My experience with Blacklane chauffeur cars – with 10% discount

We recently wrote about a 10% discount for first time users with airport chauffeur group Blacklane.  Their website is here.

When you book, Blacklane lets you earn miles with:

• Asia Miles (2 per £/$/€ spent)
• Flying Blue (2 per £/$/€ spent)
• Miles & More (2 per £/$/€ spent)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1 per £/$/€ spent)
• Enrich (Malaysia Airlines) (2 per £/$/€ spent)
• Singapore Airlines Krisflyer (2 per £/$/€ spent)

We decided to give Blacklane a try in Johannesburg yesterday.  Anika’s hotel was very slow in replying to our request for a driver and when it did reply it wanted £47.  By then we had already given up and booked Blacklane for (after the 10% first user discount) £38 for a similar black car.  The ride will also earn me 108 Miles & More miles.

Anika’s feedback was excellent.  She was met at arrivals and walked to the car where the driver was waiting.  Water and cold towels were in the vehicle and the driver was keen to chat about the city.

You clearly can’t guarantee the same service globally but we would happily use it again.  The online booking system is very easy – I don’t know how it does it, but virtually every building, street and hotel in every major global city is there and pops up when you start typing.  You don’t need to know the exact address of where you are going.

The 10% first ride discount code is BL10.

Blacklane has a slightly odd way of entering promotional codes.  You will be presented with a page asking for your credit card details.  After you type them in, there is an additional screen which asks if you have a voucher code.  Add BL10 on that page and 10% is deducted from your quote.  Your card is not charged until after the ride and you can cancel until 1 hour before pick-up.

You can book, create an account or find out more about Blacklane on their website here.

How to get FREE car rental status and other benefits via UK credit cards (December 2024)

If you hire a car in the UK, you can get special benefits (discounts, upgrades, free additional drivers etc) if you have elite status with a car rental programme. You can get elite status for free via certain American Express cards.

The Platinum Card and American Express Business Platinum

The Platinum Card from American Express and American Express Business Platinum come with two free car hire status cards. Your supplementary Platinum cardholder can also receive status in their own right.

From Avis, you receive President’s Club status in Avis Preferred. This gets you up to 25% off standard rates, a free additional driver and a guaranteed one class upgrade. For weekend rentals you will receive a two class upgrade, subject to availability.

From Hertz, you receive ‘Five Star’ status in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. This gets you up to 15% off standard rates, a free additional driver and a one class upgrade, subject to availability.

Hertz also offers Platinum cardholders a 4 hour grace period on rentals. Your final day is treated as 28 hours, so a 1pm pick up with a 5pm return the following day is only charged as one day, not two days. We wrote about the Hertz / Platinum 4 hour grace period here.

The Platinum Card also comes with full car hire insurance with no obligation to pay for the rental via American Express. You can refuse any attempts to sell you additional insurance at pick up. This benefit has substantial value if you rent on a regular basis.

You can find more details on the two Platinum cards, and apply, in our full reviews linked below. You can apply here for the personal card and here for the business card.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is an excellent card in its own right. You receive 20,000 Membership Rewards points for signing up (convert to 20,000 Avios amongst other things), four airport lounge passes and £120 of Deliveroo credit. Even better, your first year is free.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.

There are two car rental benefits:

• you receive Preferred Plus status in Avis Preferred

• you receive a special package with Hertz – 10% off best available rates at participating locations, a one class upgrade for rentals of 5 days or more, subject to availability, and no additional driver fees

Find out more about the benefits of American Express Preferred Rewards Gold in our review. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review