Airport transfer business
Discussion
Hi All,
Quick introduction, I’m a family man in my mid thirty’s from the West Midlands. I’m currently in the early stages of starting up an airport transfer business. My current job takes me all over the country for weeks/months at a time and I have a young child at home that I want to see grow up. I understand that the job is hard graft and has unsociable hours also but at least I will walk through my own front door at the end of my shift unlike at the moment.
The plan is to buy a 7/8 seater vehicle that has plenty of room for luggage. I’ve narrowed my search down to three MPV’s
• Ford Tourneo shuttle bus
• Mercedes Vito tourer Auto
• VW Transporter Shuttle Auto
I’m leaning more towards the German vans simply because of the horror stories I’m hearing regarding the Fords 2.0L eco blue engines. It’s a shame because I currently have a 2016 custom that’s on nearly 200k now and it’s never had a spanner put on the engine. It’s still on its original clutch!!
Any advice on helping me pick my new van? I’m buying a used van somewhere in between a 2018/2021.
Also does anyone have any experience in the airport transfer game? All and any advice would be very much appreciated.
I have a bit of a tick list at the minute
•Create social media pages to help advertise and drive business
•Leave business cards/flyers at local AirBnB’s, hotels, bed & breakfasts, Golf clubs ect.
•Reach out to local business’s who may have regular traveler’s for work.
•Tour companies/Travel agency’s
•Wedding planners
•Local private hire/airport transfer company’s to offer cover
•Also I will do any sort general longer runs, Festivals/music events/sporting events/days out ect.
Anything I’ve missed or you can think of??
Anyone in the game know to any good third parties to sub into to fill out the diary while I build up my own customer base? Big corporates/smaller/apps or websites?
Any help or advice would be massively appreciated and I look forward to hearing from you all 😀
Scrap the family sized vans and get a good comfy 5 seater, get a standard car/suv but top of the range and go after business people.
We Dont care about cost as it’s all on the company dime, my employer is about to spend £8k on flying me to New York so a £250 taxi bill is normal.
You only have to do a few days a week, but expect you go when ever they need you, some would be every other week some every 6 months but it’s a good line of work compared to the bucket and spade family’s where it’s all about saving a 5er.
We Dont care about cost as it’s all on the company dime, my employer is about to spend £8k on flying me to New York so a £250 taxi bill is normal.
You only have to do a few days a week, but expect you go when ever they need you, some would be every other week some every 6 months but it’s a good line of work compared to the bucket and spade family’s where it’s all about saving a 5er.
You'll need to be plated and badged and insured for hire and reward.
Ignore the business angle, too many in it and not enough work. Get your 8 seater and invest in a small trailer. 8 people's luggage won't fit with 8 people.
You will have to start with a local minicab firm to get some income otherwise you will starve. You'll also have to compete (where you are) with the cuzzybruvs who will go to East Mids at 3am for £75.
And believe me, nobody will pay what you want. Its cut throat especially in the West Mids. You might even need to do some courier work to make ends meet.
You'll never earn enough just doing airport runs.
Oh, and most corporates who use airport transfers won't look at a one man business. You won't be able to cover their work. Pacenotes above is going to the airport (let's say LHR) at 1000 from Droitwich. How are you going to cover Pacenotes colleague that needs to go to BHX at 1100 to fly to Belfast? You can't. So they'll ring Crown Cars who won't have a problem sending an S class for each of them. Or how are you going to sound when Pacenotes company ring you and you're halfway up the A38 with six screaming girls drinking prosecco on their way to Marbella on a hen do?
Ignore the business angle, too many in it and not enough work. Get your 8 seater and invest in a small trailer. 8 people's luggage won't fit with 8 people.
You will have to start with a local minicab firm to get some income otherwise you will starve. You'll also have to compete (where you are) with the cuzzybruvs who will go to East Mids at 3am for £75.
And believe me, nobody will pay what you want. Its cut throat especially in the West Mids. You might even need to do some courier work to make ends meet.
You'll never earn enough just doing airport runs.
