Airport transfer pricing is deliberately murky in places, and comparing two quotes is harder than it should be. This is what the journey actually costs from the West Midlands, what should already be in the number you are given, and the extras that quietly appear at the end elsewhere.
Price by airport
These are typical starting prices for a standard saloon carrying up to four passengers, from a central Walsall postcode.
| Airport | From | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | £36 | 30 to 40 mins |
| East Midlands | £75 | 50 to 65 mins |
| Manchester | £130 | 1 hr 30 to 2 hrs |
| Liverpool John Lennon | £135 | 1 hr 40 to 2 hrs |
| Luton | £150 | 1 hr 45 to 2 hrs |
| Heathrow | £175 | 2 hrs to 2 hrs 30 |
| Bristol | £180 | 2 hrs to 2 hrs 30 |
| Stansted | £185 | 2 hrs 15 to 2 hrs 45 |
| Gatwick | £195 | 2 hrs 45 to 3 hrs 15 |
Your exact postcode moves these figures. Wolverhampton and Dudley run slightly differently to Walsall, and Sutton Coldfield is closer to Birmingham Airport than most of Walsall is.
Vehicle size changes the price, not the time of day
| Vehicle | Passengers | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard saloon | Up to 4 | Couples, small families, light luggage |
| Estate | Up to 4 | Four adults with full sized cases |
| Executive | Up to 4 | Business travel, a more comfortable long run |
| MPV | Up to 6 | Larger families, group travel |
| 8 seater minibus | Up to 8 | Extended family, groups |
Be honest about luggage when you book. Four adults going away for two weeks do not fit comfortably in a saloon, and discovering that on the doorstep at 4am helps nobody.
What should already be included
Everything on this list is inside our price and should be inside anybody else's before you compare:
- The airport drop off charge
- Flight tracking on arrivals
- Free waiting time after landing
- Child seats where needed
- Tolls and any congestion charges on the route
- All luggage within the vehicle's capacity
A £30 quote with a £6 drop off charge, a £5 luggage supplement and a night surcharge is not cheaper than a £36 fixed price. Ask what is included before you decide anything.
Charges you should watch for elsewhere
- Night surcharges. Common, and painful given how many airport runs are between midnight and 5am. We do not apply one.
- Waiting time charges. Some operators start the meter the moment they arrive rather than after a fair grace period.
- Luggage supplements. Charging per case on top of the fare.
- Meet and greet as standard. Fine as an option, less fine when it is applied without being asked for.
- Surge pricing. Standard on app based platforms and it can double a fare at exactly the moment you cannot shop around.
Transfer versus parking
The comparison people rarely run properly. Two weeks of parking at Birmingham Airport, plus fuel both ways, plus the wear on the car, frequently exceeds the cost of a return transfer.
Then there is the part that does not show up in the numbers. You are not driving home on the M6 at 6am having barely slept, and you are not spending the first twenty minutes of your holiday looking for a space in a multi storey.
Deposits and payment
You can pay in full when booking or leave a 20 percent deposit and settle the rest later. Either way the total is locked at the point of booking. It does not move because the traffic was bad or because your flight was delayed.
Travelling soon?
Fixed price, flight tracking included, no surge and no hidden extras. Get a quote in under a minute.
Get your fixed price