check before you land.
Here’s the bigger picture: the choice between LGA airport to NYC options isn’t really about luxury versus budget. It’s about which failure mode you’re willing to accept — a metered taxi that might cost less but leaves timing entirely to traffic, or a flat-rate service that costs more up front but converts an unpredictable variable into a fixed one.
Before your next trip, get quotes from two providers and ask both the same question about their grace period policy. The answer — not the marketing page — is what tells you whether a flat rate is actually protecting you or just relabeling the same risk.
FAQ
What is car service from LGA airport to NYC and how does it actually work?
Car service from LGA airport to NYC is a prearranged, TLC-licensed ride you book before you land, with a fixed price agreed in advance instead of a meter or app-based surge fare. You give the dispatcher your flight number, a driver tracks your inbound flight, and the car is waiting when you arrive rather than something you request after you clear baggage claim. This is the core difference from a taxi or rideshare: the price and the driver are both locked in before you touch down. Most providers, including JetBlack, monitor your flight in real time and adjust the pickup automatically if you’re early or delayed, so you don’t have to call anyone or rebook.
Is a black car from LaGuardia safe, and how do I know it’s legally licensed?
Yes, a properly licensed black car for your route from lga airport to nyc is regulated by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the same agency that oversees yellow cabs and rideshare drivers, and every legitimate vehicle and driver carries a TLC license you can check before you ride. Look for TLC plates and confirm the driver and base at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/ — it takes under a minute and it’s the single most reliable safety check available to a traveler. The risk isn’t the black car category itself, it’s unlicensed drivers who approach travelers directly inside the terminal, which is illegal under New York State law and voids any insurance protection. A legitimate TLC-licensed operator providing transfers from lga airport to nyc will always be prearranged through a dispatcher, never a driver soliciting you at baggage claim.
How much does LGA airport to NYC car service cost in 2026?
LGA airport to nyc car service runs roughly $75 to $180 depending on the provider and vehicle class, with most flat-rate sedans landing between $90 and $150 as of August 2026. JetBlack publishes a flat rate of $90-$150 for LGA to Manhattan; Detailed Drivers starts lower, around $75, positioned specifically for business travelers; Blacklane’s global chauffeur tier runs $125-$180 all-in. For comparison, a metered yellow taxi typically totals $50-$75 once tolls and tip are added, and Uber Black off-peak runs $75-$110 but can spike well beyond that during surge windows. The flat-rate providers all fold tolls and the Manhattan congestion surcharge into the quoted price, so the number you see at booking is the number you pay at drop-off.
Is tip included when I book a car from LGA to Manhattan?
No, gratuity is typically not included in the base fare for a car service from lga airport to nyc — standard practice across most providers is a 15-20% tip added separately, either in cash or on the card used at booking. A few operators bundle gratuity into corporate account billing, so it’s worth asking specifically if you’re booking through a company account rather than as an individual retail customer. Always confirm this detail when reserving your transport from lga airport to nyc rather than assuming, since practices vary enough between providers that guessing wrong either shorts your driver or duplicates a tip you already paid.
What kind of insurance does a legal NYC black car actually carry?
A legal NYC black car carrying 1-7 passengers on a route from lga airport to nyc must hold a minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage under TLC rules — not the $1.5 million figure that circulates online, which applies to a different vehicle-size tier entirely. This is a significantly higher floor than a standard private vehicle’s $25,000 per-person minimum, reflecting the commercial risk of carrying paying passengers. Larger vehicles and stretch limousines face higher minimums than the standard black car tier. You can verify any specific driver or base’s current insurance status directly at tlc.nyc.gov before booking your transfer from lga airport to nyc, which is worth doing if you’re unfamiliar with a provider.
Is a flat-rate car service from LGA actually cheaper than Uber Black?
It depends entirely on timing — Uber Black off-peak, at roughly $75-$110, often undercuts flat-rate black car service for a ride from lga airport to nyc, but LaGuardia sees surge pricing on a substantial share of business-hour trips, and during those windows Uber Black can cost more than a comparable fixed-rate provider. The honest trade-off is predictability versus potential savings: a flat rate never moves regardless of weather, rush hour, or a Sunday-evening demand spike, while Uber Black’s price is locked only at the moment you request the ride. For a traveler with a fixed schedule where a price spike or a driver cancellation would actually cost something — a missed meeting, a connecting flight — the flat rate is generally the safer bet even when it costs slightly more on paper.
How does congestion pricing affect my ride from LGA to Manhattan?