Oh, and most corporates who use airport transfers won't look at a one man business. You won't be able to cover their work. Pacenotes above is going to the airport (let's say LHR) at 1000 from Droitwich. How are you going to cover Pacenotes colleague that needs to go to BHX at 1100 to fly to Belfast? You can't. So they'll ring Crown Cars who won't have a problem sending an S class for each of them. Or how are you going to sound when Pacenotes company ring you and you're halfway up the A38 with six screaming girls drinking prosecco on their way to Marbella on a hen do?
Edited by Jordie Barretts sock on Wednesday 9th August 22:14
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Oh, and most corporates who use airport transfers won't look at a one man business. You won't be able to cover their work. Pacenotes above is going to the airport (let's say LHR) at 1000 from Droitwich. How are you going to cover Pacenotes colleague that needs to go to BHX at 1100 to fly to Belfast? You can't. So they'll ring Crown Cars who won't have a problem sending an S class for each of them. Or how are you going to sound when Pacenotes company ring you and you're halfway up the A38 with six screaming girls drinking prosecco on their way to Marbella on a hen do?
There is a small niche in the corporate market where some passengers will want/insist on using one of a very small number of drivers even if this is outside official policy. I always used to have one of two drivers, who were extremely reliable and had nice cars (almost new S and lwb 7 respectively), instead of one of the well known corporate transport providers. It is much more akin to a private booking, but with more repeat business. I have no idea what they charged. Further out in the sticks it is much much harder to get any sort of decent transport. I’ve been let down on airport transfers by three firms of various sizes, none of which have seen any further business.
One local firm has proven to be reliable but their cars just aren’t up to scratch. C/E class with starship miles. Their drivers are also slow to pick up on the fact that If you’ve been on a short long haul trip you might not be in the mood for a chat.
I don’t fly as much as I used to pre-covid and now drive myself to/from the airport, usually stay overnight if it’s an event with drinks, and only use transport firms when I need a van type thing to get several of us home. If it’s in/around town then cab (if london) or Uber (elsewhere/no cabs available).
If you want to aim at the premium end, liveries on vehicles are a no no. Keep it plain and classy.
If driving is something you want to do on a flexible basis, is Uber perhaps a better option than having to self source all the work?
You’re unlikely to win a large corporate account as a one man band. They will just go to Blacklane, AddLee, etc.
Where you can win is corporate individuals who are travelling on the company’s dime.
In lots of cases there’s no obligation on an individual to use the company’s preferred car service - people are welcome to book their own and claim the expense. I often did this when I found a local service that was more reliable and had better cars than whatever MPV junk AddLee were running.
If you can build a base of those customers you might do OK. But it’s hard graft. If you let them down just once they won’t be back.
Where you can win is corporate individuals who are travelling on the company’s dime.
In lots of cases there’s no obligation on an individual to use the company’s preferred car service - people are welcome to book their own and claim the expense. I often did this when I found a local service that was more reliable and had better cars than whatever MPV junk AddLee were running.
If you can build a base of those customers you might do OK. But it’s hard graft. If you let them down just once they won’t be back.
brickwall said:
You’re unlikely to win a large corporate account as a one man band. They will just go to Blacklane, AddLee, etc.
Where you can win is corporate individuals who are travelling on the company’s dime.
In lots of cases there’s no obligation on an individual to use the company’s preferred car service - people are welcome to book their own and claim the expense. I often did this when I found a local service that was more reliable and had better cars than whatever MPV junk AddLee were running.
If you can build a base of those customers you might do OK. But it’s hard graft. If you let them down just once they won’t be back.
^^^ThisWhere you can win is corporate individuals who are travelling on the company’s dime.
In lots of cases there’s no obligation on an individual to use the company’s preferred car service - people are welcome to book their own and claim the expense. I often did this when I found a local service that was more reliable and had better cars than whatever MPV junk AddLee were running.
If you can build a base of those customers you might do OK. But it’s hard graft. If you let them down just once they won’t be back.
I use our local village firm for airport transfers. But even they run 5/6 cars to be able to match demand and be reliable. They are great and one time I got a call from them to say my flight had just been cancelled (I heard from them before I heard from the airline) and how could they help...
Your issue isn't your service, it's what happens when "stuff happens"...
How do you explain to your customer that you are going to be late picking them up for their important flight because your prior customer's flight was 90 minutes late landing? Or because there was a crash on the M6? Or you get sick with the flu?
Who do you let down first? You will always need a buffer of capacity unless you can block yourself out for 2x or 3x the time needed but that will drive your price up significantly.
