Proms

Limo Transportation - Since 1988 -
the Capital Region Area of New York State's Most Reputable Transportations Service

Capital Region area's only local Transportation Broker 
   We constantly strive for a touch of class with all transportation!
  Albany, Delmar, Niskayuna, Schenectady, Troy, Rensselaer, Clifton Park, Saratoga Springs

Note:
1.   Refund policy:   No refund once any vehicle is accepted.
2.   All deposits are non-refundable.    We have a $175 processing fee on all proms.
3.   Easiest for all....if  student organizer of group.... collects money before Spring Break.
4.   Regarding  numbers of hours of use for Prom Vehicles:
       Walk-in /Grand March  take place either at  school or at prom location.   Many schools start as early as 4:30 - 5pm.      
       Proms start  6, 7 & 8pm...... Proms end 10pm, 11pm & Midnight - final drop within 45 minutes  of prom end time. 
       Our Prom Split Rates  work for all students - even if  prom pick up is at 3pm with final drop of  6pm,7 pm or 1am.
     
 5.  Our Prom Rates are all Split Rates to make sure we offer enough time to all Prom Students
      Students  most often gather at one location.   Most all transportation companies refer to arrival time as "pick-up" time.
     As Prom vehicle  arrives, families are usually taking photos.
     Once Prom vehicle arrives, groups usually want 15-20 minutes additional time for photos   - before  students need to
     enter  Prom vehicle to leave.  
     Example:   If  group's time of arrival at school is by 5:30pm and  travel time to school takes 20 minutes  from gathering
     location -  a suggested  "Leave-time" would be:  5:05pm - thus  allowing a few extra minutes  for travel.   
     Back  up 15-20 minutes and you have a 4:45pm or possibly 4:35pm  suggested arrival /pick up time  for Prom vehicle..     
   
  6.    A Touch of Class Limos takes students to  their walk-in/grand march  at school and then to prom location.  
       Walk ins /grand march can be either at school or prom location.
       Schools have asked  for Prom students  to arrive as close to start time as possible but no later than 15 minutes after
       prom scheduled start time.   We ask parents and students to help us comply with school's request.
     
 7.   After prom.......... we   offer 15 minutes   for students to say their good nights and saunter to their vehicles.
       Parents inform us as to where to drop students after the prom (usually either at an after prom event or back to their home).
       After prom ends - add travel time to final drop location for approximate arrival  time at final destination.
      
 8.  "After-prom" Events:   It has  become more and more of a tradition nation-wide, for Schools (in cooperation with
        PTAs/Parents/Students/local businesses) to arrange and sponsor successful  "official after-prom" events. 
        The most successful "after-prom" events are where schools schedule their first planning meeting  in September!
        Ninth and  tenth  grade students are included  - along with 11th & 12th graders - to help on the "after prom" event
        committee  with PTA reps/Parents/Class Teacher Advisors  and Business reps.  

 9.  Advantages of Including students on Planning Committee:
       9th and 10th graders helps to keep a continuity of which activities should be kept year to year and which
       activities and other arrangements for "after-prom" event should be either dropped or improved upon.   All participating
       students  will gain valuable planning experience.
       Prom Committees for both Jr. & Sr. Proms  should also be included in the "after-prom" event planning meetings.

10. On rare occasions Limo from any company may arrive late.   (Parents - please control your temper & students will stay calm!)
        On occasion arrival time delays caused by: weather, traffic or if wedding before prom goes later than planned. 
       If and when any situation arises and limo is late - be assured dispatcher working as best as possible to take care of the situation.   
       If parents become abusive on the telephone - dispatcher will state "you are abusive"  and then will hang up - so they can take
       care of the situation instead of listening to the abuse.   Be assured driver and dispatcher will do everything possible to get your
       group to prom as soon as possible.    Note:   Banquet locations usually serve salad 1 hour after prom start time!   After all
      students receive their salad - dinner is served.
      In past years (again usually after a wedding),  limos on occasion have arrived late for prom pick-ups.   On a few such occasions students  called office to apologize for
      their parent's excessive anger. On more than 1 occasion, students have  stated ,   "I'm sorry, I  know how it feels when my parents get that way".  
      Please - Parents - try to stay calm!
 

Section 1    Intro
Section 2    Parents & Student Info - Parents/Students mutual patience -Block Party - Reserve Early
Section 3    NYS Law re Alcohol/Smoking  and A Touch of Class Policy

Albany County Stop-DWI Program  message to Prom students & parents:
                "Create memories, not regrets.  Celebrate sober."  

