Qantas Chauffeur service - General Questions/Advice

[Storyteller]

Re: QF Chauffeur drive - multiple pax and luggage

Am I likely to have any problems organising chauffeur drive with QF if going on QF1 but leaving from Melbourne all booked on the one PNR ?

Hope not.... sick of hearing stories of people having to "chase up" what they are supposed to be entitled to....

The eligibility for the chauffeur should be there in your booking.
They'll pick you up in Melbourne to get to MEL for your domestic flight to SYD to join QF1 in J / F.

Because it relates to international, the drop down box will have options to get you to MEL really early. Pick what works best. At T-24 - 48, the company will phone you to fine tune the time more suitable for a domestic flight.

Every time I have been eligible - maybe 5 or 6 now - have always had outgoing &/ incoming domestic flights before / after the international. I have never needed to chase it up to happen.

When I have had enquiries, the answers have been satisfactory, even though most of my enquiries were in the first few weeks after implementation & the wrinkles were still being discovered.

 

[mick]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

It sounds like there are many variables at play with this service. I called Qantas and they can't tell me whether the limousine can pick me up from Gatwick (arriving from Barcelona on a BA business class flight) to meet the flight from Heathrow to Melbourne on QF in first class. They said it meets the 70 mile distance rule but they don't think it's possible because Gatwick isn't a home or work address and suggested to wait until they call me 24 hours beforehand. That doesn't sound very promising and I don't want to wait until then to find out it's not possible. They won't give me a contact number so that I can find out for myself. Does anyone have any similar experiences?

Just an update... I can happily report that I got a phone call just over 24 hours before my flight to confirm that they would be happy to pick me up from LGW on arrival from BCN and they drove me to LHR in the Merc, no fuss. The driver was super polite and got me there in plenty of time to enjoy all the First amenities. Happy as.

 

[Bazzi]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

We are flying DXB STO in J with EK and will be using the chauffeur service. I sought sage advice from AFFs previousy about whether to tip the Etihad Chauffeur - the answer was essentially that a tip is not necessary nor expected. Is this the same for the Emirates Chauffeur?

 

[anat0l]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

For my recent DFW/BNE flight, as tipping is custom in the USA, I did tip the chauffeur in DFW. Problem was, I didn't know how much to tip him because the ride was complimentary!

I ended up giving him USD 10...he didn't display any open disdain or the like, but on a cash ride I probably severely undertipped him.

 

[Storyteller]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

On Saturday morning I got a phone call to ask what time I want to be picked up for my domestic flight, to connect with international, on Tuesday, as per my post in #321 above. This is 24 hours more notice than I was given last time.

 

[simongr]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

Spoke to Brunel on Friday - "larger" car will be supplied with no indication of an extra charge

At DXB I will see if my parents have landed and will see if we can travel together - otherwise they will just get a cab.

 

[codash1099]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

For my recent DFW/BNE flight, as tipping is custom in the USA, I did tip the chauffeur in DFW. Problem was, I didn't know how much to tip him because the ride was complimentary!

I ended up giving him USD 10...he didn't display any open disdain or the like, but on a cash ride I probably severely undertipped him.

I would think that $20 would be closer to the mark.

 

[Nizar]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

For my recent DFW/BNE flight, as tipping is custom in the USA, I did tip the chauffeur in DFW. Problem was, I didn't know how much to tip him because the ride was complimentary!

I ended up giving him USD 10...he didn't display any open disdain or the like, but on a cash ride I probably severely undertipped him.

Wow nice he probably stabbed himself afterwards lol $10 is a joke

 

[anat0l]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

I would think that $20 would be closer to the mark.

Wow nice he probably stabbed himself afterwards lol $10 is a joke

Knew I should've researched this a lot more before I got into the car :-|

 

[Bazzi]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

Knew I should've researched this a lot more before I got into the car :-|

I just think it's a minefield particularly for us folk who are not used to such luxuries!

 

[rogerkambah]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

I would think that $20 would be closer to the mark.

So what is an acceptable rate of tip, percentage wise?

 

[codash1099]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

So what is an acceptable rate of tip, percentage wise?

I work on 15 - 20% depending on conviviality and helpfulness of driver. For example, Greenpath driver at LAX met me in the baggage claim rather than me needing to phone him (which is what I paid for), didn't blink when I sat in the front seat and provided a running commentary all the way to the hotel. Worth every bit of 20%.

 

[GoldenWinger]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

when QF originally launched this service they mentioned it would included flights over 12 hours and mentioned Santiago, J'Burg and New York...it seems these cities are no longer offered...when did this change?

 

[geordieladinoz]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

when QF originally launched this service they mentioned it would included flights over 12 hours and mentioned Santiago, J'Burg and New York...it seems these cities are no longer offered...when did this change?

This sore subject was raised by myself and a few others and I highlighted the original notification from Qantas which showed locations such as JNB and SCL from July 2013. Red Roo decided not to answer the question. Go back to post #210 to view the queries and lack of a straight answer to the enhancement.

Wait until 2014 unless those dates have also been enhanced!

 

[Nizar]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

when QF originally launched this service they mentioned it would included flights over 12 hours and mentioned Santiago, J'Burg and New York...it seems these cities are no longer offered...when did this change?

I too am keen to know the answer to this question.
Perhaps Red Roo can enlighten us.

 

[GoldenWinger]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

Thanks for the reply...I still have the press release from Sep 2012 which states 12 hours and includes SCL JFK and JNB...

 

[suparockin]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

I've booked mine, nice little enhancement to the Business Class service.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

Thanks for the reply...I still have the press release from Sep 2012 which states 12 hours and includes SCL JFK and JNB...

See image on post #210! From said press release.

 

[tallboy]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

This sore subject was raised by myself and a few others and I highlighted the original notification from Qantas which showed locations such as JNB and SCL from July 2013. Red Roo decided not to answer the question. Go back to post #210 to view the queries and lack of a straight answer to the enhancement.

Wait until 2014 unless those dates have also been enhanced!

As indicated above, a few of us have raised this several times since June this year but as far as I can tell, Red Roo has been conveniently silent on any explanation of this change to the initially advised benefit. Poor form from my point of view...

 

[anat0l]

Re: QF Chauffeur Drive booking up & running

I work on 15 - 20% depending on conviviality and helpfulness of driver. For example, Greenpath driver at LAX met me in the baggage claim rather than me needing to phone him (which is what I paid for), didn't blink when I sat in the front seat and provided a running commentary all the way to the hotel. Worth every bit of 20%.

What I should've asked however is how do you find out the normal price to base a tip if the ride is complimentary.