A Touch of Class Limos dot
com
Albany, NY 518 312-8505
Proms
PROM TRANSPORTATION - A Touch of Class Limos - Since 1988 -
NY Capital Region 's Premiere and Most Reputable Transportations
Service.
Students shouldn't drive on prom night.
(See
website for prom night memories.)
Statistics
reported on Albany, NY TV stations in early May 2012 stated
1/3 of all accidents involving students and alcohol
happen on prom nights.
Good Idea to collect transportation cost from students in
your group - as soon as Prom details announced.
Ask a parent to hold the money until you decide on a vehicle.
Select a vehicle, have parent sign contract and get deposit to us ASAP.
***We offer lower rates for cash therefore rates quoted are cash rates.
Most vehicles are paid for in cash.
Did you know? Maria Lanides is also......the area's only local Transportation Broker
We constantly strive for a touch of class with all vehicles!
All suppliers are properly insured
and meet all government regulations.
Section 1
Intro
Section 2 Parents & Student Info -
Parents/Students - 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 Bus/Coaches, 10 Passenger Limos,
6 Passenger SUVs/Vans & 4 pax Sedans
Section 6
How to Email us to obtain rates for assortment of vehicles:
Obtaining a quote. - Doesn't reserve vehicle.
Section 7
Ideas on how
to Earn extra Prom $$$
Section 8: Notes
& Refund Policy & Copy of Contract
Section 9: Fun reading for
Parents/prom students
-
Short Stories by
Maria Lanides -
Click on story title
"Memories
of the 1950s"
- Writer's memories of late
1950's at Albany High School.
"An Almost Magical Prom Night"
- Second part of Memories of the 1950s
Writer's memories of AHS Blue Moon Prom 1957.
Did you know??
A Touch of Class Limos has been in business over 25 years - which is longer than
most other companies.
It is also our 4th year as the only local transportation broker in Capital
Region Area.
LET US SAVE YOU TIME.
We recognize parents are busy
working & taking care of their family.
Students
are busy
with school & part time jobs.
Ask us
to find prom transportation for your group of students
(whether it be 4 or 50 students).
"let our fingers do your walking"
No need for you to make the calls when we can look for you!
We send out approximately 20 emails to find vehicle for you.
We contact transportation companies by email and quickly locate
vehicle availability for your group.
We email choices available - you make your decision and let us know.
PROM NIGHT:
We transfer
students to walk-in or gawking hour at their school, to their prom and to their
after prom event.
All students are dropped
within 15-20 minutes of prom start time (schools have asked us to comply).
We return
at prom end time
to take students to their local after prom event.
Students usually saunter out within
15 -25 minutes of end of prom
and we leave shortly thereafter..
We transfer students directly
to their local after prom event.
If prom
ends midnight - students are usually
dropped at after prom event before 1am.
If prom ends
11pm - students are usually dropped at
after prom event before midnight.
Note:
On
very rare occasions - when an emergency arises we will pull a vehicle from prom students
who have
their prom at a hotel
because we know students will be supervised in the
hotel lobby while they wait for us to return.
Again - on rare occasions - if your students has a prom at a hotel and an
emergency causes us to return late.........
be assured
we'll arrange for hotel staff to keep eye on students inside their lobby until
limo arrives.
We will also call both student & hotel rep
every 5-6 minutes to make sure students are safe inside until limo arrives.
Please do not let your students drive on prom
night.
Statistics reported on Albany, NY TV stations in early May 2012 stated
1/3 of all accidents
involving students and alcohol happen on prom nights.
Nationwide, bus-coaches are fast becoming preferred method for Prom Transportation .
Encourage students to group travel to and from proms on buses to reduce prom
night expenses.
It's a form of bullying
when students put pressure on other students
to spend more
than they should for transportation.
Traveling on a bus - at low cost - offers extra fun for Prom students.
Limos are affordable for
groups of 8 - 10 and 12 passengers and are available when ordered early.
For larger groups............
Save money - reserve a bus/coach
so you can lower cost per
student !
In 2012 - certain 14 pax limos cost $1400 + tip and often we obtained
26 pax bus/coaches at same rate - which means per student cost is lower
on bus/coach!
Prom Transportation costs are "affordably low" when
groups use a Bus/Coach.
Groups still sit with who they want
at Proms
in tables of 8 - 10 and 12
even if
they order a 54
passenger Bus/Coach.
Click on any of the 3 pictures below
to view
a short -
fun video about advantages of going in a group!
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 Wedding shows. Call Maria Lanides, Show Manager, at
518 438-4753 for further info.
______________ -
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.
2001-2006 - Students realized it was OK to
use any type of vehicle for their prom!
