Pre-booked airport cabs or ride sharing apps?

You have just landed. Your phone battery is low, your bags are heavy and you need to decide how to get home. The two common choices are a ride sharing app and a pre-booked local cab. Here is how they compare.

Cost

App prices move with demand. On a quiet afternoon they can be cheap, but in bad weather, at rush hour or when a few flights land together, surge pricing can double the fare. A pre-booked cab has a fixed price agreed in advance, so you know what you will pay before you leave home. The price does not change with the traffic.

Convenience

With an app you open the phone, request a car and walk to a pickup point, sometimes a few minutes from arrivals, while the driver finds you. With a pre-booked cab the driver already knows your flight, can meet you in arrivals with a name board and helps with the bags.

Reliability

An app driver may cancel after accepting, and late at night cars can be scarce. A booked journey is reserved for you, and we run 24 hours a day, including very early flights and late landings.

Safety

Apps have useful features such as sharing your trip with a friend. Licensed private hire drivers are also vetted by their council, and you receive the driver and car details with your confirmation.

Which should you choose?

• Business travellers: a pre-booked car, so there is no waiting and you can work in the back.
• Families and groups: a pre-booked people carrier or minibus, so you know the seats and boot will fit everyone.
• Light travellers on a quiet day: an app may be cheaper, but check the price first.

If a fixed price and a driver waiting for you sounds right, book online and pay by card online.