Emirates chauffeur entitlement question

[kelvedon]

I have flight coming up in March where I get a chauffeur car for Venice VCE.
I have a friend on same flight in Y, staying in same hotel, and wondering if I can bring him along. The online booking doesn't provide option for number of pax (I guess as I am solo traveller on the flight booking). Should I ring Emirates here in Oz before leaving?



Supplementary question - once we get to VCE can I take my friend into the Marco Polo lounge as a guest ?

If your staying in the old town they send a boat, which is a cool way to arrive.

"Complimentary transfers are provided either by motor boat or by vehicle, at the discretion of the service provider and depending upon location / distance. Customers to arrange with the hotel for baggage porterage services to/from the pick-up and drop-off point (pontoon), nearest to the hotel, when transfers are by motor boat"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A quick question - the terms and conditions of the EK chauffeur drive (QF award flying EK) state that cars are not available at transit points. Yet in the booking it gives the options for cars to be booked during a DXB transit, and even in the USA when connecting off EK to a US domestic operated by AA (same ticket, no stopover).

If the option is there to book, will they honour that, or cancel once they review and see the passenger is in transit?

 

[kelvedon]

A quick question - the terms and conditions of the EK chauffeur drive (QF award flying EK) state that cars are not available at transit points. Yet in the booking it gives the options for cars to be booked during a DXB transit, and even in the USA when connecting off EK to a US domestic operated by AA (same ticket, no stopover).

If the option is there to book, will they honour that, or cancel once they review and see the passenger is in transit?

This recent article in Australian business traveller infers it's available when the transit is more than 24 hours.

"Chauffeur Drive can also be used at a mid-point in the journey when in transit for 24 hours or more – so if you're flying from Sydney to Dubai, spending some time in Dubai and continuing onward a couple of days later, you can enjoy free airport transfers on departure in Sydney, on arrival in Dubai, when departing Dubai and also when arriving at your final destination."

Review: Emirates Chauffeur Drive

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This recent article in Australian business traveller infers it's available when the transit is more than 24 hours.

"Chauffeur Drive can also be used at a mid-point in the journey when in transit for 24 hours or more – so if you're flying from Sydney to Dubai, spending some time in Dubai and continuing onward a couple of days later, you can enjoy free airport transfers on departure in Sydney, on arrival in Dubai, when departing Dubai and also when arriving at your final destination."

Review: Emirates Chauffeur Drive

Thanks. Perhaps I should have made that part more clear - transits are only a few hours in Dubai and in the USA between flights. But the option is there to book cars at each stage. Although booked as a multi-city, it is a single award zone (not constructed by adding several awards together).

 

[ayebee]

While the extra passenger is outside the T&Cs, there are several positive posts on FT, so I'd think it's worth a try.

And unless you have gold or platinum status, your friend would have to pay for lounge access.

Just to close the loop for future searches ...
I contacted Emirates via the online chat facility and they were happy for the extra passenger but wanted their name and booking reference to verify they were travelling.
and you were spot on re lounge access for a guest.

 

[Happy Trails]

A quick question - the terms and conditions of the EK chauffeur drive (QF award flying EK) state that cars are not available at transit points. Yet in the booking it gives the options for cars to be booked during a DXB transit, and even in the USA when connecting off EK to a US domestic operated by AA (same ticket, no stopover).

If the option is there to book, will they honour that, or cancel once they review and see the passenger is in transit?

I had a 17 hour transit at DXB last week where I used the service to stay overnight at a hotel in the city. This also being a QF award ticket.
There was also the option to book a transfer on the return trip, even though the transit then was only 1hr30min.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had a 17 hour transit at DXB last week where I used the service to stay overnight at a hotel in the city. This also being a QF award ticket.
There was also the option to book a transfer on the return trip, even though the transit then was only 1hr30min.

Hmm. Thanks. I wonder if it is because it is an award ticket the system sees it as a set of individual flights and allows the car bookings for each?

 

[downgraded]

We have a QF J award flight on EK from SYD but the first sector is QF J from Mel to Syd (same PNR).
EK CD shows we can get CD to Syd, but wondering if anyone knows of they'd do CD to Mel instead as that's the beginning of our trip and obviously they do otherwise offer CD in MEL?

Thanks for your wisdom...

 

[jase05]

We have a QF J award flight on EK from SYD but the first sector is QF J from Mel to Syd (same PNR).
EK CD shows we can get CD to Syd, but wondering if anyone knows of they'd do CD to Mel instead as that's the beginning of our trip and obviously they do otherwise offer CD in MEL?

Thanks for your wisdom...

