Photo by Stig Nygaard

Airport Transportation

Travelling to and from an airport can be a journey in itself, often taking longer than the actual flight did. Taxis are typically the most expensive option, in any country, and airports provide great monopolies for taxi companies. There are always cheap ways to travel to/from airports but these are often deliberately not advertised as airports want to make more money from unaware tourists. Fortunately, there are some great resources out there which this article will explore. We will also look at some universal tricks so save time and money on airport transport.

Airport taxis are universally expensive. From cheap countries like Vietnam and China to expensive countries such as UK and Japan, airport taxis are notoriously overpriced. The fact the airports are usually situations some distance out of the city means that distances and metered fares are expensive. Many countries also have special “airport rates” which may or me not be fixed, but are always overpriced.

There are many great alternatives to taking a taxi. Most airports have bus services that are a fraction of the cost of a taxi. However, these services can be difficult to work out for a newly arrived traveller. Bus timetables change frequently and the airport website may not have up to date information.

Wikitravel.org is a free information sharing website, similar to Wikipedia, where travellers are continually updating travel information. This is usually the best place to find out transport options to/from any airport. Visit www.Wikitravel.org and search for the city you are travelling to.

At the top of every page there will be a contents box. Click on the “Get in” link and read the information about the airport you are travelling to. This will inevitably have very detailed information about taxi, bus and train routes, if applicable, into the city. Often there will be estimates for taxi costs so you at least know what to expect. The site also gives an idea of expected tipping practices so you know exactly what to expect in each country. I would suggest that anyone flying to a new airport for the first time should read the Wikitravel entry for that city.

When you arrive at an airport, there is usually an organised taxi counter where you can wait in line to take a taxi to your final destination.  There are two issues with these.

Firstly, there is often a long line and the last thing you want to do after a long flight is to be waiting in line after a long haul flight. Secondly, there is usually an additional “airport charge” which gets added to the Taxi meter. Sometimes it is a flat fare which works out a lot more expensive then the meter fare.

A great trick is to make your way to the departures drop-off point and find a taxi that is just dropping off a passenger.  While some airports frown on this, it is impossible for them to monitor and control.  It means you don’t have to wait for a taxi and you avoid paying extra airport charges.

Airports are usually a considerable distance outside of town.  When a taxi driver takes a passenger to the airport, it does not make sense to drive all the way back without picking up a new passenger.  However, due to the high number of passengers wanting a taxi at airports, there are usually a lot of taxis waiting for arriving passengers.

A taxi driver will therefore have to wait some time before getting to the front of the line to pick up passengers.  By picking up a passenger at the departures hall, they can save themselves a considerable amount of time so will usually be more than happy to take you.

The end result is a cheaper fare for you, very little queuing and no waiting for the taxi driver.  This lets you get to your destination faster and at less cost. After you collect your luggage, look for signs to check-in. Outside of this area will be the departures drop-off area where you can quickly jump into an arriving taxi.

Some airports are connected to the main city metro or subway line. This can present a great way to save some money and beat the traffic. In an attempt to save money on operating costs, many cities have implemented a smart card service. A good example of this is London’s Oyster smart card. You must purchase one of these cards and top it up with cash. The card then functions in place of a regular ticket.

In London the regular cash fare is almost three times more than the fare when paying with a smart card. You can purchase a smart card when you arrive and return it when you leave, receiving any money back that you have on the card when you do so. Few travellers take advantage of this and instead end up paying way over the top for subway journeys.

Transport to and from the airport does not have to be expensive and does not have to be difficult. A little bit of a smart research and preparation goes a long way towards preparing yourself for arrival. Airports taxis are notorious for profiteering from oblivious travellers, but by taking a taxi from the departure drop-off area you can save considerable time and money. Purchasing a subway smart card will save you money and also the hassle of having to carry small change around with you.