Hauling Passengers: The Short Haul Money-Making Machine

March 20, 3304: My oculus was down for two months, but now it's back. I'm seriously behind in updating this article for passenger mission changes (constant changes from Frontiers recently). But now I'll research and start getting this information up to date! Please consider this article UNDER CONSTRUCTION.



If you are not a miner, and not a fighter, and prefer to make credits hauling stuff, I propose that short hauling passengers is currently the fastest way to earn money for your next ship.

But, Javelin, what about the long range Passenger Explorer missions? Allied factions are paying tens of millions of credits per mission.

Okay, if you really love looking at hyperspace tunnels and death-inducing suns, go for it. There are plenty of explorer pilots in our galaxy, and hauling passengers while you explore is a perfectly valid way to go. It's just not my preference. I logged my own passenger explorer mission experience here:

Hauling Passengers Instead of Cargo: Explorer Missions

If you want to see my short haul earnings history and relevant stats, they are here:

The Passenger Price Index

I have many short haul missions under my belt now (6,500+ passengers carried), and here are the tips I have for other pilots looking to enter the passenger game.

V3.0+ Price Changes
Initial tests are showing that payout rates have been cut on v.3.0+. But I will continue to re-test ships on the Rhea to LQ Hydrae run. My first impressions are:

• Smaller ships have taken an earnings hit more than the larger ships
• Bulk economy cabin transport mission pay rates are lower: $2.5 to $3.0 million payout rates from last year are gone, replaced by $1.0 to $1.5 million rates.
• First and business class transport mission pay rates are way up. For example, I am finding generous first class transport missions paying $5 to $6+ million for taking around 30 passengers from Rhea to LQ Hydrae. Prior to 3.0 the pay rates were not this high for first and business class. I have not yet checked the luxury cabin pay rates.

I already know about passengers - tell me how to make money with them...
I see. You are a bottom line kind of commander. I respect that. Based on what I've seen, here are the steps to maximize profits from passenger runs:

• Find the right system. The "transport" passenger mission payout amount appears to increase based on the distance of the destination station from the jump-in point

For example: 
Station X is 10,000 LS from Star Y
Station A is 30,000 LS from Star B

The missions going to Station A are going to pay more credits than Station X. 

Your goal would be to find a nearby system that has a steady supply of missions going to Station A.

A popular system that fits this scenarios is Rhea to LQ Hydrae. Operating out of any of the Federal stations in Rhea, you will find transport missions running to Wohlers Horizons station in LQ Hydrae. Wohlers is around 14,000 LS from the jump-in point.

• Cram your ship with cabins. If you have an optional internal slot of Class 2 through 6, considering slamming a passenger cabin in it. Run without shields and stick to solo and private game modes to avoid human pirates who can ruin your day. I find that a mix of economy, business, and first class cabins allows me to accept a wider range of missions and stack them in the ship on the same run.
• Flip the boards and stack as many missions as possible. Don't launch until you have filled as many cabins as you can. 
• Take missions that return to your home station. Eventually you will have allied reputation at both stations and maximizing your revenue in both directions. It can take quite a long time to build up to allied rep on both sides, however.

DETAILED PASSENGER GUIDE:

Outfit your ship for passengers

Nov 3303 - Cabin outfit update in progress.  I am currently running tests on multiple ships (including smaller ships) to evaluate their earnings potential using the Rhea to LQ Hydrae run. That article will be updated here:

Short Haul Earnings by Ship

I am re-outfitting my ships for dedicated passenger transport rather than multi-purpose. As I finish tests I will post the cabin outfitting below. 

SHIP             - CABIN
Type 9           - 3 x 6E Economy  (96)
                 - 1 x 5E Economy  (16)
                 - 2 x 4E Economy  (16)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 128
          Typical Stacked Missions: TBD 

Python           - 3 x 6C First    (36)
                 - 2 x 5E Economy  (32)
                 - 1 x 4E Economy  (8)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 76
          Typical Stacked Missions: 5 - 7 

Type 7           - 3 x 6C First    (36)
                 - 2 x 5D Business (20)
                 - 1 x 5E Economy  (16)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 72
          Typical Stacked Missions: 5 

SHIP             - CABIN
Type 6           - 2 x 5E Economy  (32)
                 - 2 x 4D Business (12)
                 - 1 x 3E Economy  (4)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 48
          Typical Stacked Missions: 5 

Imperial Clipper - 2 x 6C First    (24)
                 - 2 x 4D Business (12)
                 - 2 x 3E Economy  (8)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 44
          Typical Stacked Missions: 3 - 5 
     
Asp Explorer     - 1 x 6D Business (16)
                 - 1 x 5D Business (10)
                 - 3 x 3E Economy  (12)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 38
          Typical Stacked Missions: 2 - 4

SHIP             - CABIN
Cobra Mk III     - 1 x 4D Business (6)
                 - 1 x 4D Business (6)
                 - 1 x 4E Economy  (8)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 20
          Typical Stacked Missions: 2 - 3

Diamondback Exp  - 2 x 4D Business (12)
                 - 2 x 3D Business (6)
                  TOTAL PASSENGERS: 18
          Typical Stacked Missions: 2 - 3

KEEP A SMALL CARGO RACK
It is important to keep at least a small (4 to 8) cargo rack in your ship. It is not uncommon for passengers to give you cargo as a reward for a successful mission, and if you do not have available cargo space, you cannot turn in the mission.

