Which companies offer limousines to their passengers
The war to pamper the most exclusive passengers is being fought both on board and on the ground. If the lounges of [...]
Turkish Airlines
Swiss
Lufthansa
Etihad Airways
Emirates
Air Canada
Star Alliance
SkyTeam
The war to pamper the most exclusive passengers is being fought both on board and on the ground. If first-class lounges are true sanctuaries with star chefs in the sky, there are those who offer 5-star beds, showers, wine lists, and treatments.
In this article:
There is, however, a service that aims to pamper passengers even before they arrive at the airport, namely the private driver who arrives downstairs to pick up the passenger and escorts him or her, sometimes, even directly under the plane.
The types of chauffeurs offered
A small premise must be made: there are up to two different types of chaffuer offered by the companies.
- There are companies that go to the passenger's home And they take him to the airport
- There are companies that escort the passenger under the plane and/or they take the passenger who has just landed
There is only one airline in the world that picks up the passenger at home, escorts him or her to the airport in the lounge dedicated to the most exclusive passengers, and then takes him or her under the airplane ladder By having him board first (or last as he prefers).
Who goes to the passenger's home
Emirates private driver
The Dubai-based company is definitely the one that offers this service most widely, although with covid some areas have not been reactivated and although service has been reduced and restricted in recent years. Here are rules and restrictions:
- The benefit is for business and first class passengers only. Beware, however, that if you buy a business light ticket it is not included, it is also not included for those who book an award ticket or use points to upgrade from economy to business class.
- The service is active both on departure and arrival. This means that you will be picked up at home, or at the hotel and taken to your destination.
- Service coverage is over almost the entire network, although as mentioned some areas are no longer covered after the covid stop.
- A Dubai the service is free of charge to any destination in the emirates, with no distance limitation. In other areas, there is a maximum distance that can be traveled.
In Italy the service is offered in Milan, Rome, Venice and Bologna, airports where Emirates flies regularly. The first two airports are served with A380s, while the other two airports are served with 777/300s. The maximum mileage is 50 miles. I live in the province of Savona, and I am not in the covered area.
Being cheap, I usually leave my car in an interchange parking lot in Milan, which costs significantly less than the park at Malpensa and I get picked up/returned by the driver.
Turkish Airlines limousine
The Turkish company's service is the second most popular in the world, although it would appear to have its days numbered. In fact, it is currently guaranteed until early September 2023, unless extended. What is special is that this benefit is available not only to business class passengers, but can also be booked by those traveling in economy (for a fee).
- The service is operational from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Cairo, Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Dhaka, Nairobi, Riyadh, Dammam, Amman, Jeddah, Bahrain to destinations in the U.S. and Canada on Turkish Airlines or vice versa.
- Business passengers can use the private driver free of charge class (in fare classes C, D, J, K and Z), so award tickets and upgrade tickets are excluded from this benefit.
- The maximum distance is 56km (or 35 miles) and is bookable within 24 hours from the start.
- Passengers traveling in tourist class Can avail themselves to the service for a fee.
Etihad's Chauffeur
There was a time when Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, thought it would become bigger than Emirates and therefore offered private chauffeuring like its sister company in Dubai.
- The service is operational only in Abu Dhabi, so only for those arriving or departing from the Emirates airport. There is no distance limit, you are taken anywhere within the UAE
- Business and first class passengers can book the transfer for free. EY also removed this benefit from award tickets, or from those who upgraded with points.
- Passengers who have Gold or Platinum status in the Etihad Guest loyalty program are also entitled to service on award tickets
Air China's cars
China's largest airline offers private chauffeur only for those departing from or arriving in China.
- Service available only at airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xi'an
- Depending on the destination of the flight, the rules change of using the service. First class and business class passengers going to Europe, the Americas, Africa and Oceania can request it free of charge. If the destination is to Asia, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan one must be at least Silver in the Phoenix loyalty program. Air China also offers the service to first class passengers on domestic flights, but in this case you must also be Gold in the airline's frequent flyer program.
- You get nothing if you travel with an award ticket.
- It is necessary to Book at least 48 hours before takeoff And the distance varies depending on the route.
SriLankan, only for very few passengers
This is perhaps the most exclusive benefit of all the airlines offering this service: the flag carrier of the island in the Indian Ocean offers this benefit only to passengers departing from London Heathrow.
- Service offered to all business passengers classes landing or departing from London Heathrow.
- The reachable distance is 30 miles (just under 50km)
- Must be booked within 24 hours from the start
Who brings the passenger under the plane
Lufthansa
First-class passengers of the German airline, as well as those from Swiss, can enjoy the limousine service that takes passengers from the first-class lounge directly under the plane's ladder. The same is done for passengers arriving at the Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich hubs. This benefit is also extended to passengers who have HON Circle status in the Miles&More program. Needless to say, the service is offered on board Porsche Cayennes or luxurious BMW and Mercedes sedans.
Air Canada and Porsches
Since last year, the Canadian flag carrier has been "randomly" surprising its most special customers with the pick-up service directly to the track upon their arrival. The service is offered only at Toronto's Pearson Airport and is reserved for passengers who travel business class and have status in the Aeroplan program.
Delta's Porsches
Delta's chauffeur service is unlike any other. The team is designed only and exclusively for those with Diamond and 360° status and enters the scene only if the passenger is in danger of missing a connection. In its HUBs, the American carrier has cars, Porsches, not even to mention, ready to spring onto the runway to greet the arriving passenger and bring him or her at lightning speed under the plane on the next flight.
More rarely, the service is offered as a "gift" to passengers who find themselves "unknowingly" sitting in the leather seats of German supercars instead of on the bus.
And then there's Air France's La Premiere.
As stated, there is only one airline that offers service in and out of the airport and that is Air France for the few lucky passengers of the La Premiere, first class aboard a few 777/300s.
- Passengers who have a route in La Premiere. can take advantage of this service.
- The service is active only in France and Dubai. In France it is offered for those with flights departing from Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice. Outside France it is offered only in the United Arab Emirates, probably to counter Emirates and Etihad.
- Must be booked within six hours in advance Of departure by calling Air France
Passengers departing from Paris are taken directly into the airport in the La Premiere lounge, those arriving on a connecting flight, on the other hand, do not have to do anything: they are waited outside the door of the plane and escorted to the track and from there, in a car taken to the lounge.
When the time comes for boarding, the passenger is again Escorted aboard the car under the ladder and accompanied on board the plane. The same is true when arriving in Paris and departing for a short/medium-range destination where La Premiere is not present.
In conclusion
These are the airlines that offer this service to their passengers. As mentioned, it is a benefit that is becoming increasingly rare-when we consider that the airlines that offer first class do not offer it for anyone, such as Qatar, British Airways, or Qantas, one appreciates even more the pampering of those who do.
