Is Your Child traveling as an Unaccompanied Minor this Holiday Season?

We, here at KEE Limousine, have seen an increase in the number of UM’s (Unaccompanied Minors) traveling this year. Some are students from the local private schools traveling home, and some are young kids traveling alone, for whatever reason, to visit their family in other parts of the country.

For over 25 years, KEE Limousine has offered special services for young travelers and we have seen the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures change over the years. This year we’ve had to jump some new hurdles to get our UM’s on board their flights. Here are some of our tips for your UM’s.

1.) Arrive Early!!! This year’s magic number seems to be a minimum of 2 hours prior to the flight even when travelling domestically. In one instance, even though the flight was delayed by 1.5 hrs, the airline initially refused a UM because the 2 hour prior policy from the original departure time wasn’t met. When you include the delay of 1.5 hours, we were actually 3 hours early and we still had to jump some hurdles to get the minor on a flight.

2) Expect to fill out forms and then some more forms. This year the number of forms to fill out has doubled. I don’t know if this is airline specific or now an industry standard. In either case, it can be time consuming especially if you don’t have an interpreter.

3) Cash or Credit? Everybody takes cash, right? Wrong! A few of our UM’s cash was turned down and we had to pay the fee by credit card. Oh by the way, some airlines do not allow their agents at the check in counter to deal with any financial transactions. Any financial transaction, whether it’s paying your UM fee, a fee for over-sized baggage, or for additional luggage needs to be paid at the cashier. That means another line and more wait time.  To avoid this additional process and line, have your travel agent pay this fee when purchasing your ticket.

4) Plan on spending some time at the airport! You’ve now waited in line, checked the child in, and the airline agent has taken them through security and to the gate. It’s time to leave, right? Wrong! You now need to wait until the planes has departed, and not just the gate, but wheels up. In some cases, the airline will require you to stay until the plane has entered international air space.

5) Call your airline! Every airline is different. Different age requirements and different procedures at the airport. Call ahead but also expect changes at the airport. While the airline will tell you this is the “company policy”, I’ve found the airlines procedures to be different at different airports.

If your child is traveling as a Unaccompanied Minor plan ahead, expect changes, and remember it is a very time consuming process.

KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service is here to get you there! That includes your student and young child!

Another overloaded Limousine?

We have all seen something and then said “What in the world…”, or something to that affect. We probably have even wished we could have grabbed a camera to record it, only to have the event pass us by.

Well, I had one of those events yesterday morning. I was on my way to the office, when I saw a black Lincoln Town Car sedan approaching me heading south on RT 7. When I see a black Town Car, especially in New Milford CT, I always pay attention. I want to know if it’s one of my cars? Is it a competitor’s car? Is it someone running illegally? The first thing I look at is the license plate, which usually answers all my questions. Yesterday, the approaching car was from New York, clearly not one of KEE Limousine’s cars.

End of story right? It was until I noticed the debris shooting out from the rear of the car. I had just entered my 3 seconds of my “What in the world…” experience. This car was so overloaded the rear air suspension had blown out causing the car to ride on the rear tires. The rear bumper was dragging on the road. With every bump, and imperfection of the road, the plastic bumper cover was shredding. It wasn’t going to be much longer until the fasteners let go and the bumper would be left behind.

After the car passed by and my 3 seconds ended, I started wondering if the people inside the car were the same people who had called our office a few weeks ago inquiring about sedan to JFK. They had 4 people, 4 large trunks, and numerous carry-on items. I tried to inform them a sedan would never fit all their “stuff”, and I would gladly send them a van. I even referred them to our recent blog on an overloaded limousine. They insisted on a sedan.

Was it them? Did they make it to JFK? We may never know.

We at KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service will not send out a wrong vehicle for the job and jeopardize everyone’s safety. Be very careful who are hire for your transportation needs. Remember, “We’re here, to get you there”.

Should we use a stretch limousine to get us to the airport?