If you do the sums, I suspect you would earn more delivering for Waitrose.
As Vaud said. For this to work you need a decent list of people you can call to take jobs for you and represent your ‘brand’. They need to have cars and service of the same standard as you.
You might be giving them good notice (because you’ve got overlapping bookings), but it might be with almost none (because “stuff happens”).
And customers really are uncompromising. I expect to ring up on a Saturday and say “hello I need a pickup to take me to the airport at 5pm tomorrow”. I expect
- The car to arrive at 4:55, not 5:01.
- The car to be as advertised, clean, and not 20 years old (if I book an S-Class then an A8 or 7-Series will do; a V-Class or 5-Series/E-class/A6 won’t)
- The driver to offer good service - open the boot for me, keep the radio off, aircon set to the right temp, windows down/up as I want, keep quiet if I’m on the phone, and not speak to me if I don’t want to talk
- Smooth driving, good lane discipline, etc.
On an arrival I expect you to wait if my plane is delayed, to be waiting with a sign, to answer the phone if I call, etc.
With a small local firm, if any of the above don’t happen I won’t be back, I’ll just stick with one of the big corporates.
You might be giving them good notice (because you’ve got overlapping bookings), but it might be with almost none (because “stuff happens”).
And customers really are uncompromising. I expect to ring up on a Saturday and say “hello I need a pickup to take me to the airport at 5pm tomorrow”. I expect
- The car to arrive at 4:55, not 5:01.
- The car to be as advertised, clean, and not 20 years old (if I book an S-Class then an A8 or 7-Series will do; a V-Class or 5-Series/E-class/A6 won’t)
- The driver to offer good service - open the boot for me, keep the radio off, aircon set to the right temp, windows down/up as I want, keep quiet if I’m on the phone, and not speak to me if I don’t want to talk
- Smooth driving, good lane discipline, etc.
On an arrival I expect you to wait if my plane is delayed, to be waiting with a sign, to answer the phone if I call, etc.
With a small local firm, if any of the above don’t happen I won’t be back, I’ll just stick with one of the big corporates.
brickwall said:
As Vaud said. For this to work you need a decent list of people you can call to take jobs for you and represent your ‘brand’. They need to have cars and service of the same standard as you.
You might be giving them good notice (because you’ve got overlapping bookings), but it might be with almost none (because “stuff happens”).
And customers really are uncompromising. I expect to ring up on a Saturday and say “hello I need a pickup to take me to the airport at 5pm tomorrow”. I expect
- The car to arrive at 4:55, not 5:01.
- The car to be as advertised, clean, and not 20 years old (if I book an S-Class then an A8 or 7-Series will do; a V-Class or 5-Series/E-class/A6 won’t)
- The driver to offer good service - open the boot for me, keep the radio off, aircon set to the right temp, windows down/up as I want, keep quiet if I’m on the phone, and not speak to me if I don’t want to talk
- Smooth driving, good lane discipline, etc.
On an arrival I expect you to wait if my plane is delayed, to be waiting with a sign, to answer the phone if I call, etc.
With a small local firm, if any of the above don’t happen I won’t be back, I’ll just stick with one of the big corporates.
All this ^^^. You might be giving them good notice (because you’ve got overlapping bookings), but it might be with almost none (because “stuff happens”).
And customers really are uncompromising. I expect to ring up on a Saturday and say “hello I need a pickup to take me to the airport at 5pm tomorrow”. I expect
- The car to arrive at 4:55, not 5:01.
- The car to be as advertised, clean, and not 20 years old (if I book an S-Class then an A8 or 7-Series will do; a V-Class or 5-Series/E-class/A6 won’t)
- The driver to offer good service - open the boot for me, keep the radio off, aircon set to the right temp, windows down/up as I want, keep quiet if I’m on the phone, and not speak to me if I don’t want to talk
- Smooth driving, good lane discipline, etc.
On an arrival I expect you to wait if my plane is delayed, to be waiting with a sign, to answer the phone if I call, etc.
With a small local firm, if any of the above don’t happen I won’t be back, I’ll just stick with one of the big corporates.
One guy I used regularly once sent someone with a C class to cover for him. Luggage barely fitted and not enough space to be able to work in the back. He was asked not to sub to that chap again.