Congestion pricing adds a per-trip surcharge, roughly $1.50 for black cars and rideshare and $0.75 for taxis, on any for-hire vehicle trip from lga airport to nyc that starts, ends, or passes through Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone at or below 60th Street. This is separate from the $9 daily toll that applies to personal vehicles — for-hire vehicle passengers pay the smaller per-trip surcharge instead of the full toll. A federal judge in the Southern District of New York ruled in March 2026 that the federal government’s attempt to revoke the program’s approval was unlawful, and the MTA has continued operating it without interruption since. Flat-rate car services offering transfers from lga airport to nyc typically fold this surcharge into the quoted price, while Uber, Lyft, and taxi riders usually see it itemized as a separate line item on the fare.
What happens if my flight into LaGuardia is delayed — will I still get picked up?
Yes, if you’ve booked a prearranged car service for your transfer from lga airport to nyc and provided your flight number, the driver tracks your flight in real time and adjusts the pickup automatically without you needing to call or rebook. Most established providers include a complimentary wait window after landing — typically 30-60 minutes for domestic arrivals, longer for international — before any additional waiting fee applies, usually around $1-2 per minute after that window closes. The detail worth confirming before you book your ride from lga airport to nyc is whether that free window starts from your flight’s actual wheels-down time or from the originally scheduled arrival time, since that distinction matters if your flight is significantly delayed. Get the exact policy in writing at booking rather than assuming it matches a previous provider’s terms.
Where does my driver actually meet me at LaGuardia?
Your driver typically meets you either curbside at your specific terminal’s arrivals area for your ride from lga airport to nyc or, with a meet-and-greet upgrade, inside the terminal near baggage claim holding a sign with your name. LaGuardia’s post-redevelopment layout has distinct terminals with different airline assignments and pickup zones, so confirming your exact terminal with the dispatcher in advance avoids the driver waiting at the wrong curb. Most providers text driver and vehicle details 30 minutes or more before pickup, which is worth having on hand in case terminal signage is unclear. If you land at a terminal your driver wasn’t expecting for your transfer from lga airport to nyc, call the dispatch number immediately rather than wandering to find the car yourself.
How do I verify a driver’s TLC license before I get in the car?
You can verify any NYC for-hire driver’s TLC license directly at tlc.nyc.gov/industry/verify-a-license/, which takes under a minute and confirms both the driver’s license and the base they’re affiliated with for your lga airport to nyc transfer. Check that the license plate on the vehicle matches what the app or dispatcher confirmed, and that the driver’s name matches your booking confirmation before getting in. This step matters most when a driver approaches you inside the terminal without a prearranged booking — taking an unverified ride from lga airport to nyc is illegal under New York State law and strips away the insurance protections a licensed ride carries. A legitimate prearranged service will never have a driver soliciting you directly at baggage claim.
Is it worth paying for a car from LGA airport to NYC instead of taking the Q70 bus?
It depends on your luggage, schedule, and risk tolerance when traveling from lga airport to nyc — the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus connects to the subway for about $2.90 total but takes 45-60 minutes with transfers and stairs, while a car service runs $75-$180 but delivers you directly with no transfers. For a solo traveler with light luggage and no time pressure, the bus is a genuinely reasonable choice and the savings are real. For a business traveler with a meeting to make, checked luggage, or an early-morning departure where a missed connection has a real cost, the door-to-door reliability of a car service usually justifies the premium. There’s no wrong answer here — it’s a direct trade of money against time and predictability.
Can I get a car seat for my kids on a ride from LaGuardia to Manhattan?
Yes, most established car services for transfers from lga airport to nyc offer child safety seats on request, and several — including JetBlack — provide them free rather than as a paid add-on, though policies vary by provider so it’s worth confirming at booking. When you book your ride from lga airport to nyc, specify the ages and number of children so the correct seat type — infant, toddler, or booster — is installed before you land rather than assembled curbside. Uber and Lyft generally do not guarantee car seats are available, which is a meaningful practical difference for families weighing rideshare against a prearranged car service. If a specific seat type isn’t confirmed in writing, call the dispatcher directly rather than assuming it will be handled.
Is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle available for airport car service at LGA?
Yes, wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available for lga airport to nyc transfers, though not every provider stocks them in their standard fleet, so this is worth confirming directly and booking further in advance than a standard sedan request. The TLC requires accessible vehicle options across its licensed for-hire fleet citywide, and dedicated shuttle and black car operators typically offer wheelchair-accessible vans (WAV) on request with advance notice. If you have specific mobility equipment or a particular wheelchair type, describe it when booking your lga airport to nyc ride rather than after arrival, since vehicle assignment for accessible rides often happens earlier in the dispatch process than for standard sedans.