We receive calls for airport transportation on a daily basis. This is a good thing, it is what we do here at KEE Limousine. Part of our customer service is tailoring our service to meet your personal needs. We don’t “up sell” our customers into a vehicle they don’t need, and we also won’t jeopardize safety and send a vehicle to a customer that does not meet their need.

A potential customer called us inquiring about airport limousine service. She wanted a limousine to transport 8 adults to JFK Airport. They wanted to ride in style in one of our stretch limousines. That was great but, the issue with transporting 8 adults is all the luggage. There was no possibility of fitting all the luggage into the trunk of a stretch limo. The trunk space in a stretch limousine is the same size as a Lincoln Town Car which we use to transport 3 to 4 adults. The only way to meet their need was to send an additional vehicle for baggage only, or send them to the airport in one of our vans, which have seating for 10 and an interior luggage compartment for all the luggage. We tried to explain this major safety issue to the caller but, they would not listen to our advice and we would not send them a stretch limousine. Sadly, they called another company which agreed to send them to JFK Airport in a stretch limo.

Was that the last we heard from this customer? No, we received one more call from them. It was a call for HELP!! They had squeezed all 8 adults and their luggage into a stretch limo. The ride ended in the Bronx when the suspension blow out in the limousine. The vehicle was so overloaded that when the suspension blew, the body of the car fell and came to rest on top of the tires. Instant brakes! That limousine ride was done. We were able to divert one of our vans and rescue these people. Our driver reported that the luggage was spilling out of the trunk and the lid was secured with a bungee cord. He thought that was all the luggage until he was directed to take “some” bags out of the back of the limo. He found 8 full-size suitcases inside the limo! These people wanted to make their hard earned vacation special by using a stretch limousine for a ride to the airport. I can’t imagine how sitting on top of your luggage crammed in next to someone else sitting on their luggage was “special”. Thankfully, only the suspension was blown out and they sat on the side of the highway for a while. This was an avoidable accident waiting to happen. What a way to start your vacation!! By the way, we were able to still get them to their flight on time!

While stretch limousines are nice, they are not always the correct vehicle for the job. KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service has the correct vehicle to meet all your transportation needs. We offer sedans, vans, SUVs, and stretch limousines. Don’t be sold a vehicle that won’t get you to your airport safely. Remember, “We’re here, to get you there”.

My student is traveling alone to a private school in Connecticut. Should I be nervous?

KEE Limousine has special services for young students

We receive these types of calls and emails all the time. Especially now when the start of school is right around the corner. The recent short comings of a domestic airline certainly didn’t help the matters at all. Should you be nervous? Well, as parents we’re always nervous when our children travel alone. My daughter traveled by herself this past July from Louisiana back home to Connecticut. My biggest fear centered around her changing planes in Atlanta for her second flight back into Hartford’s Bradley Airport. I tracked both her flights, had a map of Atlanta’s terminals up on my computer, and talked her through her walk and train ride to her next gate. As parents, it’s ok to be nervous. It’s our job.

In 1987, KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service, began transporting private school students to and from their various destinations. When I first started working with the private schools it became very clear that the other companies treated students as they would any other customer. I will never forget one of our earliest “student travel” trips. I was bringing a few students to meet their departure flight at JFK. We walked into terminal 7 and I recognized a young Japanese girl from the school. She was standing in the corner crying. Another company had dropped her off at the curb to fend for herself. This 12 year old girl checked herself in at the counter only to find out her flight to Tokyo had been cancelled and there were no other flights that day. She didn’t know what to do, and this was before the time of cell phones, texting, and IMing, so contacting Mom & Dad on the other side of the world wasn’t an easy task. It was at that moment I realized these students needed additional care. By the way, yes, I did make sure the school knew of the situation, she was taken care of, and we made sure she was on the flight the following day.