2007-20012 - more and more large groups decide on
affordable 46 and 52 passenger Coach/Buses.
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.
More
& more Parents supply an assortment of colorful Balloons
for students to take with them.
Balloons delight prom students and help to make occasion festive while waiting for transportation to
arrive.
Colorful balloons enhance all photos!
Create a spectacular Party
Bus Experience!
Toys R Us, Walmart and other similar stores sell lights
students can hold or pin on to their clothing.
These
lights flash on and off
in different colors to give effect of a
Party
Bus!
A
low-cost Bus offers a Party
Bus
effect
when you combine friends and good music!
When prom lets out - students experience a true Party
Bus
feeling for their ride to the after prom party.
Remember it is always a party when you combine a prom, friends,
colorful balloons, colored lights and music !
Bus/Coaches are cozy & comfy -
2 by 2
private seating - bus cost less cost per student than in a limo.
If/when parents object to private 2 by 2 seating on bus/coaches - ask them
to call office - we'll try to eliminate their fears.
A Touch of Class Limos,
everyone at your school, and all parents
wish students a fun and safe prom night!
You've reached an important milestone in your life - so everyone wants you to enjoy your Prom!
HISTORY - 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 as much as Prom students - especially when
adults 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.
On prom nights - transportation companies are your student's designated driver
so they can jibber jabber as much as they want!
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.
By 2005, students used
as many SUVs as they did limos. In
2006 bus/coach became popular for Prom Nights. In 2007 - limo 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 use a variety of vehicles for their proms such as:
sedans, SUVs,
sleek new style Vans) limos and bus coaches!
Remember - vehicles transport you to/from prom (usually 25 min. or less
time).
You aren't in your vehicle of choice all
night!
Everyone's financial situation is different. Don't pressure friends/family
with high cost transportation!
Invite other classmates to fill your bus/coach
in order to.....lower your prom transportation cost!
Prom event tables seat 8 - 12.
Prom students can always sit with their own groups during prom!
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
everyone extra time
for photos!!
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 as soon as possible. Don't
delay!
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.
Of course, we will continue to say "no" to this request because it conveys wrong
message to students.
Students are bubbly enough and can look forward to a fun memorable prom
night without having any liquid refreshments in prom vehicles.
In the past, we
did
served sodas, but there were too many occasions where prom gowns were stained
and/or students spiked sodas with alcohol.
We now observe a "no liquid refreshments" policy in our
prom vehicles and no one has reported problems because of "thirst".
Please Note:
We've never had a student dehydrate on short trip to prom!
Vehicles do not stop at stores for students....
NYS Law - No smoking in vehicles
Chewing gum not allowed in 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.
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 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.
No cash refund after any vehicle accepted and used.
On prom night, students should have amount for driver ready to give
on arrival
Specified amount will be given by office.
Deposit amount deducted from total. 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 accepted four (4)
weeks or more prior to prom date.
Write Prom date on all checks.
Most prom payments are in Cash.
All 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,
conditions beyond our control
such as:
traffic/weather/previous wedding client running
late
may cause us to be a little late.
However......We 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 refund if notice to
cancel is received less than
seven weeks before prom.
$175
Service Processing fee if timely cancellation notice received.
__________________
Section 5: PROM TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
-
Large bus/coaches more popular than limos and are less cost per
student!
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.
Scroll back up to beginning to see 3 fun short videos on advantages of
going in a large group!
TOO MANY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE THEIR PROMS ON THE SAME DATES.
Therefore availability of limos are limited.
Often, more than 12 school proms are scheduled on same night
causing extreme shortage of limos on any given prom night!
Lincoln Town Car Super stretched 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 -if available
for 2013 season)
Last
model Rolls & Bentley built together has Rolls Emblem on hood. Seats 2-3 couples depending on weight
of individuals.
_____________________
Section 6: How to obtain our rates for assortment of vehicles:
Section 7: EARN PROM MONEY
Ideas on how to bring in
extra Prom $$$
IDEAS
- to bring in
$$$$$$
to help with expenses
START EARLY
Plan ahead and start saving those dollars!
Discuss with parents how to charge for cleaning yards and for car wash.
START PLANNING EARLY!
Before Spring Break - Circulate flyers in your neighborhoods and ask for work cleaning yards in the spring.
If 10 in your group for prom - go together &
deliver Car Wash flyers to EACH STUDENT'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
Print on flyer "Help us earn our prom $$$ - Have Rakes, Will Work" .
Include your names and phone #. Your whole group will
have fun
and each of you will be amazed on how much money $$$ you can make towards
prom expenses.
