Qantas 'Limousine' Service

[SilenceFOOL!]

Anyone used Qantas Drive? How would you rate it?

What exactly is Qs definition of "highly appointed vehicles" esp. standard and luxury
sedan/s?.....I'm hoping something better than an AU Falcon with 15" steelies.

At risk of sounding xenophobic - please explain :!: - are the drivers likely to understand me and know how to get to Tulla? More importantly, will they wear deodorant

Last time I took at taxi to Tulla it not only cost me a small fortune, it nearly cost me my life!
Also looking at SilverTop taxi Silver Service as Plan B.
Thoughts? Advice? Experiences?

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

I have a 'pet' taxi driver in Melbourne, though I do live here, which guarantees that someone will be there when I want them, and they know where to go. Personal connections to either a taxi or limo company is the best way - I am not close enough to the airport to be of interest to limo drivers. My company uses one as one of our sites is a long way from the airport.

Also, if you have a regular car in another city, ask for a recommendation.

If you get stuck, PM me.

 

[JohnK]

Also looking at SilverTop taxi Silver Service as Plan B.

Wherever possible I use Silver taxis. Most are newer vehicles and feel more comfortable than ordinary taxis.

Booked one online on Sunday at 4:30am for a 5:10am departure from home for the F lounge run to MEL. Arrived at 5:05am and was at the airport by 5:20am....

 

[Tooner]

Wherever possible I use Silver taxis. Most are newer vehicles and feel more comfortable than ordinary taxis.

Booked one online on Sunday at 4:30am for a 5:10am departure from home for the F lounge run to MEL. Arrived at 5:05am and was at the airport by 5:20am....

I use Silver Service in Sydney (though it doesn't cost extra here), and when I have used SilSer in MEL they were good (flukes - not booking). A lot of people use pet taxi drivers, and also there is a group Platinum who have about 60 cabbies.

Never used QF Drive.

Hope this helps

 

[talisker63]

I found the best way to get a clean, reliable, "nice" drive home is to book a Silver Service, stump up the extra $10 and then if you like the car/driver get his personal card and then you can call him direct in the future and avoid the extra charge.

The Platinum group in Melbourne are good but they will quote you a fixed price, of course higher than a taxi.

The benefits of plan "A" above is it is the same price as a regular taxi but nicer. Of course it helps that I am a $70+ fare from the airport. Strangly nothing seems too much trouble when I call.

At least this way they turn up on time and I can call the driver direct if my plans change.

cheers

 

[simongr]

I went off Silver Service in Sydney about a year ago (maybe a little more) when I found that frequently the silver service cab turned out to be a regular cab (because of the popularity of our service). I now use a "limousine service" - costs me about $100 from the airport - bu a regukar cab would cost about $70-$80 and after a long trip it's nice to not have to direct someone home

In MEL I used to use a limousine service (Holden Calais) - really nice fella - haven't been down theer in a while - but he was great and was always there exactly when you needed him

 

[serfty]

... last time I took at taxi to Tulla it not only cost me a small fortune, it nearly cost me my life!
Also looking at SilverTop taxi Silver Service as Plan B.
Thoughts? Advice? Experiences?

If you are on your own and have 15mins to spare, the Skybus is a very reliable and efficient service for $15.

... Anyone used Qantas Drive? How would you rate it?

What exactly is Qs definition of "highly appointed vehicles" esp. standard and luxury
sedan/s?.....I'm hoping something better than an AU Falcon with 15" steelies. ...

Methinks the prices quoted are for a basic 'steelies' type sedan (MEL @ $76).

See here: Flying with Us - At the Airport - Limousine Service

Prices shown are based on a Standard Sedan car and routes without tolls. For rates on luxury sedans, stretch limousines, coaches and buses, contact Qantas Drive.

 

[chrisb]

Anyone used Qantas Drive? How would you rate it?

I used it in Perth. It was outsourced to a 'Proper' Limo company (Hughs) and it was everything you would expect from a Stretch Limo.

The driver met us near baggage, waited with us and chatted while we searched for our bags and then took us out to the car. It was going to our house and he already knew exactly where he was going and how to get there without a word from us. It was all very professional. There was no extra charge due to him having to wait 45mins for the delayed flight. (As you'd expect from a qantas service!)

That said, it was billed directly by Hughs who over charged us - they charged the normal rate not the Qantas Drive rate - A quick phone call and it was immediately corrected. Again, the limo company was very professional. The points from Qantas Drive took 2 emails and over 4 months to be credited.

I'd do it again. It's better than the Taxi queue.

Chrisb.

 

[opusman]

I've used it once in Sydney, and wasn't that impressed TBH.

I paid the extra (can't remember the amount - $20?) for a BMW instead of a Commodore, but what turned up was a Commodore, and then at the end they still charged the BMW price. They didn't do CC electronically, it was one of the old manual imprinters, and somehow the charge for $89.95 (already $20 more than it should have been) had turned into $99.95 by the time it hit my account.

I emailed Qantas to ask about it but got the brush off, and couldn't be bothered spending the time to actually chase it up - but I certainly wouldn't use them again.

