If you are in Phoenix on business, going to a special event, or just want to ride in style and comfort, you may be weighing your choices: taxi, rideshare (Uber/Lyft), and luxury car service. Typically, the cost is an important factor. However, it’s more than just cost. It’s value, reliability, experience, and peace of mind.
Here’s a guide to what the cost and benefits of choices reflect and when there is a big difference in decisions to be made when it comes to luxury transportation.
The Baseline: Taxis, Uber and Lyft
Taxis
Taxis are still relied on in major urban settings. They charge a rate based on time and distance. They can be hailed (depending on local ordinances), and incur surcharges for night, city, and airport rides. So, for point-to-point rides in Phoenix, a taxi may be the less cost option. However, as the old adage goes — you get what you pay for. You will see variability in the quality of drivers, quality of vehicles, and reliability of service.
Uber/Lyft (Standard Tier)
Rideshare companies are popular due to their convenience. You schedule a ride via an app. You know the time it will take; you can see the car you will be riding in, you pay easily, and you pay tips via app, etc. The pricing is usually competitive, and in some cases less than the other options. However:
- Pricing is determined by real-time demand, traffic, time of day, and other factors. Surge pricing can greatly increase pricing.
- Vehicle type, quality of driving, service levels can vary.
- If there’s baggage traveling, group arrangements or special service characteristics, rideshare pricing can escalate, or services can become less useful.
Uber Black / Uber Lux / premium ride tiers
If you are riding in an expensive vehicle in rideshare mode, it will cost more. In some cases, in some cities, Uber Black can cost several times what an Uber X charges for the same distance.
Even these expensive tiers of service will not fulfill all of the actualities of quality, service, reliability and luxury of the dedicated luxury car / chauffeur service.
What a Luxury Car Service Costs — and why it’s more.
When you use a luxury car service such as Black Diamond Livery, you pay for more than just transportation. The expense is greater, yes — but the value per dollar makes it worthwhile, you often find, when weighing out the returns of the expenditure:
What raises the cost
- Professionally qualified chauffeurs (as opposed to drivers). They are cleared, licensed, monitored.
- Top vehicles: Newer, high range models, high end, immaculate condition, luxurious interiors.
- Predictable, flat pricing: Many of the car services use flat or quote pricing for certain route locations (airport transfer, occasions mapped) instead of time and distance and surge.
- Promises of service: Timely pick up, monitoring of flights, traffic patterns, wait time factored in, no hidden fees.
- Luxury amenities: Climate control, bottled water, WiFi, limo quality interiors, etc.
- Higher insurance/licensing standards for vehicles and companies that are for-hire.
- Dedicated Support: Dispatch, Customer Service, Backup Vehicles.
Why it’s a cost that can be justified.
- You know what you will pay (when fixed rate) no surprises or surge.
- The experience lends itself to professionalism (important for corporate travel) or luxury (important for events).
- Reduced liability: you are not dependent on random availability of rideshares or taxis supply (when busy or rush time especially)
- Time is money: when you are late, held up in traffic, waiting for a ride it costs you more than the fare. Luxury car service reduces that liability.
When Luxury Car Service is Actually Cheaper or Better Value
It may sound odd, but in certain instances a luxury car service may be less (or deliver better value) than rideshares or taxis. Here’s how:
- Groups and bags: If you are traveling with 3–6 people and luggage for example, it probably makes more sense to pick one premium vehicle than arranging two or three rideshares. Many rideshare fees go up per passenger or per vehicle: This luxury service may take larger groups in one vehicle. One publication reported, for example, that limos are more economical than rideshares in certain group/long distance cases.
- Long distances / airports: For long long trips (airport to resort, city to outlying facility for example) the rideshare pricing (especially under surge) may go up. Meanwhile, luxury car services usually give you priced flat or quoted.
- Peak times: If you need to ride in high demand (major event, rush hour holidays) the rideshare surge pricing may often double or triple the costs. A luxury ride pre-booked service locks in your price.
- Corporate/travel image driven rides: If you are meeting clients, going to a gala, picking up VIPs, the “cost” of arriving in a low grade ride can damage image or cause inelegance. In that case, the premium is quite minor relative to the benefits.
Luxury Car Service When to Use — Use Cases
Definite occasions in Phoenix/Scottsdale which luxury car service, not taxi/rideshare, should be considered:
- Corporate travel/air transfer: Your flight is at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) or you are returning from some meeting, and you want a seamless professional ride. You are meeting clients, you have luggage, you have a schedule. A private chauffeur does not have you scrambling.
- Specialized client pick ups: You have invited employees or clients to hop into a car. You want the ride to reflect your brand which is, punctual, high-end, distraction-free. Luxury car service is in line with that.
- Special events/high profile meetings: Gala dinners, board meetings, intimate dinners, VIP arrivals, Luxury service is the finished touch.
- Group Travel: Multiple passengers, like destination (hotel-resort, convention center) where a bus or van makes more sense so there is less transportation co-ordination.
- High demand time/traffic hot spots: Scottsdale resorts, Phoenix convention centers, high profile events. Lock in your ride ahead at fixed price.
- Timely schedules: Cannot afford being dropped off late. Flight tracking, control of traffic, professional chauffeur, all part of the value.
When taxi/rideshare makes more sense
Not all trips require a luxury car service. Here’s when taxi or rideshare may be completely appropriate:
- When spontaneous, short urban trips are involved: You’re going a block from downtown Phoenix to some nearby restaurant. Convenience and cost effectiveness matter more.
- When money is an object, and the level of service is less important: You just need a ride, that’s all, no big deal.
- When demand is low/ regular off‐peak: Rideshare fare is cheap, supply good, no surge.
How to determine: Ask these questions Before making the booking ask the questions:
- What is the cost (including waiting time, airport costs, fuel, tolls)?
- What is the price fixed or variable (surge/traffic)?
- What is the condition and quality of vehicle and type of vehicle, brand and model?
- Who is driving, is he a professionally trained chauffeur, is he vetted?
- Are luggage, size of group waiting time, included?
- If flight is delayed, if traffic is congested what is the backup plan?
- What impression do I wish to make arriving in my destination?
- Will I be working or need needed privacy in transit?
Why Black Diamond Livery transportation company is the company of choice for luxury transport in Phoenix and Scottsdale
- When you choose Black Diamond Livery Transportation in the Phoenix‐Scottsdale area you receive the benefits of a fixed price or at least clearly quoted pricing with regard to corporate & event travel.
- The professional chauffeurs know the area (Phoenix, Scottsdale, north Phoenix, airport) for whom he handles timing, delays, logistics, for you.
- Luxurious cars and service fit to the highest standards, whether you are doing business with clients, attending a board meeting, hosting a VIP.
- Group transportation, events, logistics for events and airport transfer, is all handled with the same consideration and detail.
At the end of the day the cheapest ride is not invariably the smartest. If going from A to B is all your need then taxi or rideshare may be sufficient. But if your priorities listed above are reliability, professionalism, image, group co-ordination, stress-free scheduling or luxurious experience, then the premium price of a luxurious car service is more than paid for.