As many of you may know, I attended BlogHer ’09 in Downtown Chicago last week.  Since I am local, I decided to use Chicago Luxury Limousines (whom BlogHer recommended) to get there.  I couldn’t drive myself, since my mother in law needed my vehicle while I was gone.  Per recommendations of my friends who have been to BlogHer before, I was staying downtown in a hotel for the duration of the conference.

Setting up my reservation was actually quite easy.  I thought I had everything planned, and it would all go smoothly.  Instead, my limo never showed up.  Yes, I repeat, NEVER SHOWED UP!  I had an event to go to last Thursday, so I needed to be there by 11.  The limo was suppose to arrive at 9:15 am, and the charge was to be $44 (which I was cool with since it beat taking the train).  By 9:20, I was freaking out since they weren’t there yet, and I had to get there by 11.  I called Chicago Luxury Limousines and was told that I needed to have called when I landed.  Ummm, I told you yesterday (which they of course did not want my reservation number, so what was the point of even giving me one!) — I am at a house.  I am not at Midway Airport.  They told me they would call a driver (let me add, I was at my inlaws and they are about 20 minutes away from Midway.  I wasn’t that far from the airport but when I call a limo service or a cab to get me and they give me a reservation number, I expect them to show up!).  The driver calls me on my cell and asks me where I am.  I tell him Burbank.  He then goes “you need to go to O’hare?”  I’m like no, and I’ll admit I got a little bitchy at this point.  He then tells me he won’t honor the $44 I was told and that it would cost me $60.  My response:  Absolutely not.  Needless to say, I was extremely pissed at this point.  I called
Chicago Luxury Limousines again and basically fought with them for the next hour. Seriously, have you ever heard of a service who doesn’t want to pick you up. I was running out of time and options. Finally, I was like “if I get to Midway, will you take me?”. They agreed if I did that they could get a driver there. Sigh. I mean seriously what a mess. I did get there, and ended up with a ride downtown. I was late for my event and extremely flustered and ticked. Heck, I still am. I expected them to do something for my troubles. Instead, I got nothing. I ended up paying full fare (and I forgot to get a receipt so I can’t even write it off. Sigh).

I am telling you all NOT TO USE Chicago Luxury Limousines. This was my experience with him, and I don’t think it could have gotten any worse.  I know several other participants who they left stranded at the airport too, so I highly recommend NOT EVER using Chicago Luxury Limousines!