Qantas says it won't scrap chauffeur service for points-based bookings
By David Flynn, January 15 2019
Qantas says it will continue to offer its chauffeur drive service for business class or first class travellers who book their trip with frequent flyer points, despite a decision by partner Emirates to restrict chauffeur rides to paying customers.
A spokeswoman for Qantas tells Australian Business Traveller that "Qantas Frequent Flyer members will continue to have access to the chauffeur service for eligible reward bookings on Qantas operated services and enjoy the same experience as customers who have made commercial bookings."
Qantas introduced its chauffeur service in April 2013 to match the same offering from Emirates as part of the newly-minted Qantas/Emirates alliance, with a free ride offered to premium cabin customers bound for London, Dubai and the USA.
However, over subsequent years this has been scaled back to include only flights to and from London.
Relatively few international airlines offer a complimentary chauffeur service. While Emirates set the benchmark, competitor Etihad Airways scrapped its own service in July 2017.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 174
Kudos for Qantas for keeping this open to award bookings and upgrades, they are now among the very few airlines in the world to offer a chauffeur service without those exemptions.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 352
Well this is a bit of a surprise, I would have put money on Qantas following in Emirates' footsteps, very pleased to hear they are going to be treating their loyal frequent flyers the same as those making a normal paid booking.
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 146
Glad to hear this. When flying first by points or cash it should be the same. The experience at the pointy end is everything, to get people back.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
....and its not like the huge fuel fines and charges both Qantas and Emirates charge on award bookings couldn't cover it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
What about EK flights booked with QF points?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
You will find that is covered under the Emirates announcement.....no longer after March 1st.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
I'm booked on EK flights using QF points in Biz/First combo to Europe for travel in May and I still have chauffeur drive confirmed and I'm still able to add/remove them on the EK website. I haven't received any notification from EK that I no longer qualify.
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
It's for new bookings from March 1st.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 470
Yes, as you have an existing booking you'll be right. Only new bookings post-March 1 are affected by this.
03 May 2013
Total posts 677
Would never have expected such a positive pax friendly announcement such as this from Qantas in all honesty. Well done Qantas for being customer and not bean counter centric.
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
To be fair though, Qantas FF levies some of the highest carrier charges on reward bookings compared to most other airlines, pushing the price to around $1,000 for one return business or first class trip to London per passenger (aside the points used), with free transfers only available on London flights and no other routes, despite those hefty fees going right across the Qantas flight network, and couples travelling together most often sharing a car together (so that's $2,000 in fees paid to get a few airport transfers). The bean counters have still won if you ask me!
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 113
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2017
Total posts 13
I give it 3 months before they realise they're doing something better than someone else and pull the pin
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 25
Nice to know QF are looking after their Business & First Class passengers to/from London, but why not elsewhere?! I'm flying with QF in Business Class this weekend from MEL to LA (and then onto Miami with AA), a complimentary car to the airport would have been very handy indeed. I fly twice a year to NCE with Emirates in Business Class (paid flights, not points) and having that complimentary chauffeur service at both ends is truly fabulous! I certainly hope Emirates never scraps it!
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 113
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
Actually, Virgin Australia has long offered this on flights to and from LAX, albeit on specific (and paid) business class fares.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 25
Thanks born2fish - that all makes perfect sense. It's still annoying though! I think what's key in all of this is your point: No competing carrier offered the service on the LAX route. And if bookings to LAX are strong from MEL/SYD then I guess they figure why bother?! We're still filling aircraft without the expense of offering a free chauffeur service! I know for a fact that J class on my flight to LAX this Saturday is practically fully booked. The only J seats left are those they block off - I guess for QF staff and last minute VIP's?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jul 2018
Total posts 3
I had an F seat booked for 4/6 using QFF points. As soon as I received the text, I cancelled and purchased J with SQ.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2019
Total posts 3
Perhaps I’m just unlucky, but over the last 2 years I’ve never found a business or first award flight on QF metal to London (only partner airlines like Emirates or Cathay) so “retaining” this benefit seems a moot point. Is anyone seeing business or first award availability to London on QF metal? Or maybe it’s because I’m only Gold level?
01 Apr 2014
Total posts 113
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2019
Total posts 3
Thanks born2fish - yes, usually get F or J to/from LGW - but the point is that Qantas “retaining” the chauffeur service on Qantas metal for award bookings (now that EK have withdrawn this) doesn’t help if there are no available eligible seats on QF metal - so very few will be able to take advantage of this it seems.
27 May 2016
Total posts 5
Has NY chauffeur been dropped? I flew on J on EK metal on QF points to JFK in Oct and received home pick up and destination drop off service. Is it now only London?
Returned via Melbourne to Perth on pts J class but no Chauffeur service on QF metal on return. Thought that a bit strange.
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
Not really that strange. You’re comparing two different operating carriers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Given the yield QF make on F and J tickets to London, it's a no brainer if they want to maintain a premium branding. Even for FF passengers who are also some of their most loyal and valuable.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2018
Total posts 4
Booked EK Business seats in JFK to DXB and DXB to PER using QF Points , and have been given option to book chauffeur via Qantas site . Trip is in July . So pre-March 1st seems to still be available .
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
Obviously.
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