Compare the door-to-door journey

At-a-glance comparison

At-a-glance comparison
Option	Official taxi	Booking app	Pre-booked transfer
Best for	Ranks and permitted street hails	Recorded on-demand booking	Groups and planned arrivals
Price visibility	Metered or locally regulated	Estimate or upfront quote	Quoted before travel
Trip record	Receipt where available	Usually in the app	Booking confirmation

Illustration of an illuminated taximeter on a taxi dashboard — Editorial illustration: it does not depict a verified place or service.

Official taxi

Best for managed ranks, permitted street hails and journeys where a regulated meter or local fare structure is useful.

Before boarding, identify the local licence, meter and payment terms. At airports, use only the signed rank.

Illustration of a traveler checking a booked car on a phone at dusk — Editorial illustration: it does not depict a verified place or service.

Booking app

Best for a recorded booking, price estimate and cashless payment. Always match the plate, vehicle and driver before boarding.

Never board when the plate, vehicle model or driver does not match the booking.

Illustration of a driver helping a traveler load luggage into an airport transfer van — Editorial illustration: it does not depict a verified place or service.

Pre-booked transfer

Best for groups, accessibility needs, late arrivals or meet-and-greet service. Check waiting-time and cancellation terms.

Keep the confirmation and meeting point. Check waiting-time, delay and cancellation charges.

Choose for your journey

For a late arrival, bulky luggage or an adapted vehicle, confirm capacity and pickup before paying.

Compare the whole journey to the door: walking, connections, waiting, exact address and cost for everyone in your group.

Compare the door-to-door journey

The cheapest headline fare can cost more after baggage, waiting, terminal access and a missed connection. Use these four checks before booking.

Count every leg

Add the fare to the actual destination, not just to the nearest station. Include a local connection, walking distance and the cost of moving luggage or a larger group.

Check the pickup point

An app pickup area may be in a car park while the taxi rank is outside arrivals. Ask whether a prebooked driver meets you in the terminal or waits at a designated zone.

Price uncertainty

A meter changes with traffic; an app quote can change before confirmation; a transfer quote can exclude waiting, parking or extra stops. Read the fare conditions before accepting.

Plan for disruption

If a flight is late, check the operator’s waiting policy, cancellation window and contact method. A separate flight or airport change needs a larger buffer than an ordinary city trip.

For rail and bus alternatives, read the taxi versus public transport guide. For an airport change, use the separate-airports checklist. Airport taxi or public transport: choose the full journey · Changing airports between flights: plan a real ground transfer

Compare the final price

Ask whether waiting, tolls, airport fees, luggage and stops are included. Check applicable extras for a metered ride; keep written terms for a booking.

Plan and compare your transfer