Airport journeys have more moving parts than almost any other group trip. Flights change, luggage adds up, and a group can easily split up in a busy terminal. Whether you are flying from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh or one of the London airports, the same checklist keeps the transfer running smoothly.
Before you request a quote
Send these details and we can usually quote straight away:
- The airport and terminal for each leg
- Flight numbers and scheduled departure or landing times
- The number of passengers, with children listed separately
- Every suitcase, cabin bag and oversized item
- The full pickup or drop-off address, or every address if the group is collected from several places
Choose the vehicle around the luggage
Seats are rarely the problem on an airport run; space for cases is. A group of eight with a week's worth of holiday luggage may need a minibus rather than an MPV, and a school or sports group with kit bags may need a coach with a proper luggage hold. Tell us about pushchairs, wheelchairs, golf bags and ski bags too.
Work back from check-in
For departures, we plan the pickup time from your check-in time, the distance to the airport and the time of day. Motorway approaches to the big airports, such as the M25 for Heathrow and Gatwick, the M56 for Manchester and the M42 for Birmingham, slow down at peak times, so a dawn flight and a teatime flight need very different start times.
Agree a meeting point for arrivals
Airports have their own rules about where minibuses and coaches can stop, and it is often not the terminal forecourt. We send meeting instructions before you travel, so the group knows where to go once everyone has collected their bags.
Keep one person responsible for communicating with the driver. It avoids crossed messages when plans change.
If your flight is delayed
Give us your flight number when you book and tell us as soon as anything changes. We will confirm a revised pickup, and if the delay is long, we will agree the next steps with you.
Returning home
For return journeys, allow generous time for check-in and security. Large groups take longer than expected to gather, load luggage and set off, especially at the end of a holiday.
Need a group airport transfer?
Find the page for your airport under airport transfers, or request a quote with your flight and luggage details.