If you are turning in six passenger missions at once and hear the message from the computer that your "cargo hold is at maximum capacity", then you will not be able to turn in any other missions that are awarding you cargo. Exit the passenger lounge and go sell the cargo in the market. Then return and complete your other missions.

WEAPONS AND SHIELDS AS YOU SEE FIT
I like to maintain basic weapon defenses for the oddball successful interdiction of my ship. But, honestly, it does not happen that often. Maybe one mission in ten?

Passenger Cabin Types and Capacities
There are four passenger cabin types:

• Luxury
• First Class
• Business Class
• Economy

Cabins have a Class rating of 2 to 6, and a Rating of B, C, D, or E. Higher classes generally allow for more passengers per cabin:

• 2E Economy: 2 Passengers
• 3E Economy: 4
• 4E Economy: 8
• 5E Economy: 16
• 6E Economy: 32

     ************************

• 3D Business: 3
• 4D Business: 6
• 5D Business: 10
• 6D Business: 16

     ************************

• 4C First: 3
• 5C First: 6
• 6C First: 12

     ************************

• 5B Luxury: 4
• 6B Luxury: 8

The following links show:

1. How many of each type of cabin could fit into each ship (assuming you dedicate all internal slots to cabins):

Passenger Cabins by Ship

2. How many total passengers of each cabin type could fit into each ship:

Passengers by Cabin Type


REGARDING LUXURY CABINS: Luxury cabins are only available to install on the Beluga, Orca, and Dolphin. When I talk to other Commanders about the factions offering luxury missions, they all say the same thing: The luxury missions do not offer significantly more credits or other incentives compared to passenger missions in other cabin types. So if you like how the passenger liners look - by all means buy them and fly safe. But if you are investing in a big Beluga just for the sake of accessing luxury missions, you will not see much difference in the rewards.

For running short haul transport missions, the Beluga does NOT make more revenue than the Anaconda (but it is close). Luxury missions do not make up the revenue short fall.

REGARDING PASSENGER TYPES AND CABIN SHARING:

VIP PASSENGERS: VIP passenger missions are indicated with a "crown" icon above the suitcase:

A VIP passenger and their entourage will occupy the ENTIRE cabin to which they are assigned. So if you have a VIP party of two, and assign them to a 16-seat business class cabin, you cannot assign any other missions to that cabin.

NON-VIP PASSENGERS: Non-VIP passengers (no crown icon) are not as fussy. They are housed by seat rather than cabin. Outfitting the SAME TYPE of passenger cabin allows you to spread non-VIPs across more than one cabin, if needed. If a mission requires 20 seats, you cannot split the passengers across a First Class (12) and a Business Class (10) cabin. But you can assign the mission to two First Class or two Business Class cabins, depending on which type of cabin the customer requires.

You can also house multiple non-VIP passenger missions in the same cabins, as long as the maximum capacity is not exceeded.

How cabins display on the mission accept screen:
If you are selecting a cabin for a party that exceeds the cabin type, the selection screen will actually combine and show the cabin type as one large cabin. If you have two Business Class cabins at 10 passengers each, and accept a mission carrying 15 passengers, the business class cabins will be shown as one cabin with a capacity of 20.

On the mission details screen you can see how many passengers are in the party, and the minimum type of cabin they require:

To maximize revenue, build up rep with local factions
Find a system that is in 'boom' status. Or check with Redditors to find out which systems have profitable missions at the moment. It changes periodically. Well-populated systems are less prone to civil war and lockdown. Those system states can reduce availability of passenger missions.

Then start grinding missions for the local factions...over and over and over (and over...and holy shit what do I have to do to get these factions to like me!?). Until you get to Allied status. As your status goes higher, you will be offered more profitable missions. Also keep in mind that you should select a system affiliated with a major power, if you also want to gain military rank. (Link - Ranking up with major powers...)


Understand how mission type affects ranks

EXPLORATION: Passenger missions that mention "Sight Seeing" are the medium to long-range explorer type missions. They earn you Explorer rank.

