Travelling as a group of six or more: one vehicle instead of two cars

A family of six landing at Gatwick has a choice: two saloons that may or may not leave the airport at the same time, a minibus that has to be hired as a coach, or one vehicle built for exactly this. The third option is the one people do not always know exists.

What a V-Class actually carries

Our seven and eight seat vehicles are Mercedes V-Class long wheelbase. Seven passengers with seven suitcases, or eight with eight. Those numbers are not marketing: they are the point at which the boot is full with proper cases. Add a pushchair or a set of golf clubs and you are using a seat's worth of space.

Counting luggage honestly

The number that catches people out is not passengers, it is bags. Four adults with two large cases each is eight cases, which is the eight seater's limit even though there are only four people. Count large cases as one each, and count hand luggage as roughly half a case if it is the wheeled kind.

If you are near the limit, book the bigger vehicle. The extra cost is small compared with discovering at the kerb that one case does not fit and someone is now taking a taxi separately.

Why one vehicle beats two cars

• You leave together. Two cars means one of them is waiting at the other end wondering where the other went.
• One price. A single fare for the group is usually well under two saloon fares.
• One driver watching one flight. Simpler on a delay.
• Children stay with parents. Obvious, but worth saying.

Child seats in a large vehicle

We fit them. Say how many, and the ages and rough weights, when you book. A V-Class takes several without difficulty, and they are installed before we arrive rather than handed to you at the terminal.

Meeting a group inside

Your driver waits in arrivals with a name board exactly as for a single passenger, then walks the group to the vehicle. With a large party it helps to nominate one person whose name is on the booking and who keeps their phone on. The driver has that number.

Sports groups, stag parties, wedding parties

All fine. If the group has more than eight people, book two vehicles under one name and we will make sure both drivers are in the hall together. Tell us if there is anything unusual, like instrument cases or a wedding dress that needs its own space.