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Short answer: with a properly booked transfer, nothing. We track your flight from the flight number, move the pickup to match the actual landing time, and give you an hour of free waiting afterwards, all at the original price. The problems people describe with delayed flights and taxis almost always come from booking without a flight number, or from booking a car on the day and walking into surge pricing.
This is the question that decides most airport transfer bookings, and it is rarely answered clearly. Here is exactly what happens, and what to check before you pay anyone.
How flight tracking actually works
When you give a flight number, the booking is linked to that flight’s live status rather than to a clock time. If the aircraft lands 90 minutes late, the pickup shifts 90 minutes. If it lands 40 minutes early, the driver is sent earlier.
You do not need to phone from the aircraft, message on landing, or negotiate anything. The adjustment happens without you. That is the whole point, and it is why the flight number is the most important field on the form.
The free waiting window
Landing is not arriving. Between wheels down and walking into the arrivals hall there is taxiing, disembarkation, immigration and the baggage belt. At Heathrow on a busy morning, that is routinely 45 to 60 minutes.
Our fares include one hour of free waiting after the actual landing time, which covers that sequence. If you are travelling on a long-haul flight into a peak arrival slot, or you know your passport queue will be slow, say so at booking and the allowance can be extended.
What each option does when you are late
| Option | If the flight is delayed | Cost of the delay |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked with flight number | Pickup moves automatically | Nothing |
| Pre-booked without flight number | Driver waits on a clock time | Waiting charges, or a no-show |
| Ride-hailing app | You book again on arrival | Whatever demand is at that moment |
| Rank on the day | You join whatever queue exists | Time, and the going rate |
The second row is the one that produces bad reviews across the industry. A transfer booked without a flight number is really a car booked for a time, and a time is not a promise an airline can keep.
Landing early
Less discussed, and it matters. Tailwinds on transatlantic routes regularly bring flights in 30 minutes ahead of schedule, and long-haul passengers with hand luggage only can be in arrivals very quickly.
Tracking handles this in the same way, by dispatching earlier. Without it, you are standing in the terminal waiting for a car booked against a schedule that no longer applies.
Cancellations and diversions
If your flight is cancelled outright, contact us and the booking is moved to your replacement flight. If you are diverted to a different airport, tell us as soon as you have signal: a new pickup point means a different journey and a different price, but it is far better arranged in the air than at a rank in a city you did not plan to land in.
Diversions are rare, but they are exactly the moment when having an operator to call beats having an app. Our contact details are worth saving to your phone before you travel.
Questions to ask any transfer company
- Do you track flights, and is that automatic or do I have to notify you?
- How much free waiting is included, and does it start at landing or at the scheduled time?
- What is the charge if I am delayed beyond the free window?
- Is terminal parking included, or added afterwards?
- What happens if my flight is cancelled or diverted?
- Is there a number I can call that a person answers?
A firm that cannot answer these quickly is not set up for airport work. Ours are covered in every booking, across all UK airport transfers.
What to give us when you book
Flight number, arrival terminal, scheduled landing time, full destination postcode, passenger and luggage count, and a phone number that works on landing. Six fields, and they remove essentially every failure mode described above.
Call 020 8150 6922 Book a tracked transfer
New to booking transfers? See how to book a taxi in the UK from the airport, or check vehicle options before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be charged if my flight is delayed?
No. We track the flight and move the pickup to the actual landing time at the original price, with an hour of free waiting afterwards. You do not need to contact us from the plane.
How much free waiting time do I get?
One hour from the actual landing time, which covers taxiing, immigration and baggage reclaim. It can be extended if you expect a slow arrival, provided you mention it when booking.
Why does the flight number matter so much?
Because it links your booking to the flight rather than to a clock time. Without it, the driver arrives at the time you booked regardless of whether the aircraft has landed, which is where waiting charges and no-shows come from.
What if I land early?
Tracking works both ways, so the driver is dispatched earlier. Long-haul flights often arrive ahead of schedule, and passengers with hand luggage clear the terminal quickly.
What happens if my flight is cancelled?
Contact us and we move the booking to your replacement flight. If you are diverted to another airport, let us know as soon as you have signal so a new pickup can be arranged.
Can I book a transfer after I have already landed?
Yes, subject to availability. Call 020 8150 6922 and we will quote a fixed fare on the spot, though booking ahead is cheaper and guarantees the right vehicle.