Section 4    Procedure for Reserving Vehicles - Non-refundable Deposits/Payments/Cancellation/Refunds
Section 5    Prom Transportation Choices -  Most popular are the Bus/Coaches, 10 Passenger  Limos,
6 Passenger SUVs/Vans & 4 passener Sedans
Section 6    Complete Prom Quote Form -at bottom of page.  
Obtaining a   quote. - Doesn't reserve vehicle. 
Section 7    Reminders and  Copy of Contract
Section 8:  Ideas on how to bring in extra Prom $$$

Teacher and Student Prom Organizers:  Call 438-4753 if you need a prom speaker at your school.  Party Experts:   Contact us if you need help planning  Proms, Homecoming events  and Teacher Retirement Parties.       Interns:  A Touch of Class Limos & Marketing always needs office interns and/or Community Service Volunteers for our bridal shows.    Call Maria Lanides, Show Manager, at 438-4753  for further info.

Fun reading for Mom & daughter - 
  Short Stories  by Maria Lanides -
"An Almost Magical Prom Night" 
 "High School Memories"

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Section 1:  Intro -
                            1980s        -  Limo popularity grew -and more and more students used limos for proms.
                            1990s       -   By the late 90's more SUVs ordered than limos. 
                            2001-2005 - Students realized  it was OK to use any type of vehicle for their prom!                        
                            2006-2007 - more and more large groups decide on affordable 46 and 52 passenger Coach/Buses.
                                     2006-2008    Yellow School Bus gained popularity -
                            2009-2011 -  Bus/coaches  very popular for Proms..........affordable 2 x 2 seating
                                                  no more climbing over others to get to your seat!
                                                  20, 30 , 46 and 54 passenger size buses. 

Prom Transportation costs are "affordably low" when groups use a Bus/Coach.
At prom - groups still can sit with who they want even if they order a 54 passener Bus/Coach.

 More & more Parents supply an assortment of colorful Balloons for students to take with them. 
 Balloons help to make occasion festive while waiting for transportation to arrive.  
 Prom Photos always look better with colorful balloons!  
                                                 
     Add portable Disco light  to any bus/coach and create a spectacular Party Bus Experience!

A Touch of Class Limos, everyone at your school, and all parents wish students  a fun and safe prom night!   
 It is best to forward all info   to everyone  in your Prom Vehicle - so you can all view the info for your prom transportation.

Prom Season in the 1950s and '60s-  there were   no  limos - no cell phones - no lap top computers and no emails!   Students often borrowed a family car and drove themselves to & from their proms.

Students dreaded the news announcements  offered  on Mondays during  Home Room.    Students knew  there would be  devastating news of  prom students who died in car crashes the previous weekend........   Sometimes students were lucky and only had broken arms and legs - others were not so lucky.    
Limos became   popular in the 70's as a means of transportation for prom students.    Students knew how to drive carefully but they love to jibber-jabber with everyone in the vehicle on a prom night and don't always put all their attention to driving.    (Parents jibber-jabber just as much  when they are out with their friends on NYE and other occasions.)   Adults use a designated driver or reserve limos/vans/SUVs/sedans when they go out to celebrate so they don't drink and drive. 

After 9/11, the limo industry went through many changes.    Corporate used more vans/SUVs/sedans rather than limos and prom students started to do the same.   In 2002 students started to order SUVs and Vans for Prom Night.     SUVs enjoyed a rapid growth in popularity nationwide.     In 2005, students used as many SUVs as they did  limos.   In 2006 bus/coach became popular for Prom Nights.   In 2007 - SUV use decreased and bus/coach transportation for proms increased.      In recent years,  students realized BUS/COACHES cost less per student than any other vehicle and that still holds true today.     Today - students will use a variety of vehicles  for their proms such as:  sedans,  SUVs,  sleek new style Vans)   limos  and bus coaches!  (Students convert almost any vehicle to a Party bus when they bring along a portable disco type light.)     
 Bus/Coaches  offer the advantage of  cozy & comfy 2 by 2 private seating, DVD players at much less cost
 than Party Buses.   
To any Bus/Coach - Add an assortment of colored balloons, a few disco lights, loud music, 
Prom students and  you now have set the mood for a Party Bus!

Remember - vehicles transport you to/from prom (usually 25 min. or less time).  -  You aren't in your vehicle of choice all night!  Don't over-burden friends/family with high costs!

Your friends and you together riding in any type of vehicle will create a great Prom Memory!

Section 2:  Parents & Student Info   
First step for students/parents - to make it easier - forward all Prom vehicle info to those in your group!

PARENTS...do you know where your students are going???  Are there parents or other chaperones at each location before and after the prom???   Often students don't realize they are going to "un-chaperoned parties"!    Be patient with students...   it takes time for all of them to talk with one another to decide where they are going and what they will be doing.   Most students have never reserved a vehicle before and they do need your guidance.    Ask schools to release prom information ASAP (date, time, and location).

STUDENTS...do you realize the hurt you cause for your parents and to yourselves by not being where you are supposed to be???    Be patient with Parents...When your parents start asking questions on what you will be doing - talk with them - and ask them to help you with vehicle choices and reservations.   Remember - It is normal for parents to want to know where you'll be.   Avoid  problems/arguments....keep parents posted on all  plans - including Prom Plans!