KEE Limousine transports many teenagers to private high schools

Since that time, we’ve worked with the schools to develop special programs specifically to ensure the students are cared for from the time they leave the schools to the time they board their flight, and vice versa. These programs also help to relieve the parent’s stress of having their child travel alone to/from school. What do we do differently? Well, to steal a phrase from someone else, “No Child will be Left Behind”! We truly treat your children as if they were our own. For those busy travel times; beginning and end of school, holidays, and spring break, we will spend weeks working closely with the schools and parents to verify all itineraries are accounted for and correct prior to travel. On those busy incoming travel days all flights are tracked in real-time, and we have greeters to meet your student and walk them directly to their driver. On all outgoing travel, our greeters or drivers will check the younger and special needs students in at their airline. For students that qualify for “unaccompanied minor” status, we will obtain the correct passes and go through security to wait with the student at their flight’s gate. We also understand the travel needs for older students are much different than the younger ones, and they might not need, or want our special care. That’s ok, we can personalize our service to meet their individual needs. For more information, please visit our student travel page http://keelimo.com/content/student-travel

Remember with KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service, “We’re here, to get you there”, and that most definitely includes your student!

Guideline for Hiring the right Limousine Company for your Connecticut Prom

Remember when the junior prom was a care free time, the biggest dance of the year, and for many a highlight of their high school years. Well, as with everything else, times have changed. Proms are still a special time for the students, but, sadly, the logistics and security behind facilitating and attending a prom have greatly increased.

Today, not only do students have to go through a check point to enter their prom, but did you know that the vehicles, and the drivers, dropping students off at proms are also subject to on-the-spot inspections? If these vehicles and/or their drivers fail the inspection, they are subject to fines and also immediate impoundment, leaving the students stranded and looking for a ride home. Don’t risk ruining your special night. Make sure you hire a legally licensed Connecticut limousine company. Here are a few things to keep in mind when hiring a limousine company for your prom:

• Hire a full-time professional company

Spring is a time for new blossoms to appear on plants and trees. Well, it’s also a time when new “limo” companies pop up to take advantage of the prom and wedding season. Don’t be fooled by someone who operates part-time. They are probably not licensed, permitted, or insured correctly.

• Hire a properly licensed and insured company

Not every Connecticut limousine company is licensed for proms. There are 2 different license plates issued to CT limousine companies depending on the permit issued by the CT DOT.

The Connecticut “Z Plate” is issued to companies that fully insured but only have interstate authority from the federal government. These vehicles can only bring passengers across state lines.

They are not authorized for In-State Proms!

The Connecticut “L Plate” is issued to companies that are fully insured and have both intrastate and interstate authority from both the federal government and the CT DOT. These vehicles are fully authorized for all livery work.

This is the only plate authorized for Proms!

• Hire a local Connecticut limousine company

Out of State limousine companies (NY, NJ, MA) are not authorized to pick up passengers within Connecticut and bring them to a prom in Connecticut. Only use a company licensed in Connecticut!

• Verify with the CT DOT prior to signing any Prom Contract

Call the CT Regulatory & Compliance Department at 860-594-2865. Ask them if the company you’re about to hire is actually licensed & permitted for in-state proms.

Don’t risk your student’s prom. Hire a legally licensed, permitted, and insured Connecticut based limousine service. For more information check out our CT Limo Law page.

Not using a New Milford limousine service cost a Danbury Businessman thousands of dollars

Another true story from KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service located in New Milford, CT. One of our long time clients is a very, very successful entrepreneur from Danbury, CT. He owns businesses throughout the United States and recently traveled to Frankfurt in hopes to expand his business into Germany. One afternoon, without any explanation about his outgoing trip, his assistant called our limousine service and made a reservation for his arrival back into Newark Airport in New Jersey. This businessman has been a loyal customer for decades, so not knowing how he got to the airport and that he only needed a return trip, I decided to go pick him up myself.

