| San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Jose and Oakland | | | | another $20+ charge to the trip. If you know in |
| host many trade shows each month. Often smart | | | | advance that you will be arriving with a lot of trade |
| business traveler hires a limousine or car service for | | | | show materials ask your car service of an SUV. The |
| airport pick-up and delivery to the trade show or hotel. | | | | Bay Area is home to the legendary Golden Gate |
| But when hiring a San Francisco limo or car service | | | | Bridge and other spectacular bridges. Find out if any |
| there are several hidden charges an executive | | | | bridges are to be crossed and how much will be |
| assistant or trade show planner should be aware of. | | | | charged. Generally no receipt is available because the |
| First, understand the cancellation or rescheduling fees | | | | car service pays via electronic transponders. When |
| of the car service. If a flight is canceled and you are | | | | sending people to a trade show in the San Francisco |
| put on a later flight, you may be charged for | | | | Bay Area the savvy executive assistant or trade |
| 'rescheduling". Many firms do not charge rescheduling | | | | show planner should know the questions to ask |
| fees for customers with profile accounts, unless the | | | | advance regarding all the charges are when hiring a |
| driver has actually been dispatched. At most reputable | | | | car service. Free SFO Parking For Cell Phone Use If |
| limousine and car service firms, there are no | | | | your trade show schedule has you picking up at SFO, |
| cancellation fees of any kind for established accounts. | | | | airport management has provided a free parking lot |
| Second understand the car service policy for waiting | | | | where people can wait for cell phone calls from |
| time and charges for delays. For example, Quicksilver | | | | arriving passengers. It's free for now, Location: A |
| TownCar ( allows a 10-minute grace period for | | | | similar lot at Mineta San Jose (SJO) was eliminated |
| reservation pickups, including loading and unloading a | | | | during construction of the new airport is the North |
| vehicle. Be aware that some firms add charge after 5 | | | | Concourse, currently under construction, located |
| minutes. It is important for trade show managers to | | | | between Terminal C (American Airlines and |
| understand the cost for waiting while executives and | | | | Southwest) and Terminal A (the rest). For more |
| others on international flights clear customs. Most firm | | | | information check in with SJC: Mineta San Jose |
| figure in a waiting 30 or 40 minutes no charge, grace | | | | International Airport Ground Transportation: By the |
| period after an international flight arrives. But at some | | | | way, all Quicksilver TownCar drivers carry cell phones |
| point a waiting charge will kick in, for example, while the | | | | with radios. When you land, just call quicksilver dispatch |
| sales team from Australia is celebrating their arrival in | | | | and dispatch will notify your driver to pick you up. |
| San Francisco. Schlepping Last Minute Press Kits Third, | | | | SF Bay Area Transportation Expert As President of |
| schlepping last minute press kits, giveaways and | | | | Quicksilver TownCar Service Phil Macafee knows all |
| brochures can add up. If you will be loading up the limo | | | | of the freeways and most of the byways from |
| for your trade show, find out in advance if there are | | | | Carmel to Sacramento to the wine country. |
| "extra" charges. Sometime extra boxes can cause | | | | |