Mercedes E-Class, quietly composed

The car

A Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon. The car is designed around the rear passenger as much as the chauffeur: supportive seats, good legroom, climate control that reaches the back, and insulation that keeps motorway noise down at seventy miles an hour. Many E-Class cars are hybrids, which makes the slow crawl through central London quieter still.

Capacity

Three passengers, two large suitcases and two cabin bags. The boot of an executive saloon is long rather than tall, which suits two full-size cases lying flat. A third large case will not fit; for that, choose the V-Class, which takes six.

Two passengers in the back is the comfortable maximum for a long journey. A third can sit in the front beside the chauffeur.

Who chooses the E-Class?

Executives on the way to or from meetings, who want to use the journey to work. Hosts collecting an important guest. Couples at the start of a special trip. Travellers arriving after a long flight who want to sit back in a calm car rather than a crowded train. And companies that book for visitors, because a consistent, well-presented car and a chauffeur in a suit reflect on them.

Working on the move

The journey from Heathrow to the City takes around an hour; from Stansted to Westminster, it can take nearly two in the rush. That is time you can use. The rear seat of an executive saloon is a reasonable place to read, answer email or take a call, and the chauffeur will keep the cabin quiet. If you prefer no conversation at all, say so in the booking notes, and it will be respected without comment.

Collecting a guest or client

When you book for someone else, give us their name, flight and mobile number, and the name you want on the board. Some companies prefer the company name rather than the guest’s own. The chauffeur will meet them in the arrivals hall, take their bags and let you know, if you ask, when they are in the car. The fare is fixed and invoiced to you, so the guest never handles payment.

E-Class or S-Class?

Both carry the same number of people and cases. The S-Class has a longer wheelbase with more rear legroom, a more refined interior and an even quieter ride. For most business journeys, the E-Class is entirely sufficient. The S-Class is for occasions when the car is part of the welcome: a chairman, a principal, a wedding couple or a guest you particularly want to look after.

E-Class or V-Class?

If there are four of you, or more than two large cases, the V-Class is the better choice even for a business trip. Its leather seats face each other in many layouts, which suits a team travelling to a meeting together.

Private jet and hotel arrivals

At the business aviation terminals at Biggin Hill, Farnborough and Northolt, the E-Class is a common choice for one or two passengers. At hotels, the chauffeur will stop at the entrance and hand the bags to the door staff. For a hotel with a forecourt, such as those on Park Lane, the car can pull in off the street.

What the fare includes

The journey, flight tracking, waiting in the arrivals hall, help with luggage, airport parking while the chauffeur meets you, and the Congestion Charge and airport drop-off charges where they apply. The price is agreed when you book and does not change on the day.

Early departures from home

For a 07:00 flight from Heathrow, most people in central London are collected between 04:00 and 04:30. At that hour the roads are clear and the E-Class makes the run to the terminal in well under an hour. The chauffeur arrives a few minutes early, loads the cases quietly so the neighbours are not woken, and drops you at the kerb outside your terminal. The drop-off charge is already in the fare.

Regular travellers

People who fly every week often book the same car each time and add a standing note: the preferred temperature, a bottle of still water, no radio, the terminal they use most. We keep those preferences with the booking details, so a repeat journey needs only a date and a flight number. If a particular chauffeur has looked after you before and you would like them again, ask; we will arrange it when we can.