The Difference is in the Service, Reliability & Professionalism without the SURGE…
Our clients ask us daily for our thoughts on Uber, Lyft, Gett and other TNCs. (TNC or Transportation Network Company is the legal name for companies such as Uber and Lyft). We have 21 reasons why we think Aadvanced Limousines in Indianapolis is superior to a TNC. Please note, every TNC has different policies, so not every reason applies to every TNC.
1. WE ARRIVE EARLY AND WAIT FOR YOU
Our goal wtih all our limousines and car services is to be on location and waiting 10 to 15 minutes prior to your reservation time. Then when you are ready, we can get moving. Our wait time doesn’t begin until 15 minutes after reservation time. In this aspect, we are old-fashioned and proud of it.
Conversely, TNCs are the opposite. They expect you to request a car and wait for them. There is always a risk that a car is unavailable or it’s far away. Then you need to “babysit” the car, to ensure it will arrive. You need to make sure that the vehicle is moving and eventually on the way. After that, continually monitor the vehicle to make sure it doesn’t cancel. In addition, the driver may call you to ask your destination and decide whether or not to pick you up or cancel the ride altogether. Then finally, the driver knows that if you are not present within 5 minutes, they will speed away to collect a cancellation fee leaving you to start the process all over again.
2. WE PROPERLY VET OUR EMPLOYEES
Aadvanced Limousines Chauffeurs must pass a drug test and are subject to random drug tests. We do a Department of Justice background check with fingerprinting. We do not hire felons or former felons. The prospective employee is interviewed in person face to face with our management team. Once hired, they begin our Certified Chauffeur training program, where we ride with the employee to evaluate driving skills, spend 2+ weeks with a combination of classroom and hands-on experience. We require that our employees fill out an I9 form verifying eligibility to work in the United States as a part of our pre-employment screening. Our chauffeurs must qualify for our insurance policy with no DUI’s and 2 or less moving violations in three years.
TNC’s do NOT drug test, do NOT do DOJ background checks but they DO hire former felons. TNC’s do NOT interview face to face or require any kind of driving skills evaluation or provide any continued and on-going training. It’s unclear what kind of driving record is accepted. They do NOT even check if a driver can legally work in the US. They simply require a driver’s license and an internal background check. Then they are off driving people for hire. TNC’s need millions of drivers, screening out drivers is not in their interest.
3. PROFESSIONAL CHAUFFEURS
Aadvanced Limousines chauffeurs are full-time professional drivers who view their job as a career. They are trained, coached, supervised and friendly. They are uniformed in a black & white suit with a tie or bow tie. Our Chauffeurs truly care about the safety, comfort and overall experience that our clients receive and are dedicated to exceeding that expectation (this is how we earn your repeat business).
We like our Chauffeurs to be friendly and engage in conversation, however, they also understand that our clients may prefer not to talk or be bothered. We understand your need to get work done or just relax after a long trip.
Our Chauffeurs understand the importance of keeping your affairs confidential. They are instructed to be discreet and to not discuss your private conversations with the next passenger in the vehicle, colleagues or other clients.
Our Chauffeurs’ number one goal is to get you to your destination in a timely and SAFE manner. They are trained not to tailgate, drive aggressively or erratically and to obey traffic laws. We participate in the DMV pull notice system which alerts us to a driver’s license being suspended and/or citations received. This allows us to stay on top of any training or re-training that may need to take place to help keep us in alignment with delivering the best-Chauffeured and professional car services in Indianapolis!
We serve OVER 15,000 clients per year and have a 99.7% satisfaction rating.
4. NO SURGE PRICING
We offer fixed flat rate prices. We do NOT charge extra for the time of day, high demand or day of the week. After an event, TNC’s almost always charge you a surge rate for a ride. Most times the surge rate on a standard TNC is equal to or exceeds our transfer rates. The same holds true for IND, Community Events, Concerts, Colts Football Games, Etc… TNC’s have lower rates going to IND and then the rates skyrocket for a pick up at the Indianapolis Airport.
5. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED IN OUR VEHICLES
Aadvanced Limousines vehicles are considered limousines by the State of Indiana. So, go ahead and bring that bottle of bubbly or enjoy a few cocktails on the way to your special event, it’s completely legal (as long as the vehicle has a divider between the passengers & Chauffeur).
