If you’ve ever had a bad experience with airport transfers then you know how important it is to book with a reputable airport transfer service. No one wants to be left high and dry with no lift to the airport or no transport home following a long flight.
Travel is stressful enough and getting to and from the airport doesn’t need to be an extra worry before your flight.
Here are my tips for booking airport transfers in the UK and a bonus section with my 10 airport travel hacks for stress-free travel!
Tips for booking your UK airport transfers
- Book your transfers as soon as you book your flights – that way you know they’re locked in and it’s one less thing to stress about.
- Book with a reputable firm with multiple drivers such as an airport transfer service like 1ST Airport Taxis – that way your booking won’t be cancelled if something happens to your driver or their car.
- Book online so you have a digital receipt.
- Make sure you have confirmation of your booking a few days before departure.
- Book with a firm that includes ‘waiting time’.
- Book with a firm that also includes airport pickup charges. Sometimes these are added on afterwards and they can quickly mount up, especially if you’re delayed.
- Get a fixed, all-inclusive price so no ‘unexpected extras’ are added on when you can’t say no!
- Don’t forget to pre-book baby seats if needed.
- And don’t forget about your luggage! If you have a lot of luggage you may need a bigger vehicle.
10 airport travel hacks for stress-free travel
Drink lots of water on your way to the airport
I always drink a bottle of water on my way to the airport so I’m hydrated before my flight. I try not to drink too much right before the flight because I don’t want to be getting up and down to use the gross plane toilets!
Arrive with plenty of time
OK, this goes without saying. I don’t need to elaborate here. I like to romanticise the airport experience with a nice meal and some shopping, so I don’t just feel like I’m sat there feeling stressed as I wait for my flight.
Check if you’ll need to remove things from your hand luggage and pack accordingly
In some airports you won’t need to open your bag at all. In other airports you need to remove all your hand luggage liquids and every electronic device. Check beforehand so you can pack your hand luggage accordingly and make things easy to remove if needed.
Check which shops, cafes and restaurants are the airport
I always double check which shops, cafes and restaurants are actually at the airport. There’s nothing worse than arriving thinking you’ll get a nice meal and a good book…only to realise there isn’t a single nice place to eat and the bookstore is temporarily closed!
Enjoy a relaxing and leisurely meal
Romanticise your airport experience with a nice meal and a bottle of wine. It doesn’t need to be a rushed Boots Meal Deal! Go somewhere nice and start your holiday in style. Just don’t forget to keep an eye on the time and your gate information!
Make sure you have your entertainment downloaded before boarding your plane
When you’re at the airport it’s your last chance to download any TV shows, movies, books, music, podcasts, magazines etc for the flight. Use the airport wifi to make sure you have enough to keep you entertained for the flight.
Pick up a plane picnic before boarding
Don’t rely on there being any decent food onboard the plane. I once had a 4-hour flight home from Tenerife and there was no food on the plane at all. Thankfully, I had a plane picnic but there were a lot of hungry families on that flight!
Rush off the plane and to airport security ASAP!
I can’t stress how important this is because this is the difference between getting out of the airport in 20 minutes or 2 hours. If you’re unlucky and airport security is slow then you want to get in that queue as quickly as possible. If you’re the last person on your plane to arrive at the airport security queue then you could literally be there for hours.
Ideally, you want to be sitting at the front of the plane. Use the plane toilets before you land so you can rush off quickly, get ahead of the queues and be in that queue ASAP.
Don’t forget to turn your heating on before you arrive home
If you can control your central heating remotely then don’t forget to schedule your heating to come on before you come home. I hate coming back to a cold house but a warm and cosy house makes everything a little easier!
Book an online food shop to arrive shortly after you arrive home
You’re probably going to arrive home to an empty fridge so, unless I’m arriving home late at night, I like to arrange an online food shop to arrive shortly after I’m scheduled to be home. It makes me feel so smug and organised when I do this. Bonus points if you order an easy ready meal for you evening dinner to make your night as stress-free as possible.
