If you’re planning on making a visit to London and use taxi services for airport transfers, then here are a number of things you need to have at the tip of your fingers. London airport transfers can be a hectic but with proper planning and the right knowledge, you’ll be cruising your way and smiling through the city.rnBooking a cabrnThere are two major ways you can book a cab from
London City Airport. You can either pre-book or get on arrival at the airport. Pre-booking is mostly done online prior to the flight, and the transport arrangements are usually on standby waiting for the flight arrival. This is the better option if you really don’t know your way around London as the airports can be pretty overwhelming. rnOn the other hand, booking on arrival can be made by making a call to the cab companies on arrival at the airport. However, this is really not advised as some of the cabs in airports may be driven by people who are up to no good.
Choice of vehiclernYour choice of vehicle shouldn’t just weigh on preferences. You need to consider the number of passengers and amount of luggage you’ve got. Most cab companies offer cars, minivans, minibuses and coaches. If you have a large number of passengers or luggage then you should go for the larger vehicles. It’s important that you don’t underestimate the kind of space your luggage kneeds as switching vehicles could cost you extra.
Reputation of the companyrnIt would be wise of you to choose a cab company with a good reputation. You can do this by visiting their websites and scouring through its reviews by customers who have used their services before. This could save a world of trouble resulting from poor service. You don’t want to arrive at the airport and realise that your driver is stuck in traffic just because he didn’t know the best routes to take and time the journey well. Besides, if you’ll be driving at night, your safety will be at the hands of the driver, and that’s where reputation counts most.
ComfortrnTry as much as possible not to forego comfort for the sake of trying to save couple of pounds. Then again, this is not meant to encourage you to bend over backwards and strain financially in pursuit of comfort. Get a comfortable taxi but one that is within your means. The vehicle also has to be mechanically sound.
‘Meet and Greet’ ServicernIf you are visiting London for the first time and are afraid of getting lost, you could request for the ‘Meet and Greet’ service. Your driver will wait for you at arrivals and will be holding a placard with your name on it or the company name. rnThis can go a long way in lessening the tension and boosting your confidence levels as you navigate the city.
rnSpecial featuresrnYou might be in need of special services such as baby seats or Wi-Fi. Ensure you request such services for your London airport transfer are they are not offered by default in most taxi companies.
DriversrnAlways look out for a company that has professional drivers who give exceptional service to their customers. Ake your time and know about their vetting process, and also enquire if they are licensed so as to assure your safety on the road.
Flight monitoring rnLook for a cab company that monitors your flight’s progress and will adjust their pick-up time in case of any delays. Some companies such as AirportsTaxi do this at no extra cost.
AffordabilityrnBook a car that you can easily afford. The vehicles can be categorised into economy class, business class, business van and first class.
DiscountsrnSeeking discounts is a great way of trying to save costs. Companies often offer discounts to customers that book well in advance so dig around before your flight.