TRANSPORTATION: Passenger missions that mention "Transport" are short haul missions, and they earn you Trade rank. I make most of my profit on transport missions. Transport customers tend to not have as many special preferences that might cause the mission to fail (hull damage, secretive, etc.).


Carry 'wanted' passengers at your own risk
When you are looking at the mission details screen for a passenger, there will be a note if the passenger is wanted in some systems. If you accept this passenger on your ship, and are in a system where the passenger is considered a criminal, stations defenses and local enforcement ships will attack you immediately if your ship is scanned.

If you carry criminals you have to take steps to avoid ship scans (silent running, etc.). I generally avoid the criminal missions altogether.

Watch out for privacy freaks! 
Keep an eye out for passengers that do not like to be scanned. It will be indicated in the mission description with the key word "secretive":

Typically, if you get scanned twice, the passenger will fail your mission.

I had a medium range mission where my ship was scanned when departing. I then spent an hour jumping to three sight seeing destinations. I was scanned upon my return, and the passenger ejected just outside the home station, taking their millions of credits with them.

Nov 3303: I have stumbled across a method for carrying secretive passengers that seems to work:

• Run without shields (recommended only for solo or private mode), which lowers your heat signature and reduces chances of getting scanned
• Do not boost your engines when departing or approaching stations

Following those two rules, I am only rarely scanned at stations and am able to complete secretive passenger missions.

Other passenger characteristics to watch for
Don't get excited about a large contract fee a passenger is willing to pay and trip all over yourself escorting them to the nearest cabin with a neck pillow and gin and tonic. Take a breath. Look at the missions details for important information about the passenger under "PASSENGER TRAITS":

If any of these traits give you pause, and some of them should, then tell that passenger that your ship is being sterilized from an outbreak of Chlamydial-Pemphigus. Watch how fast they run away from your landing bay! 

Passenger traits: I'm taking artistic license with these descriptions - look at the mission screen for specific wording!

• Danger rabbits: If you suffer hull damage from ANY source (attack, getting stuck in the mail slot), these passengers are likely to hit the eject button first and leave you a bad review on Galnet later
• Laid back 420s: The 420 passengers don't worry about how long it takes you to deliver them to their destination
• Time sensitive assholes: Get impatient quickly
• Low value target: You are not as likely to get attacked during the journey 
• High value target: Hostile forces are likely to attack you
• Neutral: Illegal actions do not affect satisfaction
• Religious fundamentalists: "Excuse me, Commander. Did I hear you just got issued a fine for blocking that landing pad? Yes? YOU ARE GOING TO HELL! I AM OUTTA HERE!"
• Demanding divas: Will ask you for shit that really wastes your time and does not offer much extra money (see section below for "completely ignore your passengers' in-flight demands").

Stack missions to the same stations where possible
In most cases, when I pull up the passenger missions board, there are usually two to three transport missions that go to the exact same system / station combination. This is the easiest way to raise your hourly credit earnings. Be sure to check all of the local factions for missions going to the same place.


Even if you don't stack, fill your passenger cabins!
You're in the passenger hauling business to make money, yes? Or is it just because you love unreasonable demands from unruly people? Don't launch from your station until you have filled as many seats as possible. Just try to pick missions that are in systems near each other, in order to be as efficient as possible.


Flip the mission board as needed to refresh the options
If the board is not showing you many profitable missions, exit and change your play mode from open-to-solo or solo-to-open. This refreshes your game instance and gives you fresh missions to choose from.


Completely ignore your passengers' in-flight demands
It is common for passengers to send you messages during transport. These show up as a notification in your comms panel:

...find me some new clothes, servant. I want to be more comfortable

...I know you've just jumped three systems and landed at the agreed upon station, but our destination has changed to Leesti. Please take us there

Do NOT open the comms panel and view the messages! Just ignore them. Unless you enjoy the aspect of a customer treating you like a servant, the extra demands they make are not worth it. If I'm transporting twenty-four politicians twelve light years for $2.1M, the extra $10K they offer to find them Domestic Appliances three systems away is not worth my time.

If you do not open the message, you can still complete the mission with NO PENALTY in customer satisfaction.

Why can't I turn in my passenger mission?
There are several possible sources of trouble here:

1. Scan passenger beacon? If it was a sight seeing mission, did you scan the beacon at the passenger's destination? If so, the passenger should have sent a message to your comms panel about being ready to return to the station.

2. Is your cargo hold full? Some passenger missions give you cargo as a reward. Check your cargo hold to make sure it has enough space to receive whatever rewards are coming from the passenger missions.

3. Is your material or data storage full? Same deal as the cargo hold. Some passengers award data or material. Check your material and data tabs to make sure you have empty space to receive the passenger rewards.

Suggestions?
Do you have suggestions or pointers that might help me improve my revenue? Please leave a comment below. Or simply share your own results.