Which Airlines Offer Complimentary Chauffeur Service?

Ben, Korean Air also offers chauffeur service now from ICN departures and arrivals when on first class revenue fares.

I was recently able to book free Etihad Chauffeur on a First Class award redemption (Guest Seat). I was surprised too as I thought it was just for paid First Class. The wording on their website only puts an “if” for Business Class- and it’s not even for singling out awards. So for Business- if not a Guest Seat redemption, Etihad Chauffeur is available too.

“You can book an Etihad Chauffeur for free if you’re travelling on an Etihad-operated flight in The Residence or First, or on a Business Comfort or Deluxe ticket.”

https://www.etihad.com/en/plan/etihad-services/etihad-chauffeur

Thanks for this article! I had just booked a business class flight on Turkish Airlines and wasn’t aware they offered this service at all. Given where I live, this saved me $200!

Good to know. I just booked it for an upcoming F ticket from AUH-YYZ so I was surprised to read this wouldn’t qualify.

Here is an idea for another list:

Which airlines let you pre-book meals in business class?

@ Kevin -- Thanks for the heads up! Is that document anywhere, because it's the first time I've heard of this, and I can't find any reputable mention of it online. Will update the post once I know the details, thanks! 🙂

@ Julia -- Appreciate the idea, let me add that to my list of post ideas, thanks!

@ Justin -- Awesome, happy to hear!

@ Imbisibol -- Hmmm, that's interesting and a surprise to me. If you look at the terms & conditions of the chauffeur service, you'll see the following:
"Excludes tickets booked using Etihad Guest Miles."

At least last time I tried to book this on an award, it wasn't possible. I'm curious, do people have any additional recent data points?

It’s a bit confusing but I think all F tickets get it and only selected J tickets, not including J award tickets. It’s not written super clearly but I have an F award ticket and it let me book without charge.

Hi Ben,
Here's the link on official KE website

https://www.koreanair.com/contents/plan-your-travel/service-by-class/first/before-boarding

Under Korean Air Premium Care Service-Chauffeur Service:
Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon area ↔ Incheon Airport round trip, private vehicle and chauffeur provided (one vehicle per First Class passenger)

Kevin from @Airlinesandme. Longtime OMMAAT fan 🙂

Air France has a paid add-on for business class. However, it is less expensive to book such a service via your hotel's concierge. Indeed, the combination of aircraft door meet-and-greet and the ride is less than Air France's ride-only add-on. Lastly, depending on your room type, the hotel might already include a ride.

It's a bit tricky. If you visit Etihad's website and try to book an award ticket, you'll see that chauffeur service is included for First Class passengers but not for Business Class. However, First Class tickets booked through a partner airline's award program are not eligible for the chauffeur service.

@ PJS678 @ Moh -- Good catch. I updated the post, and it should be accurate now. I appreciate it!

@ Kevin -- Excellent catch, thanks so much! Post updated to add that... I appreciate you reading! 🙂

Rumour Control on this side of the pond is speculating that more European airlines are considering such a service.
However, it is further reported that it is the airport authorities who are sceptical about airside drop off and pickup.
LHR has very strict regulations with only one known company allowed to operate airside.
One also understands that diplomatic cars from certain countries are not permitted airside to drop off passengers.
The current POTUS might be the exception however.

Late 2024, I booked AUH JFK Apartment on points (Guest Seat, no status). As expected, I could not book Etihad Chauffeur. This year, when the A380 moved to YYZ, I cancelled my JFK flight and booked YYZ. On a whim, I tried to book Etihad Chauffeur and was able to.

This is a nice perk but one can duplicate it by scheduling their own ride and fly business class, which is physically the same comfort (lie flat), but with fewer perks.

Did I read somewhere that Qatar offers a vehicle from the Al Safwa first class lounge to the plane when flying first class at a remote gate in Doha?

It might just be a rumor or outdated info…

Had a very pleasant surprise earlier this month with a Mercedes car private transfer across the airport at Kuala Lumpur with business class flight with Malaysian airlines to London.

The value is very different depending not only on the terms but where you are. For example it is much cheaper for Air China to offer it in China than it would be in many of the other destinations that other airlines are offering it. Given when I few Emirates they used a plane with an old configuration, 2-3-2 business class, the airport service was good.

Recently flew Emirates return UK business class.Ride to airport was interesting when driver told us "Don't be surprised if they put you in a taxi when you return from UK " truer words were never spoken because that is exactly what happened.Cars in Dubai were a bit hit and miss but to be expected when there are so many business class customers on the A380 !!

they do. but it's a dedicated bus with armchairs - we were driven from Al Safwa lounge to the plane for our flight DOH-MLE, this was in 2024; me and my husband were the only ones on this bus since there weren't any other passengers in first that night. i also thought it was interesting in that they deliberately boarded the bus as late as possible (to maximize time in lounge), so that we were the last passengers to walk onto the plane. there certainly was no hurry to get on early to fight for overhead bin space since we had the cabin to ourselves - but funny since it's opposite to how gate boarding typically works.