Exclusive Drive - complimentary chauffeur-driven luxury car for business-class pax
 

Just came across Exclusive Drive - a complimentary chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle service for business class guests. You have to be booked in 'C' or 'D' class.

More details can be found below:

Exclusive Drive

Exclusive Drive Terms and Conditions

Interestingly, the service is only for The Americas and The Middle East. Surprisingly, their hub, IST is not on the list!! :eek:

But ^^^^ to TK for providing this service to business class guests!!

Anyone tried this service? If so, feedback/more details would be appreciated!

Not many TK tickets are sold in C or D class. Certainly not any of the fare sales that are often featured on Flyertalk. :(

Many corporate rate fares book in those fare buckets, and they do sell a lot of them. This offer is mainly targeted towards those customers.

Title is a little misleading, since J implies the cheapest booking class which does not come with free chauffeur service.

I thought of that when coming up with the thread-title, however, couldn't fit

'Exclusive Drive - complimentary chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle for business-class pax' in the title.

Maybe mods have a way of putting that in the title?

Can anyone confirm what booking classes are eligible? The T&C say "not I or J". The first post says "C or D". But what about K?

Shuly

Answering my own question: yes, K class is eligible. I must admit the service is great: an agent was waiting for me at the aircraft door in JFK, breezed me through immigration and customs, and accompanied me to the car. I've been out in less than 15 minutes, which is incredible for the US. The car was nice and the driver, though chatty, very courteous. An excellent perk.

Shuly

Did you only use the service in JFK? The website says it's available for passengers travelling from US/Canada to various destinations, TLV among them, and I'd like to utilize it in TLV as well.

I only used it in NYC.

Shuly
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K class is not Eligible
 

Just tried to book the drive, holding a Business class (K) Ticket. Agent advised it was ineligible. Curious how you got yours booked? And which class of car is included? Economy, Premium, or SUV

I just used the service to JFK this morning (writing this from the LH JFK lounge). I got an email from TK suggesting the service, and I booked it online. I could choose from two types of cars, I think it was "black sedan" and SUV; in both cases, it was an SUV.
I believe that the key is not the booking class but whether or not the ticket is changeable. At least, this is the wording on the TK web site. Ex-CAI, K class tickets can typically be changed (either free or for a small fee). Not sure about other departure points.

Shuly

LOL, this service is such a joke. Due to unforeseen circumstance I had to purchase a full-fare one way from IST to JFK. I saw the add for the executive drive so thought I'd give it a go only to be told "only for roundtrip." LOL --- a full fare business ticket, more expensive than most roundtrip, but TK excludes for whatever reason. So low end! First off my experience didnt come as a surprise, while I enjoy TK up in the air in so many ways ground product and services really lacking. In the end it wasn't a big deal of course as I assume most folks who are buying these kinds of fares for business or personal reasons aren't really swayed much by having to spend a relatively small amount more on booking a car service.

I recently used the service as well on a JFK-TLV on a K fare biz ticket. The driver was very courteous both ways (same driver in a big SUV). Nice perk but after the tip I didn't save much over my usual method of calling an UberXL or Lyft Plus. But I live close to JFK... if I was further away it definitely would have been a nice savings.

Thanks @shuly & @dtphonehome for sharing your experiences. I do fly TK quite a bit, but only in the cheapest 'J' class biz-tickets, so never had a chance to try it out myself.

Would you mind sharing / explaining how you booked it? I assume you booked it only after you booked your biz-ticket ('K' or higher)?

I got an e-mail from TK a few weeks before the flight with a link to the chauffeur booking web page. Or try this page.

Shuly

Thanks @shuly!! Quick question, do you have to be crediting to TK, to avail of this? My dad flew on a 'K' fare, last year, while crediting to LH. He did not receive any such email?!! Weird!!?!

Sorry, no idea.

