Qantas Chauffeur service - General Questions/Advice

[BLK343]

I recently had flights to/from LHR and used the Chauffeur Drive service. I am less than 1km over the allowance of 40Km. On pick up, the chauffeur showed me the shorter drive from his iPad which I agreed. On the return, upon leaving the airport, the chauffeur made a comment that I had to pay an extra charge of $55. I was surprised as I have never in the past been charged and nor was I advised by Brunel.

I queried whether it was based on the distance and that I would be happy for him to take the shorter route. He confirmed that the charge was not due to distance. To make things more interesting, the extra charge can only be paid in cash. I paid the amount as I was too tired to argue after a long flight.

Next day emailed Brunel and queried the charge, lack of notification and requested a tax invoice. Received the tax invoice and Brunel completely ignored my other request for clarification. Looking at the tax invoice, as we were 2, they had a 7 seater MPV assigned although we had a regular sedan to pick us up. Emailed back Brunel as I have a feeling the extra charge may be due to vehicle size as per noted on the Chauffeur Drive T&Cs. No response from Brunel for the past 2 days.

Anyone else experienced this?

 

[texter]

Finally booked ticket to Europe which qualifies for CD. Have made request on MMB, but QF Website says to call 48hrs to confirm the booking. Do I have to do this?
Or is it likely that the chauffeur company will call me first?
If I don't get a phone call who should I contact?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Finally booked ticket to Europe which qualifies for CD. Have made request on MMB, but QF Website says to call 48hrs to confirm the booking. Do I have to do this?
Or is it likely that the chauffeur company will call me first?
If I don't get a phone call who should I contact?

Normally they call you 48 hrs prior (in Australia). Just be patient. If nothing 24 hrs before flight, ring and check.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Finally booked ticket to Europe which qualifies for CD. Have made request on MMB, but QF Website says to call 48hrs to confirm the booking. Do I have to do this?
Or is it likely that the chauffeur company will call me first?
If I don't get a phone call who should I contact?

Should call you. But I'd follow up the day before if you haven't heard from them.

 

[kermatu]

Grateful for an answer to the following - if I book Adelaide-Melbourne-Singapore in First on the Qantas site, with ADL-MEL in J on QF then MEL-SIN on the Emirates flight in F but with QF codes - will I get an Emirates Chauffeur in both Adelaide and Singapore via the EK website?

Thanks for any help.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Grateful for an answer to the following - if I book Adelaide-Melbourne-Singapore in First on the Qantas site, with ADL-MEL in J on QF then MEL-SIN on the Emirates flight in F but with QF codes - will I get an Emirates Chauffeur in both Adelaide and Singapore via the EK website?

Thanks for any help.

I would think so. My last QF/EK combo was ADL-xSYD-xDXB-OSL, QF J to SYD and then EK F to OSL. The ADL chauffeur company is Hughes Car and they arrived promptly with a friendly driver. Didn't use the service in OSL as I overnighted at an airport hotel but it was available in the booking.

 

[kermatu]

I would think so. My last QF/EK combo was ADL-xSYD-xDXB-OSL, QF J to SYD and then EK F to OSL. The ADL chauffeur company is Hughes Car and they arrived promptly with a friendly driver. Didn't use the service in OSL as I overnighted at an airport hotel but it was available in the booking.

Thanks mate. Just to confirm, yours was booked on QF, but did the CD via the EK site?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Thanks mate. Just to confirm, yours was booked on QF, but did the CD via the EK site?

Booked via a travel agent due to a complex itinerary but arranged CD on the EK site.

 

[Sdtravel]

So ive booked a DSC J trip to LHR via a travel agent. Going SYD-PER-LHR-SYD
Im overnighting in Perth on the last flight out of Sydney.
When i go to MMB & CD it shows all my flights are eligible. I select my SYD-PER and "Book Transfer" and it brings up the page to add pick up details. I can also do the same for arriving in PER.

Based on my interpretation on point 5 at Qantas Chauffeur Drive Terms & Conditions Im thinking i am eligible even though its a domestic flight. Technically you can do SYD-MEL and overnight in MEL and get CD.
Does anyone have experience with this and do you actually get CD on these domestic flights? Or is it a bug and will likely disappear.

 

[La Mouette]

Does anyone have experience with this and do you actually get CD on these domestic flights? Or is it a bug and will likely disappear.

I used to do LHR-MEL-SYD frequently on the old QF10, which required an overnight stay in MEL. So I used CD to LHR, then back and forth to a hotel in MEL, and then airport to home in SYD.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Does anyone have experience with this and do you actually get CD on these domestic flights? Or is it a bug and will likely disappear.

I've never had a problem with CD in ADL at the beginning or end of my trips to Europe, some of which have required overnight stays in MEL or SYD.

 

[Nizar]

Guys are QF F flights to SIN eligible for CD ?

 

[flychrisfly]

Guys are QF F flights to SIN eligible for CD ?

Nope.

 

[Kangol]

Nope.

I only saw this recently. Guessing QF realised they could save more money on this route.
Presumably the EK MEL-SIN flights are eligible. No EK nonstop flights SYD-SIN that I can see.

 

[kermatu]

I only saw this recently. Guessing QF realised they could save more money on this route.
Presumably the EK MEL-SIN flights are eligible. No EK nonstop flights SYD-SIN that I can see.

