Qantas Chauffeur service - General Questions/Advice

[pagingjoan]

Have only had one CD experience (in Singapore, EK chauffeur before EK metal flight, though all booked through QF ticket). Did not get a call before and the gentleman simply arrived 15 minutes before pickup time. Are calls usual? I'll be taking CD at peak hour from London city to Heathrow - would like to organise an earlier time if I can.

Yes, in my experience at least, there is a call the day before the pick up. I've used the service in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, London and Dubai and cannot recall an occasion when there was not an advance call - and a message left, with contact details, if the call was missed.

 

[amaroo]

Have only had one CD experience (in Singapore, EK chauffeur before EK metal flight, though all booked through QF ticket). Did not get a call before and the gentleman simply arrived 15 minutes before pickup time. Are calls usual? I'll be taking CD at peak hour from London city to Heathrow - would like to organise an earlier time if I can.

My experience is LAX and DFW - no call x three eligible CD bookings. Pretty piss poor IMHO!

 

[kermatu]

I would have had some LAX CD experiences in November / December had the service not been enhanced.

 

[amaroo]

I would have had some LAX CD experiences in November / December had the service not been enhanced.

I hardly use the service as I live outside the zone....the price they want to charge is ridiculous. I organise my own service which results in a better drive with clear communication at a far better price.

 

[pagingjoan]

I hardly use the service as I live outside the zone....the price they want to charge is ridiculous. I organise my own service which results in a better drive with clear communication at a far better price.

I understand that it would be quite different in your circumstances, amaroo. For us, though, living in the CBD of a capital city, it has always worked perfectly. Drivers have arrived early, called to confirm where they were waiting, and provided a smooth and professional service for the transfer to the airport. Arrivals service has been trouble-free, too. And we've been able to use the LHR service under a range of travel conditions, including early morning arrivals, with appointments in London and onward flights later that day, which has been a real benefit.

We paid a supplement once, for a transfer outside the BNE zone, but it suited us we'll at the time, with more luggage than usual, a delayed flight from Europe, and a Qld wedding to attend. Again, good service and worked well for us.

 

[VPS]

I had the chauffeur drive in London in April - can't remember the name of the company (started with C I think) - they rang the day before and I did ring and change it once but I was very underwhelmed with the driver - he had a box of unopened water bottles in the boot but when I got in the car there was a half empty bottle next to my seat. I know it was the day of the tube strike and the traffic was horrendous but most drivers I've had in London (not just black cabs but proper mini cab companies) know enough back streets to avoid the worst of it - a couple of times he took off down side streets with no idea where he was going and then had to come back onto the main road again because it was a dead end or a loop) - I did mean to contact the company when I came back but a few other issues side-tracked me.

 

[pagingjoan]

I had the chauffeur drive in London in April - can't remember the name of the company (started with C I think) - they rang the day before and I did ring and change it once but I was very underwhelmed with the driver - he had a box of unopened water bottles in the boot but when I got in the car there was a half empty bottle next to my seat. I know it was the day of the tube strike and the traffic was horrendous but most drivers I've had in London (not just black cabs but proper mini cab companies) know enough back streets to avoid the worst of it - a couple of times he took off down side streets with no idea where he was going and then had to come back onto the main road again because it was a dead end or a loop) - I did mean to contact the company when I came back but a few other issues side-tracked me.

That's not a good experience. It's a bit late for feedback now but, if you are booking the service again in the future, perhaps you could report it, in general terms, at that time. LHR service used to be Carey, I think? Don't know who provides it now.

 

[amaroo]

I understand that it would be quite different in your circumstances, amaroo. For us, though, living in the CBD of a capital city, it has always worked perfectly. Drivers have arrived early, called to confirm where they were waiting, and provided a smooth and professional service for the transfer to the airport. Arrivals service has been trouble-free, too. And we've been able to use the LHR service under a range of travel conditions, including early morning arrivals, with appointments in London and onward flights later that day, which has been a real benefit.

We paid a supplement once, for a transfer outside the BNE zone, but it suited us we'll at the time, with more luggage than usual, a delayed flight from Europe, and a Qld wedding to attend. Again, good service and worked well for us.

The fact no one has called me or the two other eligible passengers on multiply occasions - is a real turn off. Amateurish in the extreme!

 

[Dmac6345]

A little off (but on) topic, but I had the same driver 3 times when QF were offering CD to LAX.
He had his own car but was part of some Taxi Exchange company. Now I use him all the time I head overseas, as he is very reliable, friendly and charges no more than what a taxi would cost.
PS: which is double what he was being paid by QF .

