United Expands Luxury Car Tarmac Service to SFO

san franciscoUnited Airlines today expanded its Mercedes-Benz tarmac transportation service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), offering members of the airline’s by-invitation-only Global Services program greater comfort and convenience throughout their travel experience.

United will offer the tarmac service this spring. The airline will use Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC SUVs with environmentally friendly clean diesel technology to chauffer some Global Services members and United Global First customers to their connections in San Francisco.

United representatives will meet customers at the aircraft, escort them to the waiting Mercedes-Benz vehicle and drive them across the tarmac to their connecting flight. The expediting service gives priority to customers with close connections.

United introduced its tarmac transportation service last summer at its hubs in Chicago and Houston. Earlier this year, the airline launched tarmac transportation and unveiled an all-new Global Services check-in lobby at Newark Liberty International Airport.

“We are delighted to offer our busiest travelers, for whom time is so important, another way to make their travel easier and more convenient,” said Jimmy Samartzis, United’s vice president of customer experience. “With the tarmac transfer service, our investments in the new Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 and new terminal facilities to come, we are strengthening San Francisco as the region’s premier hub and the nation’s best trans-Pacific gateway.”

Along with tarmac transportation, the airline and Mercedes-Benz USA also partner to provide attractive promotional packages and bonus miles to United’s MileagePlus Premier members who purchase or lease certain new Mercedes vehicles. Current offers are available at www.united.com/mercedes.

Separately, United is making several flyer-friendly investments at San Francisco International Airport in 2014. An ultra-modern Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 opened to United customers in January.

Later this year the airline plans to open a Global Services check-in lobby in Terminal 3; it will be similar to the Global Services lobbies in Chicago and New York/Newark. In addition, the airline will create a new check-in area at San Francisco for MileagePlus Premier customers.