6. WE PROMPTLY RETURN LOST ITEMS
We will do our best to return any lost item in a prompt manner, often same day or overnight shipping. Our Chauffeurs are trained to check the vehicle at drop off location and to inspect it for forgotten items. However, sometimes a phone or other article will slip down in a seat or elsewhere and get overlooked. Give us a call and we will make arrangements for returning your items as fast as possible.
There is no worse feeling than getting dropped off at the airport and realizing you left your phone or wallet in the car. Imagine doing that and that awful feeling of not knowing how to track down the random TNC driver. With a TNC, it is unlikely to get your item back in a timely manner before your flight leaves or get it back at all. We have strict policies and training in place to ensure our entire team goes above and beyond to return your belongings.
7. WE DO NOT HIRE FELONS
This speaks for itself. We are all for giving felons a second chance, after all, they served their time, but perhaps their first job out of prison should be in a more supervised position.
It’s not responsible to send a convicted felon to pick you up and take you to the airport for vacation while knowing your house will be unoccupied for a few days. This situation could lead to trouble and has been a huge topic in the media recently about TNC drivers.
Our goal in hiring chauffeurs is hiring quality, not quantity. This provides us the longevity to build a Career path for our team, which allows you to get familiar with them and often have the same Chauffeur over a long period of time and multiple trips.
Related Read: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-uber-felons-20160113-story.html
8. NO DRIVER CANCELLATIONS
Aadvanced Limousines or our Chauffeurs do not cancel you! We like to make sure we accurate information, which is why we will call and confirm the details 24 hours prior to the reservation. Approximately 60 minutes before the scheduled pick up time, you should receive a text message with the Chauffeurs name and phone number. There will also be a text that will allow you to track the arrival of your vehicle. After you receive the text from your driver that he/she is on the way, rest assured he/she will be there. No need to keep checking your app to make sure your driver is moving or still on route.
Of course, YOU can cancel your reservation if needed, just contact our 24/7/365 dispatchers via text, phone or email (that right, with us you can reach a live person anytime). Have you ever tried to call a TNC or their dispatch department?
9. OUR CHAUFFEURS ARE EMPLOYEES
As a locally owned business in Indianapolis Indiana, we like to think we are making an impact to better our community. We are hopeful that the 44 jobs we have created have a positive impact on Indianapolis and the community that supports us. With our team being true employees, we comply with Indiana labor laws and contribute our portion of required taxes. State law also provides some regulation and safety components for you, our customer. Indiana and the Department of Transportation require drug testing and DMV pull notice registration. Also, as employees, they are trained, supervised and dedicated to our client experience-driven culture. We keep in close contact with our Team to ensure our Chauffeurs operate in a safe and friendly manner. Their driving habits are monitored and graded by a state-of-the-art GPS technology that is onboard all of our vehicles. This all helps us to deliver a world-class experience for you!
TNC’s are trying to avoid all liability and responsibility for their drivers by classifying them as independent contractors.
In addition, TNC’s avoid paying minimum wages, employer taxes, healthcare, workers compensation or any other benefits their drivers deserve and quite likely lawfully entitled to receive. There is a federal lawsuit determining these issues, but one thing is VERY CLEAR, TNC’s argue they are not liable for the actions of their drivers. The small print that describes the terms you must agree to when downloading the app also enforce this and require you to give up a number of rights, just for being their customer. We believe this shows a great disrespect to the person who is driving for them and also you as the customer.
10. WE ARE COMMERCIALLY LICENSED & INSURED, HAVE PERMITS AND OPERATE LEGALLY
We are licensed and regulated by the State of Indiana and comply with all quarterly fees and permits. They make sure our vehicles are properly registered and insured and that we comply with laws. We are a trusted and permitted Airport Car Service at Indianapolis International Airport (IND). Compliant with all airport permits at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and registered with Homeland Security. To get an IND permit, we must go through a lengthy application process and get approved by the City Attorney, Airport Authority and Homeland Security. In addition, all vehicles must be documented, registered with them and proper insurance is regularly checked.
TNC’s still operate in the “gray” area. Legally their vehicles should be commercially registered and insured, but few are. TNC drivers at minimum need a TNC endorsement on their insurance policies, but few do, driving up the cost of insurance costs for everyone. They are also involved in a federal antitrust lawsuit claiming they are price fixing and controlling rates and fees for their contractors.
11. WE COST LESS
Sure, when you compare a random person driving a compact economy car to our service, TNC’s are sometimes cheaper. But when you compare Aadvanced Limousines service to what they consider the same class of service, we are 30 – 45% cheaper. While delivering a dynamically different experience while offering proper insurance, duty of care and a level of customer service that is unsurpassed.