No, not if booked on a QF number and only going to SIN.

 

[Dalek]

I have just returned from a J trip with QF travelling CBR -> MEL -> SIN (QF35) -> LHR (QF1) returning back by the same path (QF2, QF36 then on to CBR)
On the outbound trip I was able to book a CD from home to CBR airport and from LHR to a hotel.
On the way back I could book a CD from the hotel in London but not from CBR to home.
I rang the Qantas FF line and spoke to (fortunately) someone in the Hobart Call Centre. They pointed me to the CD conditions which only refer to QF1/2 and QF 9/10 and said it didn't apply to QF35/QF36 connecting with QF1/2. When I asked how I was able to book a CD in CBR initially she agreed this was strange. She then offered to manually book me a CD from CBR to home as she could see the inconsistency. I was very happy with her response and service.
Unfortunately, I arrived in CBR to find no CD waiting for me
Again, a very helpful Qantas staff member at CBR looked up my booking and could see the update from Hobart but couldn't explain why the actual CD was never booked. She ended up giving me a taxi voucher to get home.
So great responses from the staff even if it didn't have the desired result.
So the lesson I have taken away is that you must be on QF1/2 or QF9/10 with connecting domestic flights to get the CD at both ends. Which to be fair is what the conditions say, even if the online booking system is inconsistent with that.

 

[kermatu]

And you have to go all the way through to LHR; QF1 to SIN not sufficient.

 

[Kangol]

A couple of changes to this. First, for EK metal reward flights booked with QFF points, emphasis underlined:

-------
Emirates has made some changes to its Chauffeur Drive policy and we wanted to update you before your upcoming flight.

From 1 March 2019, Qantas Frequent Flyers booked on a Classic Flight Reward ticket in First or Business for a flight operated by Emirates will no longer be eligible for the Chauffeur Drive service.

There are no changes to Classic Flight Reward bookings on Qantas services. Qantas Frequent Flyers with a Classic Flight Reward booking will continue to be able to book Chauffeur Drive on eligible Qantas services.

If you’ve already booked a Chauffeur Drive for your upcoming Emirates flight
Qantas will honour all existing Chauffeur Drive bookings with Emirates made on or before 1 March 2019 for travel on an Emirates operated flight up until 1 March 2020.

If you have not booked your Chauffeur Drive service and are travelling on an Emirates flight before 1 March 2020, you can still book your complimentary Chauffeur Drive before 1 March 2019 through Manage Your Booking.

If you have any questions, visit qantas.com/chauffeurdrive or contact us here.

Best regards,
Qantas Frequent Flyer team


Probably in line with this:
Emirates to axe chauffeur drive on award tickets
----
Looking here for QF metal :
Chauffeur drive | Qantas AU

Changes to the Chauffeur Drive program
Effective 1 March 2019, Qantas' complimentary Chauffeur Drive service will no longer be offered on Qantas operated flights in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Singapore, and the complimentary mileage band for London is amended from 70 miles to 50 miles.

I don't know if this was allowed before, but it looks like you should be able to book CD at MEL and PER if part of a domestic only QF9/10 itinerary. ie. it does not say you cannot.

Chauffeur drive terms and conditions | Qantas AU

 

[rotuma1]

Yes I got the email this morning for some Emirates F and J flights in late March, early April.

I will book the last one for a pick up in Houston soon.

A couple of changes to this. First, for EK metal reward flights booked with QFF points, emphasis underlined:

-------
Emirates has made some changes to its Chauffeur Drive policy and we wanted to update you before your upcoming flight.

From 1 March 2019, Qantas Frequent Flyers booked on a Classic Flight Reward ticket in First or Business for a flight operated by Emirates will no longer be eligible for the Chauffeur Drive service.

There are no changes to Classic Flight Reward bookings on Qantas services. Qantas Frequent Flyers with a Classic Flight Reward booking will continue to be able to book Chauffeur Drive on eligible Qantas services.

If you’ve already booked a Chauffeur Drive for your upcoming Emirates flight
Qantas will honour all existing Chauffeur Drive bookings with Emirates made on or before 1 March 2019 for travel on an Emirates operated flight up until 1 March 2020.

If you have not booked your Chauffeur Drive service and are travelling on an Emirates flight before 1 March 2020, you can still book your complimentary Chauffeur Drive before 1 March 2019 through Manage Your Booking.

If you have any questions, visit qantas.com/chauffeurdrive or contact us here.

Best regards,
Qantas Frequent Flyer team


Probably in line with this:
Emirates to axe chauffeur drive on award tickets
----
Looking here for QF metal :
Chauffeur drive | Qantas AU

Changes to the Chauffeur Drive program
Effective 1 March 2019, Qantas' complimentary Chauffeur Drive service will no longer be offered on Qantas operated flights in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Singapore, and the complimentary mileage band for London is amended from 70 miles to 50 miles.

I don't know if this was allowed before, but it looks like you should be able to book CD at MEL and PER if part of a domestic only QF9/10 itinerary. ie. it does not say you cannot.

Chauffeur drive terms and conditions | Qantas AU

 

[Pushka]

It’s good of Qantas to warn and remind people with existing bookings.