A Business Sedan (Mercedes E-Class) is the better fit for up to three passengers with light luggage who want a discreet, executive feel, while a Van (Mercedes V-Class) suits groups of up to seven, families and anyone carrying skis or lots of bags. Both are available from AirportsTransfers.ch at a fixed price per vehicle, so the choice comes down to people, luggage and the impression you want to make.
- Sedan capacity: up to 3 passengers, 3 bags
- Van capacity: up to 7 passengers, 10 bags, skis
- Sedan strengths: discreet, executive, familiar seat height
- Van strengths: space, flexible seating, easy loading
- Upgrade option: First Class Sedan (S-Class) for extra comfort
Comfort: two different kinds
The comfort of a sedan comes from its low, planted ride and quiet cabin. Passengers sit in well-shaped individual places with a familiar seating position, and the car feels composed on the motorway towards Lausanne or along the lake to Montreux, about 1 hour 05 away. It is a good environment for a phone call or reading documents. The comfort of a van is about space. Passengers sit higher, with more headroom and legroom around them, and can move about when the car is stopped. On a long mountain transfer, such as the two hours to Verbier or nearly three to Val d'Isère, that sense of room is valuable, especially for tall passengers or anyone who dislikes feeling enclosed.
Space and luggage
This is often where the decision is made for you. A Business Sedan takes three standard bags; add a fourth suitcase, a ski bag or a golf bag and space runs out. The Van carries up to ten bags and long items like skis alongside passengers, and its sliding door makes loading children, buggies and equipment straightforward. For two people with three suitcases and no sports equipment, a sedan is fine. For two people with four suitcases and skis, the van is the sensible choice even though there are only two passengers.
Image plays a part as well, and it is worth being honest about it. Some travellers want to arrive at a hotel or office in a car that looks like a private executive vehicle, and a black sedan does that well. Others care more about practicality, and the V-Class, with its modern interior and smart finish, is far from a utilitarian shuttle. Neither choice looks out of place in front of a five-star hotel or a chalet in the Alps; the question is which serves the journey you are actually making. If you are unsure, think about the most demanding leg of your trip, whether that is the luggage on the way home or a long mountain road, and choose for that.
Executives
For a business traveller heading to a meeting in Geneva or Lausanne, the sedan is usually right. It is discreet, arrives looking like a professional car rather than a shuttle, and gives a quiet space to work. Senior executives or VIP guests may prefer the First Class Sedan (Mercedes S-Class), which offers noticeably more rear legroom. The van becomes the executive choice when a team travels together: four colleagues in one V-Class can talk through a presentation on the way to a client, which is impossible across two cars. Its configuration also makes it practical for roadshows with several stops, especially with a chauffeur booked by the hour, minimum two hours.
Couples
Couples travelling light, perhaps for a city break or a weekend in Annecy, about 44 km away, will find the sedan comfortable and perfectly suited. Couples on a ski holiday often discover that their luggage, not their headcount, points to the van. A sedan can sometimes take one pair of skis, but two ski bags plus two suitcases and boot bags is a van-sized load. For a special occasion, such as an anniversary trip to Gstaad, roughly 2 hours away, the S-Class adds a sense of occasion without changing the logistics.
Families
For families, the van wins in most cases. Child seats take up space, children bring more luggage than adults expect, and the sliding door is easier than conventional rear doors when lifting a toddler into a seat in a car park. A family of four with modest luggage could technically squeeze into a sedan, but a two-hour drive with suitcases at everyone's feet is not a good start to a holiday. The van's higher seating also gives children a better view, which helps with boredom and car sickness on mountain roads.
Booking your vehicle
Choose your category when booking online with AirportsTransfers.ch, and the fixed price is displayed before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Add child seats on request and declare skis or other equipment so the vehicle you chose is confirmed as suitable. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign and tracks your flight. For advice on which to choose, contact the team on +41 78 346 56 77, day or night.
