Cabin Climate Control and Air Quality on a Journey

Rear passengers want different conditions from drivers

A chauffeur sits in direct sun through a large windscreen, works the controls and stays alert. A passenger sits in shade behind tinted glass, often in a coat, possibly asleep. Their comfortable temperatures are genuinely different, which is why multi-zone climate control matters more in a chauffeur car than in a private one.

Where rear controls are available, use them rather than enduring the front setting. Where they are not, simply say what you want; adjusting temperature for a passenger is a routine part of the job and no chauffeur would rather you were uncomfortable. The adjustment takes a moment and improves the next two hours considerably.

Airflow matters as much as temperature

Most complaints described as too hot or too cold are actually about airflow. Air blowing directly onto a face or neck feels cold at a temperature that would be comfortable otherwise, and stagnant air feels stuffy even when the reading is correct. Redirecting a vent is often a better fix than changing the temperature by two degrees.

Airflow also determines whether a passenger feels queasy. Moving cool air across the face is one of the most effective remedies for motion sickness, which is why it is worth mentioning susceptibility before departure rather than after. Cool air across the face is one of the few remedies that works within a minute.

• Redirect vents before adjusting temperature
• Cool moving air helps significantly with motion sickness
• Stagnant air feels stuffy even at a correct temperature
• Recirculation is useful in traffic and stale over a long run

Filtration, pollen and traffic fumes

Modern cabin filters remove a substantial proportion of pollen and particulates, which makes a car one of the better places to be during a high pollen count or in heavy traffic. Recirculation adds another layer by closing off outside air, and it is the right setting when passing roadworks, sitting behind a bus, or crossing a heavily congested junction.

Recirculation should not be left on indefinitely, because carbon dioxide builds up and the air becomes stale and humid, which makes passengers drowsy. The usual practice is recirculation through the worst of it and fresh air afterwards. Alternating between the two settings keeps the air fresh without letting fumes into the cabin.

Pre-conditioning and the first five minutes

The first five minutes of a journey shape the impression of the whole thing. A car that has been standing in July sun or a January frost takes time to become pleasant, and that time can be spent before you arrive rather than after. Chauffeurs will pre-cool or pre-warm a cabin when they know a passenger has a preference, so it is worth mentioning at booking.

Damp is the winter version of the same problem. Wet coats and umbrellas raise humidity and fog the glass, which is why air conditioning usually runs alongside the heater in cold weather even though it sounds counterintuitive. Somewhere sensible to stow a dripping umbrella keeps the rest of the cabin comfortable.

Plan your chauffeur journey

London Chauffeurs provides itinerary-led private travel for airport transfers, executive travel, private aviation, events and long-distance UK journeys. Availability and pricing are confirmed for the requested itinerary.

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