Chauffeur Drive

Qantas’ (QF) new partnership with Emirates (EK) will allow business and first-class passengers travelling with either airline to enjoy free chauffeur-driven transport to and from the airport.

Chauffeur Drive will be available to eligible Qantas customers travelling on flights between Australia and London, Dubai, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Santiago and Johannesburg, according to news.com.au.

"We know this door-to-door service will be very well received and it's a prime example of the kind of benefits customers can expect from the new partnership," Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said.

Customers connecting domestic flights with an eligible Qantas international service - more than 12 hours - will also have access to the personal driver service.

The alliance is still pending approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

If authorised, the agreement will see Qantas fly to London via Dubai rather than Singapore from April 2013.

The ten-year partnership was signed last week and will allow consumers to purchase tickets on 98 weekly flights between Australia and Dubai as well as access to up to 70 Emirates destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Qantas recently conducted an independent survey to gauge consumer response to the new alliance with Emirates.

Seventy-six percent of respondents said they approved of the partnership, while just four percent thought it was a bad business decision.

What are your thoughts on the new alliance? Leave your comments below.