Private airport transfer: a car for your party only, door to door

What makes a private airport transfer private?

The word "private" answers a practical question: who else is in the car? On a private airport transfer, nobody. The vehicle is booked for one party, it goes directly from the pickup to the drop-off, and it does not stop to collect other passengers. That separates it from the three alternatives most travellers compare it with.

The private transfer is the only one of the four where the vehicle class, the fare and the chauffeur are all settled before you fly. That matters most on the days travel goes wrong: a late-night landing, a delayed connection, a queue of two hundred people at the taxi rank.

How do I book a private airport transfer?

The reservation engine on this page handles arrivals, departures and airport-to-airport runs.

1. Choose arrival or departure. For an arrival, enter the airport and flight number. For a departure, enter the pickup address and the flight time.
2. Add the address. A hotel name, a street address, an office tower, a cruise terminal or a second airport.
3. Pick the vehicle by passengers and, above all, by suitcases.
4. Add extras. Child seats are free on request in most cities. An additional stop can be added. Meet and greet with a name board is an add-on where the engine lists it.
5. Confirm the fixed fare. The price shown is fixed: no surge, no meter.

You get a written confirmation straight away. In the Toronto home dispatch area the car is dispatched by our own desk. Elsewhere, the transfer is driven by a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, and the confirmation names the operator and, nearer the day, the chauffeur. The Toronto desk stays on the booking 24/7 either way.

What is included in the fare?

The fixed fare covers the private vehicle and chauffeur on the direct route for the trip you booked. On arrivals it also includes flight tracking and the included waiting time counted from the actual landing:

• 60 minutes on international arrivals, which allows for immigration and baggage reclaim.
• 30 minutes on domestic flights.
• 15 minutes on pickups that are not at an airport, such as a hotel lobby for a departure run.

Waiting beyond those allowances is charged in 15-minute blocks. Extra stops and route changes made on the day are added as they happen. The rates page shows planning ranges for each vehicle class; the engine gives the exact figure for your route.

Where does the pickup happen at the airport?

Curbside pickup at the airport's designated commercial or pre-arranged pickup area is standard on every private airport transfer. At many large airports that area is not the departures kerb: it may be a ground transportation level, a numbered pillar in a car park or a marked commercial lane. Your confirmation carries the pickup instructions for your terminal, and once you have your bags you message the chauffeur and walk to the car.

If you would rather be met inside, add meet and greet at checkout. The chauffeur then waits in the public arrivals hall with a name board. Add-ons are only available in selected locations, and the engine offers this one only where airport rules allow it.

When should a departure pickup be booked?

For departures, the chauffeur arrives at your address at the time you choose. A simple way to set it is to work backwards from the airline's recommended arrival time at the airport, then add the drive time and a traffic margin.

• Many airlines ask passengers to be at the airport two to three hours before international departures and one to two hours before domestic flights. Check your airline's own guidance, and allow more at very busy hubs or when checking large items. The airline industry body IATA publishes general passenger guidance, but your ticket's own check-in cut-off is the one that counts.
• Add the typical drive time. Our city pages give ranges, such as Heathrow to Mayfair or JFK to Midtown.
• Add a margin for the time of day. Weekday rush hours, holiday weekends and major events can stretch a 40-minute drive well past an hour.

If you are unsure, enter the flight time and the dispatcher will check the pickup time against the route before the trip.

What happens on the day of an arrival?

Here is how a typical private airport transfer runs from the traveller's side, from touchdown to the front door.

1. The aircraft lands. Dispatch already knows the actual landing time, and the chauffeur is on the way to the pickup area or already waiting nearby.
2. You switch your phone on. A text with the chauffeur's name, number and the pickup instructions for your terminal is waiting.
3. Immigration and bags. Take the time you need. On international arrivals the included waiting is 60 minutes from landing, which covers most passport queues and baggage belts.
4. You message the chauffeur. Send a short note when you have your cases. The chauffeur replies with where the car is, or moves to the pickup point.
5. The walk to the car. Follow the signs for the pre-arranged or commercial pickup area. The chauffeur helps load the luggage.
6. The direct drive. No other passengers, no detours and a fixed fare that has already been agreed.