Pre-Prom Block Party:  We gladly pick-up all passengers at their homes.  However, to save time, we suggest arranging for a Pre-Prom block party at one of the passengers homes.  Everyone can contribute little sandwiches, dips, chips and soda.   Remember  - parents & students want to have the memories captured in photos..... 
A fun get-together for everyone at one location will give you extra time for photos for everyone!!!

We realize that students want to get to their proms as soon as possible, but pictures are a very important part of your evening. Be patient with your parents.

RESERVE  LIMOS  EARLY.  There are never enough SUVs and limos on any given Prom Night.  Seven weeks notice required for prom contract cancellations.  Refunds where justified are given in service credits only.   Ask parents to call your school and ask office to release prom information ASAP (date, time, and location).
 

Section 3: NYS Law re Alcohol/Smoking  and A Touch of Class Policy
Non Alcoholic Champagne  -  In past years, parents have asked us to supply non-alcoholic champagne with fluted champagne glasses so students can pretend they are having real champagne.   Students are bubbly enough and can look forward to a fun and memorable prom night without having any liquid refreshments in prom limos.  In the past, we did served sodas, but there were too many occasions where prom gowns were stained and/or students spiked the sodas with alcohol. 
We now observe a "no liquid refreshments" policy in our prom vehicles and no one has reported problems because of "thirst".

Vehicles do not stop at stores for students.... 

NYS Law - No smoking  in vehicles
Chewing gum is not allowed in our limos.   It ruins, carpet, tuxedo and beautiful dresses!
 No liquid refreshments allowed with students under 21 years old.    No alcohol allowed anywhere in our vehicles! 
A Touch of Class Policy strongly upholds NYS Law.   We've never had a student dehydrate on short trip to prom!

PROM NIGHT IS an important  MILESTONE IN YOUR LIFE - follow rules and you will have great memories!
Duffel & Other bags go in the trunk.     Chauffeur may hand check/feel the outside of all bags prior to leaving each home.



Section 4:  Procedure for Reserving Vehicles -  Deposits/Payments/Cancellation/Refunds
After you complete a quote form and submit to us -  we will email you back a quote, and copy of our Prom Contract.    After you receive our Quote - if you want to reserve vehicle....then complete a contract   and fax/email us Prom Contract.

If you decide to reserve a vehicle with us for your Prom  Contract Must be filled out and emailed or faxed to our office.   Fax # at top of contract.    No cash refund without seven weeks advance notice of cancellation.   Refunds if justified are given only in service credits.

 On prom night, students should have the amount for driver  ready to give on arrival   Specified amount will be given by office.   Deposit amount is deducted from cost per student.  Drivers always appreciate extra gratuity and students may give extra at final drop off location.   

SEND/or bring in  FULL PAYMENT  AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Do not delay getting your deposit and full payment in to the office.  Credit cards must be swiped in office.  Checks are accepted up to four (4) weeks prior to prom date.   Remember to show Prom date on all checks.   Cash is also accepted.

The necessary Prom Night information should be sent to A Touch of Class Limos at least 3 weeks prior to Prom night.

 All pick up & final destination address locations, arrival and end times (for pickup, walk in, prom, after prom party) must be emailed to office
at least 3 weeks prior to prom night. 

Note:   On occasion, we arrive late due to conditions beyond our control such as:  traffic/weather/previous wedding client running late. 
We practice preventative maintenance and make every effort to arrive on time for all occasions.    

Please  Leave ample time after vehicle arrives before vehicle needs to leave in order to  travel.......to all pick up locations.....and whatever else students are doing prior to walk in or prom.     No cash refund if less than four weeks notice to cancel vehicle.    $175 Service Processing fee  is non refundable at any time.   

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Section 5: PROM TRANSPORTATION CHOICES -   Large bus/coaches more popular than limos!
 

Proms have many expenses. Discuss with family and friends   which method of transportation puts the least amount of pressure on everyone’s budget.  

Bus/coaches  VERY POPULAR - COST LESS per student.   - private 2 by 2 seating.......DVD Player  - Bus/coaches are easier to get in and out.   No climbing over anyone to get to your seat!

Bus/coaches  very popular ..........20 - 26,  47 and 54 passenger size buses.   

 TOO MANY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE THEIR PROMS ON THE SAME DATES.   Therefore availability of limos are limited.    Often, there are more than 12 school  proms on the same night  and this is why there are never enough limos on any given prom night!

Using 2 SUV's or 2 Sleek new Vans  for groups of 12 - 16   popular in recent years.    We offer 6 passenger + driver size SUVs and Vans.  For large groups we "caboose" more than one vehicle together.  To caboose - means we take 2 or more vehicles and move everywhere together....one behind the other.

Lincoln Town Car Superstretched Limos 
 Late model and  the popular  well maintained Classic Style  Rounded style  mid 90's super stretched limos.  

 

1963 Rolls Royce Bentley Austin Princess - white  (local only)  (Will know by mid-april -i f available for 2011 season)
 Last model Rolls & Bentley built together. Seats 2-3 couples depending on weight of individuals.

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Section 6:   How to obtain our rates for assortment of vehicles: