Virgin Chauffeur booking

Hey

I’ve booked transport to/from LHR for my families October UC booking to Miami via the ‘manage my booking’ section - we’re on I Class fares do not free.

Anyway...9 adults (including 3 children) is £141 each way which to me is a bargain (Oxford to LHR for context so about 40 miles each way).

My issue is I think looking at Tristar fleet they are going to need two vehicles to perform the service. I declared passenger numbers before the price came up so do you think I’m fully within my rights to push back IF they say they need two cars and want to increase the quoted price?

Also as I’ve booked via VS booking link they’ll manage comms with the Wing to confirm our arrival times?

And lastly return journey is booked so will they just pick us up as we get to arrivals area?

Thanks

Shane

I had a quick look at the Tristar website and the largest vehicle - V class - they have accommodates 6 passengers so yes you would need 2 vehicles for a party of 9 but if you have any doubts I’d phone them up to clarify the booking.

Used the Chauffeur service last year for the first time, booked via the my bookings page on Virgins website.

When we arrived at the Drive thru check in Virgin didn't have boarding passes or anything pre printed but didn't matter in the slightest, they seem to stagger the arrivals a bit so that everyone doesn't arrive at once, we were held at the barrier into the drive thru before the driver got clearance to go in. Very civilised way to start your trip and straight into the security lane once checked in.

Once you land, just go to make your way out of T3 and I found all the TriStar drivers were standing on the left hand side in a group, quite easy to spot, just wander over to them and one will be waiting for you. No need to try and estimate what time you will get there, I just left the arrival time of the flight, I guess as they know what flight your on they will arrive at an appropriate time.

Just booked them again for this year, was so impressed with the service last time, saves all the grief of long term car parking etc and having to drive yourself after a long flight.

Have a good time.

Steve

I couldn’t agree more.

I tend to use London Heathrow Cars for getting to DTCI, really good effiecient high quality service always on time.

London taxis certainly look to be very competitively priced...in the event my booking turns out to be double the price I’ve paid they would be £100 cheaper than Tristar on an Oxford to T3 return deal

TriStar are really expensive!

TriStar are really expensive!

And unresponsive. Asked for a quote 24 hours ago and nada

I couldn’t agree more.

I tend to use London Heathrow Cars for getting to DTCI, really good effiecient high quality service always on time.

Are they happy to do Heathrow hotel to DTCI?

In the event Tristar come back to me and say my booking is double the quoted / booked cost I know I have a viable (cheaper) alternative

Thinking about the chauffeur business...it must be lucrative. £141 from Oxford to LHR (38 miles door to door) - £20 fuel for a V-Class (probably less), not sure on driver salary fee or car hire / lease cost - huge margins surely

I couldn’t agree more.

I tend to use London Heathrow Cars for getting to DTCI, really good effiecient high quality service always on time.

Are they happy to do Heathrow hotel to DTCI?

Yup! Every dricer I’ve had from them have known the set up very well at DTCI. I do wonder if TriStar subcontract to them?

I couldn’t agree more.

I tend to use London Heathrow Cars for getting to DTCI, really good effiecient high quality service always on time.

Are they happy to do Heathrow hotel to DTCI?

Yup! Every dricer I’ve had from them have known the set up very well at DTCI. I do wonder if TriStar subcontract to them?

Thanks.

What was the outcome, we’d booked a car clearly typing 15 pieces (between 4 passengers, I’d caluated checked and hand together), we were charged just under £186 for pick up from Essex, they’d originally sent an E class, which to be fair was tight with 4 passengers not even looking at the luggage, however Tristar were brilliant, I called to complain, they organised a Ford Galaxy to be with us within 15 mins, the E class driver was even better, not only did he wait for the other driver to turn up but as he was going back to LHR he offered to drop us of too, so I went in the Galaxy with the luggage but the Mrs, Mother-In-Law and infant (6 week old) went in the E class. Really impressed, can’t praise it high enough.

The E class driver went over and beyond, he was the one that put all the luggage in to the Galaxy.

Just a small question, all the dealings were with and confirmation with Tristar however the Galaxy driver was definitely Addison Lee. Not that it matters, just a thought.

Just a small question, all the dealings were with and confirmation with Tristar however the Galaxy driver was definitely Addison Lee. Not that it matters, just a thought.

AL bought Tristar a few years ago

fwiw when I've booked a Tristar transfer via AL (the 'Exec Car' option, E class/equivalent), it's been cheaper than booking the same via Tristar, with a better booking/tracking system