Hail a ride to California: LV-to-LA chauffeur service launches

Those traveling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles now have the option to hail a professionally chauffeured ride.

Chauffeur service company Blacklane announced Tuesday a new service between Southern Nevada and Southern California, describing it as an “alternative to short-haul flights.”

“Blacklane continues to accelerate to reach its growth goals by successfully combining highly personalized services with advanced technology platforms,” Jens Wohltorf, co-founder and CEO of Blacklane, said in a statement. “We are strategically investing in important and popular long-distance routes across several markets to diversify our business model and expand into new sectors.”

The addition of the Las Vegas-to-L.A. service brings Blacklane to 129 routes worldwide.

The rides feature fixed fares that include taxes, tolls and tips, offering transparency during the purchasing process. Customers can book a time that fits their travel plans and the city-to-city service offers door-to-door service.

The service comes at a fairly hefty price. On Blacklane’s website, the Review-Journal on Tuesday reviewed what a one-way trip from the newspaper’s office near downtown Las Vegas to the DoubleTree Hilton in downtown Los Angeles would be.

The four-hour, 270-mile ride would cost a customer $955 via Blacklane’s business class (Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac XTS or similar vehicle); $1,025 in a business van/SUV (Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Alphard or similar vehicle); and $1,000 in first class in a Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 or similar vehicle.

The business class and first class offerings allow up to three people and two bags each ride, while the business van/SUV service seats up to five passengers and five bags.

In comparison, a round-trip flight between Las Vegas and Los Angeles Tuesday morning was listed at $214 for the 1 hour and 15 minute flight. Taking a Lyft from LAX to the DoubleTree was listed at $36.96 on Tuesday morning, making for a grand total trip cost of $250.96.

Adding to their city-to-city service is part of Blacklane’s continued expansion, which includes intercity travel, airport transfer service and on-demand ride service.

“We have seen immense growth and demand for Blacklane in the United States,” Kyle Fackler, head of market management for the Americas at Blacklane, said in a statement. “While we’re available in major cities throughout the country, we’re thrilled to expand our offerings to new cities and better serve our travelers.”

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.