When Should You Book an Airport Transfer, and Do Drivers Wait?
Book your airport transfer as soon as your flight details are fixed. For most trips that means one to two weeks ahead, and earlier for school holidays, bank holidays and very early departures. And yes, a pre-booked airport transfer waits for you: the driver follows your flight, and waiting time from the actual landing is included.
Below are straight answers to the questions people ask most before they book a car to or from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted or London City.
Should you book an airport transfer in advance?
Yes. An airport run is fixed to a flight, so the car has to be there at a particular time, not roughly when one comes free. Booking ahead means the vehicle is allocated to you, the pickup time is agreed, and the price is fixed before the day rather than read off a meter.
Booking early also gives you the widest choice of car: if you are travelling as a family or a group, the 8 seater taxi carries up to 8 passengers. Tell us how many bags you are bringing when you book and we will confirm the right vehicle.
How far in advance should you book?
As soon as you have your flight details. One to two weeks ahead suits most journeys; a few days can be enough in a quiet week. During school holidays, bank holidays and the Christmas period, book earlier still, because those are the dates when early-morning cars are in most demand.
If your flight is booked at short notice, contact the office straight away. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, and a full set of details (flight number, pickup address, passengers and bags) is what lets a late booking be planned properly.
Do airport transfers wait for you?
A pre-booked airport pickup does. We track your inbound flight, so an early or late landing moves the pickup time with it, and 45 minutes of free waiting time from the actual landing is included for passport control and baggage reclaim. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name board.
If a delay runs past that, call the office and we will work it out with you. What happens when a flight is late is covered step by step in our guide to delayed flights.
Can you book a taxi in advance for a 5am flight?
Yes. The office takes bookings around the clock, so a pickup in the small hours is booked the same way as any other. Give us the flight time and airport and we will suggest a pickup time that leaves room for the drive and for check-in; follow your airline's own advice on how early to arrive.
Companies can book the same journey through a MiCabi business account: staff book against the account, airport transfers and local trips go on one monthly invoice, and account holders get priority booking at busy times.
Is it worth booking an airport transfer?
For most people flying from Surrey, it comes down to three things. There is no airport parking to arrange or pay for while you are away. There are no changes between trains with cases in hand. And the price is agreed before you travel, so traffic on the M25 does not change what you pay.
From Woking, Heathrow is about 18 miles, typically 25–40 minutes, and Gatwick is about 37 miles, typically 50–65 minutes. The low figure is a quiet road and the high figure allows for normal weekday traffic, which is why the pickup time is worked back from your flight rather than guessed.
When is the right time to book a taxi?
As soon as you know when you need it. Anything tied to a fixed time, such as a flight, a train, a wedding or a hospital appointment, is safer booked well ahead than on the day. Late-night returns deserve the same care: if your flight lands after 10pm, pre-booking means you are not waiting for a taxi after a long journey.
Traffic matters too. Morning and late-afternoon journeys around Woking and on the M25 take longer than the same drive at midday, and our guide to peak and off-peak airport runs explains how that changes the pickup time.
How to book
Call 01483 830830, message us on WhatsApp or use the quote form with your flight number, airport, pickup address, passengers and bags. The office replies with a fixed price and a suggested pickup time, 24 hours a day.