We only recently have done similar. QF J ADL-MEL and then MEL-DXB QF on EK.
Had CD at ADL and also from Melbourne to MEL. Go to Manage your bookings on the QF site and it should list the flights you are eligible for CD

 

[downgraded]

We only recently have done similar. QF J ADL-MEL and then MEL-DXB QF on EK.
Had CD at ADL and also from Melbourne to MEL. Go to Manage your bookings on the QF site and it should list the flights you are eligible for CD

Thanks. I looked on the EK site and only found the EK flights. Now looking on the QF flight I can book CD for my QF domestic leg

 

[jveevers]

Recently flew Perth-LHR return on Emirates with a QF award flight. Although transit time in Dubai was only 4 hours each way, I had the option to book complimentary CD from/to DXB both ways. I didn't avail but I guess I could have taken a quick trip into Dubai and back to airport in that 4 hours.

 

[straitman]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

 

[ayebee]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

Admittedly a few months back and not quite the same, but a few months back I wanted to check if acceptable to bring a friend from hotel to airport. I rang the Emirates service and they were very helpful and it was OK. Even though it sounds like you are 2 passengers each entitled to a car, a quick call could resolve whether they can send a suitable car that can take your 3 suitcases. More pleasant to travel to the airport together and probably save them some money in the process.

 

[avaction]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

We had four suitcases + four "carry ons" on a recent (August 2018) 1st class award flight to Manchester so booked two chauffeur drive cars. When we arrived they arranged a Mercedes Estate Car (Station Wagon). Personally I would book two cars.

 

[jase05]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

What size cases?
On a recent uses of the CD in Melbourne and Adelaide we had 2x large cases plus 2 carry on cases and had no problems. One of the carry on’s was placed on the rear seat however so if you have 3x large cases it might not work. The CD company was very good and called us 2 days out to go over pick up time, location etc and asked about the luggage situation and if we required a larger vehicle or not

 

[Pushka]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

Experience from this week. Son and his new bride travelled from Manchester to Dubai - chauffeur at collection point and drop off in Dubai. Dubai - Sydney (forced overnight) - Adelaide. Chauffeur provided Dubai to airport, Syd airport to Hotel, Hotel next day to Syd airport, Chauffeur from Adelaide airport to home. Luggage - 2 large suitcases. 1 smaller suitcase, 2 carryons! 1 car.

Mention the luggage when they call each time. As you are entitled to a car each then its in their interests to help you sort.

 

[straitman]

What size cases?
On a recent uses of the CD in Melbourne and Adelaide we had 2x large cases plus 2 carry on cases and had no problems. One of the carry on’s was placed on the rear seat however so if you have 3x large cases it might not work. The CD company was very good and called us 2 days out to go over pick up time, location etc and asked about the luggage situation and if we required a larger vehicle or not

Cases are standard 23Kg type (no idea of dimensions) and not great big things.

I guess I'll book two and talk to them.

Thanks everyone.

 

[downgraded]

Experience from this week. Son and his new bride travelled from Manchester to Dubai - chauffeur at collection point and drop off in Dubai. Dubai - Sydney (forced overnight) - Adelaide. Chauffeur provided Dubai to airport, Syd airport to Hotel, Hotel next day to Syd airport, Chauffeur from Adelaide airport to home. Luggage - 2 large suitcases. 1 smaller suitcase, 2 carryons! 1 car.

Mention the luggage when they call each time. As you are entitled to a car each then its in their interests to help you sort.

Interesting. My EK CD doesn't offer me MEL transfers where I start my QF award flight via SYD with a domestic connection. It only shows up on the QF booking, but my QF CD doesn't offer me LHR transfers, only show up on my EK booking (all booked as a QF award, but with QF and EK flight numbers).
So I'm expecting to just book the transfers with the respective CD services as the options present themselves. Hopefully this is going to work!

 

[Pushka]

Interesting. My EK CD doesn't offer me MEL transfers where I start my QF award flight via SYD with a domestic connection. It only shows up on the QF booking, but my QF CD doesn't offer me LHR transfers, only show up on my EK booking (all booked as a QF award, but with QF and EK flight numbers).
So I'm expecting to just book the transfers with the respective CD services as the options present themselves. Hopefully this is going to work!

How long away is the trip? I was surprised the domestic legs kicked in and maybe they didn’t load immediately either. About 2 weeks prior we went through the trip again and I didn’t see the option but the fiancée suggested I click something else - think it was the flight prior and the drop down function showed all the domestic legs as bookable also but it wasn’t apparent from looking at the base flights as they were all the international options.

 

[BD1959]

I've just read through this whole thread and wonder if anyone has any more recent experiences. We are going to use CD from Melbourne CBD to Tullamarine. Trouble is we have three suit cases between us which is 'over the limit'

Is it more appropriate to book 2 cars or risk the extra case as being acceptable?

Hi straitman,

Just this week, had four suitcases plus two carry-ons between two of us for a CD pick-up at BHX. Called EK to request a larger car (rather than 2) - took some time on the phone as they liaised directly with the UK Supplier, also describing the four suitcases (2 large, 2 medium ... whatever that means) but EK were happy to oblige even though this was within 24hrs of the pick-up.

Regards,

BD