• by Tanya Gazdik , March 13, 2014

United Airlines is expanding its relationship with Mercedes-Benz.

The airline will expand its tarmac service to San Francisco this spring, offering members of the airline's invitation-only Global Services program comfort and convenience throughout their travel experience.

United will use Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC SUVs to chauffeur some Global Services members and United Global First customers to their connections in San Francisco. United representatives will meet customers at the aircraft, escort them to the waiting Mercedes-Benz vehicle and drive them across the tarmac to their connecting flight. The expediting service gives priority to customers with close connections. 

United introduced its tarmac transportation service last summer at its hubs in Chicago and Houston. Earlier this year, the airline launched tarmac transportation and unveiled a new Global Services check-in lobby at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Along with tarmac transportation, the airline and Mercedes-Benz USA also partner to provide attractive promotional packages and bonus miles to United's MileagePlusPremier members who purchase or lease certain new Mercedes vehicles. Current offers are available at united.com/Mercedes.

The service is geared toward the airline’s busiest travelers, says Jimmy Samartzis, United's vice president of customer experience.

"With the tarmac transfer service, our investments in the new Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 and new terminal facilities to come, we are strengthening San Francisco as the region's premier hub and the nation's best trans-Pacific gateway," Samartzis said in a release.

United is making several flyer-friendly investments in San Francisco International Airport in 2014, including the ultra-modern Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 that opened to United customers in January. Later this year in Terminal 3, the airline plans to open a Global Services check-in lobby, similar to its Global Services lobbies in Chicago and New York/Newark, as well as a new check-in area for MileagePlus Premier customers.