Our prices never surge!
After most community events and pickups at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) there will almost always be a substantial surge price. It’s very common for Aadvanced Limousines’ cost to be less than a standard TNC.
12. WE HAVE A PHONE
That’s right, you can call us anytime. Aadvanced Limousines has a full-time team of in-house customer service representatives and dispatchers. Not an answering service, not someone in a foreign country. If you ever need to get a hold of us, we are here 24/7/365. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service in a timely manner!
You will NEVER find a phone number for a TNC and trying to contact them through the app is frustrating at best. Customer service is not in their vocabulary.
13. SPECIAL REQUESTS
For a small service charge, we can supply special requests in the vehicle. Whether you want flowers, your favorite drink or food… we can do it! Do you need the driver to run an errand while you are in a meeting… we can do it! We try to accommodate most anything you need!
14. EASE OF MIND
– We email a confirmation at the time of making a reservation.
– 48-hour reminder emailed
– 24-hour text reminder
– 2-hour email reminder
– Text from Chauffeur when on the way
– Text from Chauffeur upon arrival
– Track your Chauffeur on the app
Sometimes on early morning pickups, TNC cars are not available or they cancel on you. TNCs make reservations, but if there is not a car in the area to take the reservation, they do not show up.
15. NEWER LUXURY WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLES
Our entire fleet of luxury vehicles is less than 3 years old. We offer a diverse fleet of options to include Lincoln MKT Sedan’s, Cadillac Escalades and Chevrolet Suburbans. The MKT Sedans are a great fit and full of luxury for the avid traveler, while the Cadillac Escalade boasts a very elegant interior and plenty of space. All of our fleet options are luxurious, and offer a smooth ride and offer a great amount of space. All vehicles are equipped with umbrellas, bottled water, and a professional Chauffeur. We also provide Indianapolis Christmas Light tours during the holiday season!
Our vehicles are inspected and maintained on a monthly basis.
TNC vehicles are supposed to be inspected yearly, although there is no oversight or regulation here. However, going a full year with maintenance issues is a major safety issue!
TNC vehicles in Indianapolis are up to 15 years old.
16. OUR COMFORTING AIRPORT PICK UP OPTIONS
Meet and Greet
Your chauffeur will greet you with a sign at the bottom of the escalator near the baggage claim. Our Chauffeur’s will be happy to assist with luggage if you have any and then walk with you to the vehicle. The Indianapolis Airport (IND) requires us to park at the Ground Transportation building which is just a short walk from the terminal.
TNC’s are dispatched from the Cell Phone parking lot on the other side of Airport property. It can easily take a minimum of 10 to 30 minutes for your car to arrive.
17. COMPLIMENTARY WATER
We stock each car with complimentary bottled water, while Limousines are stocked with Ice, Cups and napkins in the bar area.
18. CAR SEATS
We offer a few different types of car seats. We have these numbered and photographed, we can send you all options and you can choose which seat will be the best choice. Forward facing, toddler seat, booster seat or rear-facing infant seat. Just let our reservation representative know what you need!
19. WE STILL OPEN YOUR CAR DOOR AND LOAD YOUR BAGS
Aadvanced Limousines believes that being courteous has not gone out of style! Step back and we will get the door, hold your bags and help you in/out if needed. When attending more formal events, it would be completely inappropriate not to have the door opened for you (we’re kind of old school like that). But there is a more important function here… safety. We always make sure traffic is cleared and you are safely in or out of the vehicle before closing/opening the door and finally departing.
Not surprisingly, the TNCs have had hundreds of instances where passengers have had their feet run over by their driver. Being in a hurry and carelessness should not be a part of your experience.
Our chauffeurs will also load/unload your luggage and assist in getting your bags to and from your home.
20. WE ENROLL IN THE DMV PULL NOTICE SYSTEM
Simply stated, our drivers are listed with the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles. Whenever a driver’s record changes, with a traffic violation, the DMV will notify us, so we know if our drivers are operating safely. This includes any suspension of a driver’s license or traffic violation.
TNCs do NOT utilize the DMV Pull Notice system, resulting in drivers on the road with poor/unsafe driving records and/or suspended licenses.
21. YOU CAN REQUEST A DRIVER
If you have a Chauffeur that you like or know, you can request that Chauffeur on a reservation. We will notate the request on the reservation and schedule accordingly subject to availability.