 

[amaroo]

A little off (but on) topic, but I had the same driver 3 times when QF were offering CD to LAX.
He had his own car but was part of some Taxi Exchange company. Now I use him all the time I head overseas, as he is very reliable, friendly and charges no more than what a taxi would cost.
PS: which is double what he was being paid by QF .

These were the guys we had arriving into LAX for QF CD service Limousine New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas we've used them West and East coast - excellent!

 

[pagingjoan]

The fact no one has called me or the two other eligible passengers on multiply occasions - is a real turn off. Amateurish in the extreme!

I agree with you. That would be a total turn off for me, too. But it has never happened to me, as yet. (Cross fingers.)
Curious that there is such a difference in experience.
Were you able to extract any explanation from the Chauffeur service or QF, after the failures?

 

[VPS]

That's not a good experience. It's a bit late for feedback now but, if you are booking the service again in the future, perhaps you could report it, in general terms, at that time. LHR service used to be Carey, I think? Don't know who provides it now.

Actually Carey rings a bell - he was obviously new at the job - and it's all coming back to me now - when I walked out of the block of flats with my suitcase he just watched me walk about 100metres to the car and then said oh are you for the airport - duh - he had just texted me to say he was there and someone walks out with suitcases.

 

[pagingjoan]

Actually Carey rings a bell - he was obviously new at the job - and it's all coming back to me now - when I walked out of the block of flats with my suitcase he just watched me walk about 100metres to the car and then said oh are you for the airport - duh - he had just texted me to say he was there and someone walks out with suitcases.

Just a pity you didn't manage to give feedback at the time. It's obviously still rankling - but the company could possibly have turned the situation around, with a good response, and had you singing their praises.

 

[rioter]

Just received my call for a trip thursday morning. Had no issue moving it forward until 10am (originally booked at 10:50am). Asked how much luggage and if i would like a call on approach. All pretty straight forward. Hopefully the rest of the calls happen!

 

[Flying Fox]

That's not a good experience. It's a bit late for feedback now but, if you are booking the service again in the future, perhaps you could report it, in general terms, at that time. LHR service used to be Carey, I think? Don't know who provides it now.

I can confirm that my 27 AUG transfer from my London hotel to Heathrow was with Carey.

Was picked up by Narzir (IIRC) in a new black S-Class Merc (long wheel base). It was a fantastic car (so roomy and smooth). Approx 4x new water bottles in each rear car door with centre console filled with approx 10x small tissue packs. More new water bottles in the boot.

Narzir used some back streets due to traffic and knew where he was going or he followed the GPS without it being obvious. He has been a driver for approx 20yrs. Great driver.

 

[amaroo]

I agree with you. That would be a total turn off for me, too. But it has never happened to me, as yet. (Cross fingers.)
Curious that there is such a difference in experience.
Were you able to extract any explanation from the Chauffeur service or QF, after the failures?

Called QFF - advised it's a contracted service therefore, nothing they could do about it....

 

[tallboy]

Called QFF - advised it's a contracted service therefore, nothing they could do about it....

Showing their usual sensitivity to the customer experience...

I should add that I have used the service almost without incident on several occasions. Have always had a pre-departure call the day before for MEL departures, but not always for O/S pick-ups.

 

[amaroo]

Showing their usual sensitivity to the customer experience...

I should add that I have used the service almost without incident on several occasions. Have always had a pre-departure call the day before for MEL departures, but not always for O/S pick-ups.

Seems to fit. I don't use the local service as I live outside the zone, all of my disappointments have been O/S bookings.

 

[V1213]

When the chauffeur rings you tell them what time you want picked up.
I've been picked up at T-6 in LHR before.

Does this work for later pick-ups as well?
I've got an upcoming booking for a domestic first leg with the flight departure at 05:30. Because the minimum CD pick-up booking is 2.5 hours in advance I'll be in the PER QP for 2 hours at a ridiculous time of the morning as I live in the CBD... surely the pick-up can be made later?

 

[pagingjoan]

Does this work for later pick-ups as well?
I've got an upcoming booking for a domestic first leg with the flight departure at 05:30. Because the minimum CD pick-up booking is 2.5 hours in advance I'll be in the PER QP for 2 hours at a ridiculous time of the morning as I live in the CBD... surely the pick-up can be made later?

In my experience (MEL, SYD, LHR, DXB, BNE), you can ask for pick up at whatever time you like.