Shuly

are C and D Business Flexible? I find it so hard to figure out which fare class I am getting short of going to the office. When using booking sites like ctrip (which accept my mainland China payment method - Wechat and Alipay) I don't get to see a fare class at all. On the TK website I just figured out my next flight is in J, which is a shame since I would have liked to take the car, especially if it's from the plane door.

Don't you have to enter some 'code' to make the chauffeur service 'complimentary'?? How did you get that?

This kind of services are really classy.
So far I have only enjoyed "exclusive ride" with TK when bussing to aircraft and back to terminal with dedicated Business class bus emptying the plane first and leaving first. I hate apron transfers but the best you can do it is TK style :)

"All Business fare classes (C,D,K,J,Z) are eligible for Exclusive Drive service" - TK probably updated the terms since you last checked
https://exclusivedrive.turkishairlines.com/#

Award tickets (Class I) are not eligible. :(
The list of destinations seems to have grown a bit, but still excludes Istanbul (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Tehran, Cairo, Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Dacca, Nairobi, Riyadh, Dammam, Amman, Jeddah, Bahrain).

I've a J class fare, but when checking website it says "The information you provided is not eligible for Exclusive Drive."

Planing to use for Houston and it's a roundtrip booking.

I presume the problem is one of the two below;

1- Upgrades are not allowed to use Exclusive Drive.

2- Not all itineraries to US&Canada destinations qualify for Exclusive Drive. Where is your point of origin ( first point of departure )? This might help.

1. It's a full fare J.

2. On a single itinerary I'm doing BTU - KUL - IST - IAH and back

You are not eligible for the exclusive drive service. Kuala Lumpur is not on the eligible origin list.

OK the way I read it at first were that flights to/from USA are eligible.

So I assume KUL - IAH - KUL is not eligible but IAH - KUL - IAH is ?

Just noticed another condition that I had originally overlooked:
"The complimentary drive is only provided in US and Canada gateway cities."
It's disappointing that no ride is offered at the other end of an eligible journey.

Both are not eligible.
Only itineraries that starts from the destinations provided at my previous post ( shortened: ELG ) are eligible.

ELG-USA/CAN-ELG -> Eligible
USA/CAN-ELG-USA/CAN -> Not eligible

Itineraries that start from or end at KUL is not eligible.

Hello,

A few questions..
Has anyone used TK's chauffeur service "Exclusive Drive" recently? Is it still available post in COVIS-19 times? What cars do they use? Do they wait for you if your flight is delayed?
Travelling on J Class from YYZ to AMM, so I should qualify.

Thanks in Advance!

Also, It seems I can book the service going to YYZ (outbound) and coming back from YYZ only (Inbound). Does this service include shuttle from gate to Airplane and vice versa? Where can I book the gate to plane service?
Thanks

Yes, you are eligible for the Exclusive Drive service if your ticket is a revenue ticket. Upgraded tickets and award tickets do not qualify.
And, according to their website, they have resumed their Exclusive Drive service so you would be able to benefit from them.

I have never used that service so I don't know about the details.
You could find more details here: https://exclusivedrive.turkishairlines.com

No. The Exclusive Drive service is only from an address to the airport and from the airport to an address. It does not include any service within the airport and TK does not have a VIP buggy, shuttle service within the terminal in outstations for Business Class. If you are seeking a VIP experience within the terminal, you would need to contact the airport operating company and you would need to pay it from your pocket. TK does not have any service like that, even in Istanbul.

Thank you very much for all the Info ISTFlyer ! I'm just trying to avoid crowds as much as I can on this trip and stop in IST.

Cheers

I can't speak about AMM and YYZ but if you would like a private gate to gate escort service with a buggy and dedicated security lane service at IST. You could check the Meet&Greet service of iGA Pass. It's €180 per person per direction.

IMO, it's not worth it for the high price, but if you would like the additional peace of comfort, you're welcome to book it.

what are the rates for the additional miles?

If am traveling an additional miles 10 miles (i am 45 miles away from the airport) how much more are they are going to charge (USA based).

?