As Directed: Etiquette and What to Expect

The rear left seat, behind the front passenger, is traditionally the principal's seat: easiest to enter from the kerb and furthest from traffic. Nobody will correct you if you sit elsewhere, and on a as directed hire with two passengers the rear bench is the normal arrangement.

Passengers on a a as directed hire can specify the cabin they want in advance, from temperature and music to whether conversation is welcome at all.

Chauffeurs take their cue from you. A greeting and a confirmation of the destination is standard; beyond that, conversation is offered and dropped without awkwardness if you would rather work or rest. Saying so directly is entirely normal and never taken badly.

If you need silence for a call, the vehicle is quiet enough, and the chauffeur will not interject.

The chauffeur loads and unloads. Offering to help is polite and unnecessary; declining help is equally fine. Fragile or valuable items are best mentioned rather than assumed, particularly on a as directed hire covering a car and chauffeur held at your disposal for a booked block of hours.

Consistency matters more than novelty. A a as directed hire arranged through Executive Chauffeurs UK follows a documented preparation routine, so the standard you experience on a first booking is the standard you receive on the fiftieth.

Still water is provided. Hot drinks and food are generally discouraged in the cabin for practical reasons rather than snobbery, and vehicles are non-smoking, including vaping. Ask if you need an exception; it is usually possible to arrange a stop.

Changes are expected. A a as directed hire can be adjusted after confirmation, though later changes are always subject to chauffeur and vehicle availability, so notifying the desk early keeps more options open.

Tipping is discretionary and never added automatically. Where clients do tip, ten per cent is the common convention in the UK, and a note to the desk about a chauffeur who did well is valued just as highly.

Judged purely on distance, a a as directed hire costs more than a metered alternative. Judged on recovered working time, guaranteed capacity and a fixed price agreed before travel, the comparison usually looks different.

Chauffeurs arrive early. The reciprocal courtesy is a realistic ready time, and a message if you are running late, so waiting can be managed rather than guessed at.

Coverage for a a as directed hire extends nationwide. The same standards apply in central London, across the English regions, and on longer runs into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.