On Jaguar betting big in the US: The BA 186 flight from Austin, Texas, to London Heathrow departs each day at 10.25pm. Before checking in, we were warned there might be a delay. We eventually boarded at 11.45pm. And there we sat. We taxied a short distance from our dock as another flight needed it, then returned. The flight was finally cancelled at 3am for technical reasons.
So off we get for the long walk to baggage reclaim, then fight our way to passenger services through people pouring into the airport to catch their red-eye flights. Eventually we get to the front of the queue, to be told that we have been booked on a flight in 48 hours. The attendant holds up his phone, saying: “Take a screenshot, this is where you are staying — La Quinta motel.”
It is 4.25am. We eventually find the taxi rank, the driver looks at my phone and says: “I know it.” Off we go. A few minutes later we arrive and walk into reception. Wrong hotel, we are told. La Quinta has 10 motels around Austin.
Looking at the screenshot, the receptionist points to the word “Oltorf”. That is where we have to go. Being advised to use Uber, I log into my app. We wait outside in the dark. After a few minutes, out of the gloom, a white electric Jaguar I-Pace silently glides to a stop in front of us. It’s driverless, our first encounter with a robotaxi.
We laugh nervously and climb in. Not knowing where we are or where we are going, in the middle of the night, I tap my screen and ask for assistance. I’m answered immediately by a very helpful young woman — yes, a human voice — who reassures me all is fine. A test of any brand, the total experience. Brilliant.
Checking into our motel at 5.30am, we are told that check-out is at 11am and BA only pays for one night!
Later, having missed breakfast, we decide to Uber to a Starbucks on the other side of the highway. Our chatty driver, on hearing our story, tells us about all the robotaxis operating in Austin and about the Waymo-operated Jaguars. Then he adds: “It’s the only way Jaguar is keeping its brand alive in North America.”
Jeremy Sampson, by e-mail
