Arrive at your gate in a Jaguar: United Airlines to offer transfers for some connecting passengers
For some United Airlines flyers, a tight connection will no longer mean running through the neon light tunnel at Chicago O'Hare International Airport with a roller bag in tow.
Instead, the airline will offer some elite loyalty members gate-to-gate transfers in a new electric Jaguar I-PACE.
"We are thrilled to partner with United Airlines to further ignite the passion travelers have for eco-minded exploration, as sustainability and electrifying performance are at the heart of the Jaguar brand," Joe Eberhardt, president and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said in a statement. "Both United and Jaguar have boldly pledged to advancing transportation technology that will help propel us towards a more sustainable future, and we are excited for travelers to have the opportunity to experience these innovations on the tarmac."
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Where are United's Jaguar connections available?
The partnership with Jaguar is set to start this month at United's Chicago hub, and is expected to expand to United's Denver, Houston, Newark/New York, Washington, D.C, San Francisco and Los Angeles by the end of the year.
"The new United-Jaguar ground transfer program offers travelers a moment of luxury and ease," Luc Bondar, the airline's marketing and loyalty vice president and MileagePlus president, said in a statement. "Partnering with Jaguar to deploy an all-electric fleet is not only a smart business move, as we know customers consider sustainability when booking travel, it is the right thing to do."
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United expects more than a thousand customers per day to use the service once it's available at all the airline's hubs.
Who qualifies to use United's Jaguar connection service?
The program will only be offered to elite frequent flyers connecting between United flights.
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"United’s ground transfer service is a surprise benefit for select Premier MileagePlus members with tight connections at the air carrier’s U.S. hub airports," the airline said in a statement. "A member learns of the surprise upon landing at the airport, where they’re greeted by a specialized Premier Services agent who shows the customer to the vehicle on the tarmac and accompanies them to their connecting flight."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: United Airlines and Jaguar pair up on electric ground transfer program
