Private car services are ubiquitous. Whether for airport transfers, weekend escapes, or long-distance driving for business meetings, you can shake a stick and a luxury private car service will come get you. However, not all private car services are equal. For highly discerning customers, what sets one apart from the others? The answer: the perfect experience.
Blacklane chauffeur car service, based in Germany, is a premium mobility experience from stem to stern. When the goal is to step out of your hotel, office or front door and have everything done for you, seamlessly and discreetly, Blacklane has cornered the market on delivering the perfect experience.
Highly Trained Chauffeurs
A beacon of sophistication, the Blacklane service begins with expertly trained chauffeurs. The Blacklane Chauffeur Academy offers trainee chauffeurs a comprehensive training program of 1 to 2 days, including defensive driving techniques, similar-based practice, and service standards. These include safety, etiquette and discretion. The Chauffeur Academy training is ongoing in the Americas, Europe, Dubai, and as of September, Asia.
“The Blacklane Chauffeur Academy is designed to strengthen the relationship between chauffeurs and Blacklane, while elevating the level of service provided. This initiative enhances Blacklane’s premium service offerings, enables chauffeurs to provide high-quality services, securing a sustainable income, and maintains Blacklane’s competitive edge in the market,” said Kyle Fackler, Head of Market Management for The Americas & EMEA in an email.
Once a chauffeur is an approved Blacklane chauffeur, the benefits work both ways. When customers build a rapport with a chauffeur, this also expands the chauffeur’s client roster. “The business model helps us to work with more chauffeurs and helps them to grow their business elsewhere,” said Fackler.
A Stress-Free Experience
The Make and Model of The Car Matter
“We have extremely strict standards in the model year and model that we will accept. Our partners have the newest cars available and are always maintaining them well,” said Fackler. “It’s little details like this that make all the difference. It’s the things we don’t normally notice, and it’s best if you don’t notice.”
For pre-booked services, Blacklane offers three vehicle classes: Business Class, First Class and a Business Van/SUV. For cities and service classes, there is a list of approved vehicles, which may include:
- Business Class: Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Cadillac XTS, or similar
- First Class: Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, or similar
- Business Van: Mercedes V-Class, Chevy Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Alphard, or similar
Blacklane also offers special vehicles in selected cities, including:
- Electric Class: Available in selected cities around the world.
- Electric SUV: Guests in Dubai may also book an Electric SUV vehicle.
- Sprinter Class: Available only in Miami and Orlando.
The Devil In The Details
Of course, the Blacklane chauffeurs help travelers with doors and bags, but this is where the details come in: The Blacklane chauffeur anticipates when you will need that assistance. They are tightly connected to the needs of passengers, whether that’s exiting the car or entering with mountains of shopping bags—they know when you left the department store or Starbucks and are waiting for you.
The temperature in the car is exact to each passenger’s comfort level, and adjustments are made on demand. The same level of detail is given to music, the genre of music, the volume, it’s all adjusted to a passenger’s preference.
“Blacklane’s chauffeurs are on hand to help from the moment they meet their clients including opening doors, helping with luggage and supporting any traveler with disabilities, extending to providing comfort in the car including temperature, a complimentary bottle of water, WiFi, and a multi-charger cable,” Fackler said.
Professional, Courteous and Discreet
Ever wonder if the chauffeur is listening to your conversations? Fackler wants to be clear that with Blacklane, there is no need to be concerned about the details you may share during the luxury ride.
“We know we have a lot of business people taking our cars and oftentimes using it to work in the car,” said Fackler. “We emphasize the discreetness of our drivers. All conversations are in confidence.”
A Premium Experience, Everywhere
A Blacklane customer might take a Blacklane chauffeur from a hotel in New York to JFK, then fly to Heathrow and be picked up by another Blacklane chauffeur. The premium experience blends seamlessly with your next destination with the same cocoon of luxury and indulgence wherever you land. How do they do that?
According to Fackler, the emphasis is on quality.
“We have an extremely high standard of care when it comes to the chauffeur partners we work with,” he said. “We ensure that before anyone partners with Blacklane they have a full understanding of the quality that Blacklane guests have come to expect. We rely on feedback from our guests and from our own internal quality checks on rides to provide us with the necessary feedback for us to share with our chauffeur partners so that we’re continuously improving Blacklane’s quality of service.”
Blacklane City-To-Beach Service
The recently launched City-to-Beach service is aimed at high-powered business titans and executives who take weekend vacations with their families and don’t want the hassle of driving. It’s a more convenient and time-saving option over short-haul flights or the myriad distractions of travel, including flight cancellations, cramped seating, unforeseen costs, and the frustration when driving and trying to find a place to park.
The perfect experience includes all of the Blacklane brand promises. “All vehicles come equipped with features tailored for coastal travel, including temperature control, spacious vehicles, and complimentary bottled water,” Fackler said.
Blacklane launched its City-to-City service in 2023 with connections between metropolitan areas, which now extends to 187 routes in 14 countries. The City-to-Beach service includes 38 global routes with 14 in the U.S. The City-to-Beach beach getaway service areas include:
New York
- New York – Atlantic City
- New York – East Hampton
- New York – Greenport
- New York – Montauk
Miami
- Miami – Fort Lauderdale
- Miami – Palm Beach
Boston
- Boston – Provincetown
Philadelphia
- Philadelphia – Atlantic City
Los Angeles
- Los Angeles – Santa Barbara
San Francisco
- San Francisco – Carmel by the sea
The Future Of Electric Vehicles For Blacklane
According to Fackler, at the end of 2023, 15% of Blacklane global rides were in EVs.
“As we see the demand for premium chauffeur services increasing, we also see the demand for sustainable chauffeur services increasing,” he said. “Blacklane sees EVs as a key part of its future to push towards a more sustainable world of mobility. We have seen huge success with our two-toned Mercedes EQS EV fleets in Dubai & London and will continue to expand our EV options across the globe.”
According to IBIS World, luxury car service use has increased along with the growing per capita of disposable income. Among competitors, Blacklane is poised to be the focal luxury car service for discerning travelers seeking refined leisure and elevated indulgence in point-to-point travel.
Originally posted on Forbes.com*