Organize a car wash NOW for when the weather gets warmer at the homes of the students who will be sharing your prom vehicle.
Ask parents for permission and help in organizing. Set dates for venture. Get your cleaning supplies.
Make sure all passengers in your prom vehicle agree to show up
and work on the designated Saturdays. -Set 3 or 4 Saturday dates.
Make up flyer saying you will clean cars (inside and out) on a particular Saturday.
GIVE LOCATION of car wash
- Plan ONE SATURDAY IN EACH STUDENT'S NEIGHBORHOOD so customers
can bring cars to you! (When passing out flyers in a particular
area.....Circle the date when you will be in that neighborhood.)
Decide on what you will charge to clean each car. Circulate the flyer to your neighbors. Make sure you have matched the correct date circled for the correct house in a particular student’s neighborhood when distributing flyers.
Students and parents alike are always surprised how a well-organized Car Wash can help students earn money for your prom. The key is … start early with your plans and be well organized!
MANY GROUPS DO GREAT WHEN THEY COMBINE YARD
CLEANING ON SAME DAY AS CAR WASH..... |
(HAVE PART OF GROUP DO THE YARD CLEANING AND OTHER PART OF GROUP CAN DO THE
CAR WASH.)
Make sure you state on flyer both services....car wash and yard cleaning
AND CONTACT INFO.
Match students' address/tel# with
neighborhood so neighbors can recognize name and address of student in their
neighborhood.
Just means duplicating flyer & making sure you distribute flyer in
same neighborhood as student whose name is on flyer for that neighborhood!
Yes it sounds confusing but it isn't.
COMBINE IDEA #1 and #2 in each neighborhood. If you have good planning…you’ll make $$$ money. Go for it!
Every Saturday go to a different neighborhood as soon as spring weather arrives end of March/beginning of April.
************************************************
Section 8: Notes
& Refund Policy & Copy of Contract
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 one hour of prom end time.
Our Prom Split Rates work for
all students - to get to walk in at school - to prom location and to local after
prom event!
Since rates are split rates, on occasion we
accept transfers while students at prom.
5.
Our Prom Rates are all Split Rates
to make sure we offer enough time
to all Prom Students.
We set our rates in March to cover
April-June
supplier
Rates which can vary from very low to very high during prom months.
6.
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..
7.
A Touch of Class transfers
students to walk-in, Prom
& directly to after-Prom school sponsored
event or to another
pre-arranged
location. All stops pre-arranged. No
unscheduled stops. Parent must contact office for any last minute unscheduled
stop on Prom
night. It is dangerous for drivers to stop
when they are on highways and Thruways. In Capital Region area
highways refer to Rte
85 bypass, I-90, Thruway, I-88 and I-890,
etc.
All rates quoted are local rates. If Pick up, prom &/or after prom drop off
locations aren't local - there may be a
distance/time differential charged on any vehicle. (In
error, previously referred to as a gas surcharge under bus rates .)
Many schools
schedule a 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 most require students to arrive
within
45 minutes of Prom scheduled start time. We ask parents
and students to help us comply with school's request.
8.
Proms are Milestones - Students should not leave prom early
because it starts a domino effect and can ruin prom for others.
After prom.......... we offer
approx. 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.
9.
"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 "after prom" event
committee with PTA reps/Parents/Class Teacher
Advisors and Business reps.
10.
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.
11.
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 8:
Prom Speaker & Prom
Planning
NEED A PROM SPEAKER at your school? Teacher-Student Prom Organizers:
Call
Maria Lanides 518-312-8505
Parent Teacher organizations can help by checking with other schools to find out
dates of other school proms.
This way your school won't schedule their prom on an already busy prom night.
Parent Teacher groups can suggest to schools to release prom
information the end of January so
parents and students have more time to plan for their proms.
PROM WORKSHOPS
Call Maria Lanides 518 312-8505 for help starting
after school Prom Workshop.
October is best time to start workshops in September with 10th -12th grade
students invited. Prom Workshop can lead to prom committees.
Work Shop topics can be: 1.) Budgets - Earn, Save, Plan,
Spend. 2.) Prom Fundraisers 3.) Bullying - Discussions
how pressuring students to spend more than they can afford for prom night
expenses is "Bullying". 4.) Time Management - help students
realize importance to budget time for study, work and play. Other
topics for Workshop are welcomed. Workshop can better prepare student for part
time jobs during high school and full time jobs after graduation.
Workshops can make it fun for students to learn how to be better prepared
when they go off to college and for their entire lifetime!
Thank you for contacting us.
If questions, Email us at: atoc@nycap.rr.com
Call 312-8505 for information. (Mon. -Sat.),after 10am