A $30,000 Helicopter or $150 Train: World Cup Transit Is a Mess

Millions of fans gearing up for this year’s FIFA World Cup have already been hit with sticker shock over ticket prices. Now many are realizing that getting to the stadiums — especially in US cities — will likely be costly, chaotic or time consuming. And perhaps all three.

For those with deep pockets in New York and Boston, one option is a helicopter to soar over the traffic gridlock, costing as much as $30,000 for a group of eight passengers. More down-market options include rental cars and Ubers, though those come with their own issues, including surge pricing and inflated ...