As per our limousine service’s procedures, we tracked his incoming flight, and I was at Newark Airport on time to greet him as he exited customs. I spotted him in the distance, over the heads of the mass of people exiting customs, and waited until he had walked to the end of the corridor before stepping in front of other drivers who were holding signs and waiting for their passengers.  He saw me, smiled, and then hung his head shaking it back and forth a few times. Usually, when I greet someone I receive smiles, handshakes, and sometimes hugs, but not somebody hanging their head. This was very odd!! I asked, “What’s wrong”. He replied, “I was hoping for one of your guys. Let’s go to the car”. As we walked to the car, we exchanged pleasantries and talked about the weather. To say the least, after all these years of knowing him, this was not normal. While I was starting to feel uncomfortable, I was glad I came to pick him up, and now I hoped to repair our relationship during our 2 hour drive back to Connecticut.

We had not been in the car long when I asked him, “So, what’s wrong”. He quickly assured me nothing was wrong and that he was just embarrassed. “Embarrassed about what?” I asked. “Oh, you don’t know, my office didn’t tell you?” he replied. While I still had no clue what happened, I was feeling more at ease. He went on to confess that he tried to save a few bucks, and instead of using our limousine service he had one of his employees drive him to JFK Airport for his international flight. When they arrived at JFK, an airline porter was curbside to assist them with his luggage and tickets. When the porter asked where he was going, he replied, “Frankfurt”. The porter quickly glanced at their ticket and said, “Sir, the flight from JFK goes to Munich not Frankfurt. The flight to Frankfurt leaves from Newark in an hour and you’ll never make it.” In this businessman’s attempt to save a “buck”, he now had to purchase a last-minute, one way, first class ticket with an additional transfer from Munich to Frankfurt. This attempt to “save a buck” cost him just over $3000. Ouch!!! Lesson learned. Go with the KEE limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service.

Not only do we track flight arrivals in real-time, our reservation system also verifies all flight information upon booking. If there are any errors with the flight information; date, flight number, arrival & departure times, and, yes, the airport, we know prior to your travel date. We then take the necessary steps to correct the error to ensure your airport transportation goes smoothly. While this system is very costly,  it is worth our investment because it saves our clients money every single month. Don’t be left on the wrong curb. Call us at 1-800-ILL-DRIV. Remember,  “We’re here, to get you there”.

A benefit for using limousine service for airport transportation during the winter

True Story. A few years ago we had a winter very similar to this year, with not much snow or bad weather.  Bob & Liz, long-time clients of ours, had arranged for our limousine service to transport their family to and from JFK Airport in New York. While they were enjoying a week long cruise through the Caribbean, we had a major snow storm here in the Northeast. Locally here in New Milford Connecticut, we had 16+ inches of snow which shut down the highways and airports for a day, but the roads were back open the day Bob and his family returned from their vacation. I personally greeted Bob, Liz, and their kids, and after collecting their luggage, we proceeded outside to the parking lot. The walkways and parking lot had not yet been fully cleared, so we had to venture around the snow banks and through the narrowly shoveled entrance to the parking lot. As we were approaching our car, we passed another family Bob & Liz had met while on their cruise. This family had decided to drive themselves to the airport and leave their car in the lot for the week. What they didn’t expect while on vacation was, not only the major snow storm, but also the after affects of the storm. Mainly, what happens to a car that is left in a parking lot after it snows? That car gets plowed in. Yes, this family came home to find their car plowed in and buried under untold amounts of snow. You could see parts of the car doors & the antenna, but nothing else. Their car got buried!! The wife was standing holding the young kids hands as the father was trying to dig their car out by hand. After I got Bob and his family loaded in and the car started, Bob looked at me and said, “That guy better get a hotel. It could take him all night to get that car out. I can’t image having to dig our car out of that frozen snow pile with my bare hands. Having you come and get us, is so worth it!”

I know this winter we’ve haven’t seen too much snow but, it’s still winter and the potential for snow is still with us. So the next time you’re thinking of driving yourself to the airport during the winter, you better think about packing a shovel. Or just contact us at KEE Limousine & I’ll Drive Livery Service. We’ll take the worry out of your vacation. Remember, “We’re here, to get you there”.