One other tip if you do go for it: discretion is key. I tried one outfit and the driver seemed to think it was appropriate to name drop other clients. If you’re using a car, taking/making phone calls, you need confidence that the driver isn’t going to be shooting his mouth off to the next client…
Rozza D said:
horror stories I’m hearing regarding the Fords 2.0L eco blue engines.
Mmmm. My Spidey-senses are tingling a bit.That's an unnecessary and very specific statement to make as part of your first ever post on Pistonheads, which seems to be weighed to which van to buy over the actual structure of your business which, to be frank, is bit light in its thinking. For some reason, these two spring to mind:
Could it be that you're actually a mole for a van retailer or manufacturer, seeking to infiltrate and subvert the thinking of the van buying masses that frequent these parts?
Could you be the Mild-Mannered Janitor?
Should my senses be off-kilter, then apologies and in response....to support the suggestion of others; Forget the Van. Buy a two-year old grey E-Class and a suit and go and speak to any of the executive ground-transport businesses.
Edited by StevieBee on Thursday 10th August 09:15
Steviebee firstly I can assure you that I’m not a mole for a van retailer or manufacture, and I’m certainly no Russian spy. I’ve never been to Salisbury, promise
Pacenotes the reason I’m leaning towards the 7/8 seater MPV is because it covers more bases while I’m still in my infancy and setting out. I can cater from single passengers right up to groups of 7/8. It may not be as ‘luxury’ as a A8 for example but a Merc Vito isn’t a builders van either. Pretty nice inside especially if I pick one with leather seats. Would you really turn your nose up at it if that was your ride to the airport?? What line of work are you in if you don’t mind me asking, because your are defiantly a demographic I should be targeting.
Pacenotes the reason I’m leaning towards the 7/8 seater MPV is because it covers more bases while I’m still in my infancy and setting out. I can cater from single passengers right up to groups of 7/8. It may not be as ‘luxury’ as a A8 for example but a Merc Vito isn’t a builders van either. Pretty nice inside especially if I pick one with leather seats. Would you really turn your nose up at it if that was your ride to the airport?? What line of work are you in if you don’t mind me asking, because your are defiantly a demographic I should be targeting.
Good man! Spidey senses in need of review. (But they do walk amongst us!)Jodie Barrett’s sock, I’m currently in the process of obtaining my private hire and operators license as we speak. I’m jumping through all the hoops.
The L3 merc Vito (XLWB) will easily handle 8 passengers, 8x 25kg luggage cases and 8 x carry on cases. That’s according to a guy who I’m speaking to from another forum who owns a Vito XLWB. But I’m fairly sure the two other vans in the XLWB variants can handle similar volumes of luggage.
I understand there will be operators out there that will be willing to undercut but that’s life I suppose. I want to offer a first class service and I will price accordingly. That’s not to say I’m going to have anyone’s eye balls out.
Your probably right that Id be too small to supply a larger business but i I could cater for single business people/smaller firms and/or sub into the guy/app/website that supply the big companies.
What industry are you Jodie if you don’t mind me asking?
The L3 merc Vito (XLWB) will easily handle 8 passengers, 8x 25kg luggage cases and 8 x carry on cases. That’s according to a guy who I’m speaking to from another forum who owns a Vito XLWB. But I’m fairly sure the two other vans in the XLWB variants can handle similar volumes of luggage.
I understand there will be operators out there that will be willing to undercut but that’s life I suppose. I want to offer a first class service and I will price accordingly. That’s not to say I’m going to have anyone’s eye balls out.
Your probably right that Id be too small to supply a larger business but i I could cater for single business people/smaller firms and/or sub into the guy/app/website that supply the big companies.
What industry are you Jodie if you don’t mind me asking?
Looneytunes, those are the passengers I should be targeting I guess. Alongside the more bread and butter family runs imo. I’m based from a built up town but I do have a couple of affluent villages near by, it might be worth canvassing/leafleting those areas? Or paying for targeted adds on social media??
My plan was to always be 5mins early to my pick up.
Always carry the cases from the hallway to the vehicle
Ask if the passenger wanted the radio on or off and what their preference of station was.
Carry water for inbound customers and also an umbrella.
