Last edit by: Saltire74
Changes to the CD Terms and Conditions in early January 2019 confirm the following:
Effective 1 March 2019, new Chauffeur-drive service reservations are not available in conjunction with Skywards Business and First Class Classic Rewards and Economy to Business Class Upgrades.
https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/...nd-conditions/
Effective 1 March 2019, new Chauffeur-drive service reservations are not available in conjunction with Skywards Business and First Class Classic Rewards and Economy to Business Class Upgrades.
https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/...nd-conditions/
EK Chauffeur Drive Discussion Thread
#1246
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,618
Looks like Emirates eliminates chauffeur on their own awards starting from March, 2019.
Emirates to eliminate chauffeur service on award tickets ? Premium Miles
Disclaimer: I own the blog, but you don't need to click through to get the point.
Emirates to eliminate chauffeur service on award tickets ? Premium Miles
Disclaimer: I own the blog, but you don't need to click through to get the point.
I was thinking the other day that one of the areas EK must be looking at to cut costs would be CD. It wouldn't surprise me if they eliminated CD on some of the cheaper Business class fares at some point.
Effective 1 March 2019, new Chauffeur-drive service reservations are not available in conjunction with Skywards Business and First Class Classic Rewards and Economy to Business Class Upgrades.
#1247
Moderator, Emirates
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,386
Fourth paragraph down in the T&C’s
https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/...nd-conditions/
S
https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/...nd-conditions/
Effective 1 March 2019, new Chauffeur-drive service reservations are not available in conjunction with Skywards Business and First Class Classic Rewards and Economy to Business Class Upgrades.
#1248
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
this is not a surprise - I agree re this and think J savers will be next to go. The competition isn’t doing it so why do EK need to?
#1250
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
It affects me as I'm in and out of SYD on 4th and 8th March and planning to points upgrade to Business in both directions. If upgrades don't become available until a few days before I'll be out of luck.
#1251
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Oh gawd, just as I was starting to get comfortable with EK, the way they do things, & build some redeemable points, are they starting on EY's slippery slope? Hopefully they are not going to take any further tips from EY's "management" though....
#1252
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
It's a sad devaluation, and I was quite disappointed (still am) when I heard the news. That being said, if one takes a step back and looks at it rationally, no other airline in the world offers a global complimentary chauffeur drive service at all, even for revenue pax, since EY cut it, and unlike lounge access or a fast track card for security it is a significant additional cost to the airline for pax which provide no or very little incremental revenue, in some cases where there is poor revenue management possibly even negative marginal revenue, as the seat could have been sold to a revenue pax. I really hope they don't cut it for J Savers and I'd have hoped that they maybe at least keep it around in DXB for award travel, but ultimately I understand the decision. An option might be to allow pax to pay an extra 3000 or 5000 miles per segment to add chauffeur drive to an award or upgraded itinerary
#1253
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
#1254
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
#1255
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
I hope not, and I don't think so.
It's a sad devaluation, and I was quite disappointed (still am) when I heard the news. That being said, if one takes a step back and looks at it rationally, no other airline in the world offers a global complimentary chauffeur drive service at all, even for revenue pax, since EY cut it, and unlike lounge access or a fast track card for security it is a significant additional cost to the airline for pax which provide no or very little incremental revenue, in some cases where there is poor revenue management possibly even negative marginal revenue, as the seat could have been sold to a revenue pax. I really hope they don't cut it for J Savers and I'd have hoped that they maybe at least keep it around in DXB for award travel, but ultimately I understand the decision. An option might be to allow pax to pay an extra 3000 or 5000 miles per segment to add chauffeur drive to an award or upgraded itinerary
It's a sad devaluation, and I was quite disappointed (still am) when I heard the news. That being said, if one takes a step back and looks at it rationally, no other airline in the world offers a global complimentary chauffeur drive service at all, even for revenue pax, since EY cut it, and unlike lounge access or a fast track card for security it is a significant additional cost to the airline for pax which provide no or very little incremental revenue, in some cases where there is poor revenue management possibly even negative marginal revenue, as the seat could have been sold to a revenue pax. I really hope they don't cut it for J Savers and I'd have hoped that they maybe at least keep it around in DXB for award travel, but ultimately I understand the decision. An option might be to allow pax to pay an extra 3000 or 5000 miles per segment to add chauffeur drive to an award or upgraded itinerary
#1256
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
There'll never be a merger, I'd really not even look at that. It's a commercial decision because they're providing way more than the competition, and figure they'll get away with it, especially since it affects pax who didn't pay for J to begin with
#1257
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
Just saw this on one of the blogs and happy I did because I have a Business Class award reservation in June from ATH-EWR that I had not booked the chauffeur service for. Just booked and reservation is confirmed. I would think if we booked previous to the 3/1 date and have a confirmation number that we are good to go.
#1258
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Perhaps they'll never call it that but I know that discussions on back-office alignment/streamlining/shared operations are "quite likely" to be happening.
#1259
Moderator: Emirates Skywards and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: 12R/30L
Programs: EK Gold|EY Gold|Bonvoy Ambassador| IHG Plat|HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,818
Anyway back on topic
#1260
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,618
I see Head for Points has picked up on this, and credited an Indian blog that posted it yesterday... The blog probably picked it up from on here, and we got it from :-
Emirates to eliminate chauffeur service on award tickets ? Premium Miles
Emirates to eliminate chauffeur service on award tickets ? Premium Miles