United Airlines has begun to roll out luxury car transfers for a handful of United’s most premium flyers while transferring with tight connections at Houston Intercontinental Airport. The service is reserved for Global Service members who have extremely tight connections at IAH and is 100% by random. The two Mercedes (one sedan & one SUV), which may have acquired a mobile roadworthy certificate, cannot be reserved but instead will be deployed based on need determined by United.
Mary Clark, A United Spokeswoman explained the serviced when it was first announced this week.
“It’s primarily designed to help speed customers through the transfer if they’ve got a tight connection,” Clark said.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the travel experience for our top customers. This is one of the ways we’re exploring to provide that extra benefit to them.”
Here’s how it works: United will monitor inbound Houston flights and gauge which eligible passengers would need the service most. When the plane lands, a Global Services representative will wait by the cabin door holding a sign with the customer’s name on it and let them know a transfer service has been arranged, Clark said.
Then, the passenger walks down the stairs of the jetway and is driven to his or her connecting gate. Clark estimated several customers a day would be offered the service.
This service is somewhat similar to Lufthansa’s Mercedes transfers, but instead of being offered to all First Class passengers, it will be reserved for a very select few. It is also very similar to the Delta Porsche transfer program being offered at Atlanta. Although the above offering is not innovated, it is just one more perk being offered to United’s high spending customers.
Are you a Global Service member? If you are and you get to experience this pilot program, please let us know how it worked for you and what it’s like!