 

[simongr]

They didn't do CC electronically, it was one of the old manual imprinters, and somehow the charge for $89.95 (already $20 more than it should have been) had turned into $99.95 by the time it hit my account.

That was probably the cabcharge fee - whatever is on the manual docket if then paid by a CC attracts an 11% charge (10% cabcharge fee and gst thereon).

 

[serfty]

That was probably the cabcharge fee - whatever is on the manual docket if then paid by a CC attracts an 11% charge (10% cabcharge fee and gst thereon).

Interestingly, there is NO GST payable on a cabcharge 10% fee; the government treat it like any other bank fee.

It a dubious practice when a CC company charges 11%.

 

[opusman]

Well they're not a taxi so I don't know if they would use the CabCharge system for payments - there was certainly no sign up anywhere that I can remember. Possible though I guess. Either way, it's naughty (actually illegal) to add a charge on AFTER I have signed for a specific amount, it should have been added at the time.

 

[simongr]

Interestingly, there is NO GST payable on a cabcharge 10% fee; the government treat it like any other bank fee.

It a dubious practice when a CC company charges 11%.

Not sure - I know that when I compare my Amex/Dinres statement with a manual Cabcharge receipt I always need to gross up by multiplying by 1.11 - always works...

It's not so much whether they are a taxi or whether they have use dthe cabcharge system. I will have a look at a docket I have at home to see if it is disclosed there.

Don't we have at least one resident taxi driver that can shedsome light on this?

 

[vt01]

Never tried it and probably never will.

Like a number of others I have a local guy who I call. He has a group of drivers so I don't always get him as a driver.. All of them are always very friendly and helpful and there on time. Not silver service, just a regular 1 year old comfortable falcon.
As a bonus, he always brings me a chocolate bar when I return from o'seas...

 

[serfty]

Not sure - I know that when I compare my Amex/Dinres statement with a manual Cabcharge receipt I always need to gross up by multiplying by 1.11 - always works...

It's not so much whether they are a taxi or whether they have use dthe cabcharge system. I will have a look at a docket I have at home to see if it is disclosed there.

Don't we have at least one resident taxi driver that can shedsome light on this?

There's a bit more from a discussion on this topic here on AFF: actual cab fare charged to your credit card account? (Read how the thread unfolds).

Some relevant posts are #24, #35 & #37

Cheers ...

 

[SF&]

Anyone used Qantas Drive? How would you rate it?

What exactly is Qs definition of "highly appointed vehicles" esp. standard and luxury
sedan/s?.....I'm hoping something better than an AU Falcon with 15" steelies.

At risk of sounding xenophobic - please explain :!: - are the drivers likely to understand me and know how to get to Tulla? More importantly, will they wear deodorant

Last time I took at taxi to Tulla it not only cost me a small fortune, it nearly cost me my life!
Also looking at SilverTop taxi Silver Service as Plan B.
Thoughts? Advice? Experiences?

Last time in Melb I entered the taxi queue got in the cab and i had to direct him to the MCG!! Blow me down i line up early sunday morning who is waiting first in line 'taxi driver form hell' I had to direct him back to tulla form the hilton.

i now stick to the reliable sky bus in melb and in peak hour sneaks up the inside lane past the trafiic jam. Its clean, usely not packed and faster than cabs.

they badly need a train like hkia into the cdb.

Qantas drive seem to be 30%- 50% more expensive than other limo services avail on websites.

 

[serfty]

Last time in Melb I .. direct him to the MCG!! ... I had to direct him back to tulla ...

i now stick to the reliable sky bus in melb and in peak hour sneaks up the inside lane past the trafiic jam. Its clean, usely not packed and faster than cabs. ...

Agreed

The SkyBus takes no more than 25 minutes between the City and MEL. Aside from the early morning hours it departs every 10 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun and 15 Mins Sat, Tue & Thu.

Three guys coming to OZFest decided to share a Cab from MEL to the city; they mentioned later the total fare was over $80! :shock: This should have been around $45. After querying this it seems the taxi driver took advantage of their lack of MEL knowledge and went via the 'western ring road', adding over 20km and 20 mins to the travel with a correspondingly inflated fare.

These days my order of priority for MEL transfers is:

1. Skybus,
2. Hire care (e.g. Thrifty),
3. any other practical means to avoid a taxi &
4. Taxi. :evil:

 

[SilenceFOOL!]

As a bonus, he always brings me a chocolate bar when I return from o'seas...

I want your guy!!!! Chocolate is the way to every girls heart

After careful consideration have decided to take my own comfortable 4 year old Falcon and pay extra for the long term undercover parking (only for 6 days) closest to terminal.
Atleast can be guaranteed driver i.e. ME will know where they're going and wear deodorant:!:

Sad to see that eveyone thinks Melb taxi drivers are cough (which they are, no doubt about it).

Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

 

[NM]

Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

Not going to happen while the Taxi lobby is strong.

 

[serfty]

... Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

Not going to happen while the Taxi lobby is strong.

Nor while both the SYD (build "For" the Olympic games) and BNE ("Friendship" games) railway lines continue to struggle financially.