Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Limo

The price difference between ride-sharing, taxi and limousine services is summed up in the word “value.”

Factors that contribute to the price difference between Calgary limos and ride-sharing services include:
– Year, make and model of vehicle
– Personalized treatment
– Concierge services
– Professional chauffeurs
– Flight tracking

Booking a limo service to the airport is less about getting from point A to B the fastest, and more about the transportation experience during the journey.

The company’s size is a significant factor, as overhead costs vary across companies. Limo companies priced higher on the scale may have more employees. Other factors include:
– Year, make and model of vehicle
– Structure of the company (corporation vs sole-proprietor)
– Number of employees
– Included perks such as clean glasses, water, and soft drinks.  

Always understand the benefits you are getting for the price you are paying.

Most Calgary limo services use an hourly rate system to price their services. This is unlike taxi, Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services which use a distance-based pricing method. However, similar to the flat rate that is usually applied in taxi and rideshare bookings, limo services have a minimum hourly charge.

For destinations without “Calgary AB” in the Google Maps address, some limo services charge an additional “drive time” above the hourly rate. This is considered the fair economical value of driving empty to or from the out-of-town address. For example, for pickup or drop-off in Airdrie, some Calgary limo services charge 30 minutes (or 0.5 hours) of drive time.

Most limousine services accept all major credit cards, cash and Interac e-transfer. Some transportation services companies have benefits for corporate accounts or VIP clients that allow more flexible payment options such as by cheque, installments or 30-day rolling invoices.

The average tip amount is 20%. Some clients tip by a dollar amount instead of a percentage.

Some limo rental Calgary companies add this tip by default while others ask the client how much tip they want to add. When asking for a price through an online form, ask for a breakdown of your grand total price.

The black Hummer comfortably seats 24 passengers, and the white one seats 20-22 passengers. For more than 24 passengers, we recommend a party bus. The Hummer limo is the perfect choice for celebrating a special event together with a large group of friends or family.

The Lincoln MKT stretch limo can seat nine people comfortably. For ten people, we recommend our 12-passenger Ford Expedition stretch limo. This is ideal for celebrating a special occasion with a tight-knit group of friends or with family.

The maximum number of passengers in the luxury sedan class is three: two at the back and one beside the chauffeur. However, some limo companies in Calgary restrict the number of passengers to two to avoid a passenger sitting besides the chauffeur. The Lincoln Towncar is the perfect option for an airport transfer for two passengers.

The maximum number of passengers (excluding the driver) that can fit in one of the luxury class SUVs that most Calgary limo companies use is either six or seven. This is because some SUVs have two seats in the second row whereas others have three. They all have 3 seats in the third row.

The third row in these SUVs can be folded closed or left up. With the third row seats up, you can fit approximately 6-7 pieces of checked luggage. With the third row seats down, you can fit up to 12 pieces of checked luggage. That makes these luxury vehicles the ideal option for airport transfers for more than 2 people.

The Ford Expedition stretch limo can fit 12 passengers comfortably.

For more than 12 passengers, we recommend the Hummer stretch limo. The Expedition and Excursion are common limos in the Calgary scene because of the reliable Ford chassis that is used to build this hallmark of luxury transportation.

Additionally, it’s because of importation restrictions that are placed by the Canadian Federal government on certain modified vehicles from the US including limos.

The Ford Transit van can fit thirteen passengers in the main passenger cabin and one beside the driver. If you have more than 14 passengers, we recommend looking at shuttle buses as they can accommodate 15-30 passengers.

Most Calgary limo rental services transport passengers any day and any time although their offices may be closed for the day. However, some companies have dedicated customer care representatives working 24/7 to give quotes and support ongoing limo reservations.