How far ahead should business travelers book an airport car from LGA?
Book your lga airport to nyc transfer at least 24 hours ahead for guaranteed availability and to lock in flat pricing before any demand-driven price movement, though most providers accept same-day bookings depending on fleet supply. For predictably high-demand windows — Sunday evening arrivals, major weather events, or citywide events that fill hotel and car inventory — book further ahead, ideally several days out, since fleet supply tightens noticeably during those periods. A business traveler with a fixed meeting time benefits most from booking their lga airport to nyc ride early enough to also confirm the grace period and cancellation policy in writing, rather than scrambling to compare providers the morning of the flight. Same-day bookings are usually possible in a pinch but carry more risk of a smaller vehicle selection.
Does rush-hour traffic make car service from LGA unreliable?
No, rush-hour traffic doesn’t make car service unreliable in terms of pickup, but it does affect travel time — the same lga airport to nyc trip that takes 20-25 minutes off-peak can stretch to 45 minutes or more during the 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. windows, largely due to backups on the Grand Central Parkway, LaGuardia’s main access route. What a flat-rate car service does control is price predictability: the fare doesn’t change regardless of how long the drive takes, which is the opposite of a metered taxi or a surging rideshare during the same traffic window. For a genuinely time-sensitive lga airport to nyc ride during rush hour, build in extra buffer time regardless of which transportation option you choose — no provider can out-drive Grand Central Parkway at 5 p.m.
Sources
- NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. “Vehicle Insurance Requirements.” TLC.nyc.gov. Accessed August 2026.
- NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. “Vehicle Insurance Requirements Chart.” TLC.nyc.gov. Updated 2021, current as of 2026 verification.
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. “Congestion Surcharge.” Tax.ny.gov. Accessed August 2026.
- Black Car NYC. “NYC Congestion Pricing 2026: What Riders Actually Pay.” Accessed August 2026.
- Detailed Drivers. “Best Way from LaGuardia (LGA) to Manhattan.” Detaileddrivers.com. 2026.
- True North VIP. “NYC Car Service Cost in 2026: Real Prices, Real Operators, No Surge.” Accessed August 2026.
- Trustpilot. “JetBlack Transportation Reviews.” Accessed August 2026.
- Tripadvisor. “Jet Black Transportation Reviews.” Accessed August 2026.
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. LaGuardia Airport passenger statistics. 2024 data.
About This Article: This article was written and submitted through the JetBlack contributor platform using a disclosed fictional contributor persona regarding lga airport to nyc transportation options. JetBlack is not responsible for the accuracy, opinions, or conclusions expressed in this article. All facts, data, and claims are the sole responsibility of the named author. Readers should verify all information independently before making travel or booking decisions for their lga airport to nyc transfer.
All information and data referenced in this article are sourced from publicly available online sources including government bodies, established news outlets, industry publications, and credible company websites. Full citations are provided in the Sources section above. Produced in editorial partnership with JetBlack (jetblacktransportation.com). Recommendations are based on independently verified pricing, official TLC and NYC DOT data, and customer review analysis pulled from Trustpilot and TripAdvisor — including critical reviews. Sponsored content is clearly separated from editorial findings.
METHODOLOGY: Pricing data sourced from provider websites and TLC rate schedules. Regulatory figures verified at tlc.nyc.gov and tax.ny.gov. Review case studies drawn from published Trustpilot and TripAdvisor reviews accessed August 20, 2026.
CONTACT & CORRECTIONS: Physical dispatch: 34 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001. 24-hour reservations: +1 646-214-4828. Editorial corrections: editorials@jetblacktransportation.com
DISCLAIMER:All prices, regulatory requirements, and operational details for your lga airport to nyc transfer are verified as of August 20, 2026 and subject to change. TLC insurance minimums, congestion pricing surcharges, and taxi flat rates are set by public agencies. Verify current figures at tlc.nyc.gov and nyc.gov/dot before booking your lga airport to nyc ride. Any reliance on this content is at your own risk.
SPONSORSHIP DISCLOSURE: This content is produced in partnership with JetBlack. The sponsor did not review or approve editorial content prior to publication. Negative review findings and competitor comparisons are included at editorial discretion and were not subject to sponsor approval.