If anything goes wrong on the way, such as a lost bag or a long customs check, tell the chauffeur. The desk in Toronto is open 24/7 and can adjust the pickup.

Are early-morning and late-night transfers available?

Yes. Airports run long-haul banks at hours when public transport is thin: overnight flights from North America land in Europe from about 6 a.m., and many Gulf and Asian hubs have busy departure waves after midnight. A private transfer is booked for the exact hour you need, and the fixed fare does not rise because it is late. At night, the pickup instructions are the same as by day, though some terminals move their commercial pickup area or close certain exits outside peak hours; the confirmation reflects that where the airport publishes it.

Which vehicle is right for my party?

Airport trips are sized by luggage. A four-person family flying long-haul often carries more than a sedan can take.

Every vehicle supplied through the network is four model years old or younger; Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley partner cars are accepted up to seven. See the fleet for each class, and group transportation for vans and coaches.

Private airport transfers in major cities

The service is the same in all 500 cities. The airports, roads and local rules are what change. A few examples, with typical drive-time ranges that depend on traffic:

• London: Heathrow to the West End is typically 45-75 minutes; Gatwick is further, often 70-100 minutes. Central London has the Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone, run by Transport for London. See London.
• New York: JFK and Newark to Midtown Manhattan are both typically 45-90 minutes depending on the crossing. See New York.
• Dubai: Dubai International to Downtown is usually 15-30 minutes, with Salik tolls on the main roads. See Dubai.
• Paris: Charles de Gaulle to central Paris is typically 40-75 minutes; Orly is usually closer to the south of the city. See Paris.
• Tokyo: Haneda is close to the city, often 25-45 minutes to central wards; Narita is typically 60-90 minutes. See Tokyo.
• Toronto: Pearson to downtown is typically 30-60 minutes, and the island airport, Billy Bishop, is minutes from the core. See Toronto.

The full list is in our airport guides and city directory.

Can I book a private transfer from a private jet terminal?

Yes. For business aviation, the car meets you at the fixed-base operator (FBO) rather than the commercial terminal. The FBO team usually handles the passengers and bags between the aircraft and the car, and many allow a pre-booked vehicle close to the aircraft with the handler's permission. Tell us the FBO name and the tail number or the handler's details. Our guides cover FBOs such as Teterboro, Van Nuys, Farnborough and Toronto Pearson FBOs, and our private aviation industry page explains how flight departments book.

Airport-to-airport and airport-to-port transfers

A private transfer does not have to end at a hotel. Common routes include:

• Between airports in the same city, such as Heathrow to Gatwick, JFK to LaGuardia or Haneda to Narita, when a connection is on a different ticket.
• Airport to cruise terminal, for example Miami International to PortMiami or Fort Lauderdale to Port Everglades. See our cruise port guides.
• Airport to another city, such as Nice to Monaco or Geneva to a ski resort, priced as one fixed fare. Longer runs are covered on our intercity transfers page.

How do business travellers and bookers use private transfers?

Companies book private airport transfers because each trip leaves a record: who travelled, when, in which car and on which cost centre. With corporate accounts, trips are invoiced monthly, bookers can hold traveller profiles, and a named coordinator looks after the account. Duty-of-care trip data shows where a traveller was picked up and dropped off. Travel agencies and travel management companies can book through our travel desk.

Is a private airport transfer safe for families and solo travellers?

The main safety advantage of a private transfer is certainty: the car, the chauffeur's name and the fare are known before you land, and nobody unknown joins the trip. Child seats are fitted on request in most cities at no charge; enter the child's age so the right seat is supplied. Our safety page explains the vetting standard that affiliate operators work to. For travel advice about arrival rules in a given country, official sources such as the U.S. State Department's travel site are a good first stop.

What if my plans change?

Change the flight number, time or address with the desk as early as you can; the booking follows the new details. The cancellation terms are the same on every trip: more than 72 hours before pickup, no charge; 72 hours or less, 10%; 48 hours or less, 50%; 24 hours or less, or a no-show, 100%.

Book your private airport transfer