I would much prefer to build my own business (if possible) than work for an Uber of the world.
What industry are you involved in if you don’t mind me
Asking, again you’d be the type of customer I should be targeting.
My plan was to always be 5mins early to my pick up.
Always carry the cases from the hallway to the vehicle
Ask if the passenger wanted the radio on or off and what their preference of station was.
Carry water for inbound customers and also an umbrella.
I would much prefer to build my own business (if possible) than work for an Uber of the world.
What industry are you involved in if you don’t mind me
Asking, again you’d be the type of customer I should be targeting.
Brickwall, yes I should definitely be targeting corporate individuals. Apart from leafleting the more affluent parts of town and targeted social media advertising any ideas of how to target this kind of customer?
Again if you don’t mind me asking what industry are you involved in, just so I have an idea of the demographic I should be targeting.
Again if you don’t mind me asking what industry are you involved in, just so I have an idea of the demographic I should be targeting.
I would certainly stay away from the EcoBlue engine personally. I work in aftermarket engines parts and we can't get enough parts for them at the moment!
Some of the comments on here are very interesting. A friend of mine has a similar business, 3 cars (E Class estate, E class saloon and an 8 seater Vito). I think he has one guy working with him and he is always busy. Not sure why so many people on here are saying it won't work.
Some of the comments on here are very interesting. A friend of mine has a similar business, 3 cars (E Class estate, E class saloon and an 8 seater Vito). I think he has one guy working with him and he is always busy. Not sure why so many people on here are saying it won't work.
Vaud, I’ve spoken to some one else already established within the trade and he said this is probably the most important part of setting up. He advised to grow a contacts list with other small independents to offer cover for one another Incase of an emergency. “Because things do and will go wrong” He also gave me a few other bits of great advice regarding this issue.
Thanks for making this point to me though!
Thanks for making this point to me though!
I’d be a potential customer. No way I’d get in a van if I could help it. Leather seats or not. They are horribly uncomfortable. I don’t need a limo either. Happy with something like a large saloon, as long as it’s clean and a decent spec. Don’t make me sit in the back of your budget Skoda superb as it’s a sea of plastic, for example, but a Passat is ok
I have a few friends who own those Merc vans. They use them to do highlands golfing tours, or day tours from the cruise ships up here. Certainly not airport transfers
I’ve a number of decent drivers around the places I work and I just send them a message when I travel (much less frequently now). They were all based on word of mouth - not sure I’d want a flyer through my door or trust a flyer through my door
As previously said, one sub-optimal experience and you risk that future business for ever
I can clearly see what you want to achieve, but it was tough enough pre-covid never mind now. Most “business folk” are working from home and avoiding airports at all costs. The economy is in a trough, putting further pressure on travel budgets
I have a few friends who own those Merc vans. They use them to do highlands golfing tours, or day tours from the cruise ships up here. Certainly not airport transfers
I’ve a number of decent drivers around the places I work and I just send them a message when I travel (much less frequently now). They were all based on word of mouth - not sure I’d want a flyer through my door or trust a flyer through my door
As previously said, one sub-optimal experience and you risk that future business for ever
I can clearly see what you want to achieve, but it was tough enough pre-covid never mind now. Most “business folk” are working from home and avoiding airports at all costs. The economy is in a trough, putting further pressure on travel budgets
Edited by nebpor on Thursday 10th August 11:15
Mr big, FINALLY some one with a positive replay. I was starting to doubt my self for a minute. LOL
Yes I buy and sell a few cars from time to time (when I have chance and I’m not the other end of the country) and the fiestas with the 1.0L eco boosts have just as bad of a name. It’s a real shame because my 16 plate tranny has been absolutely bomb proof. It’s took some right stick aswell!!
Ive got to give it a go, the only concern I have is how saturated the market is I suppose. But if I can offer a top class service, who knows it might just take off.
I have a family member who has already said he would be willing to jump in and work for me in say 12/18 months time if I did manage to get myself off the ground and could supply a steady stream of work.
Any advice on the van? Vito or transporter? Or another??
Yes I buy and sell a few cars from time to time (when I have chance and I’m not the other end of the country) and the fiestas with the 1.0L eco boosts have just as bad of a name. It’s a real shame because my 16 plate tranny has been absolutely bomb proof. It’s took some right stick aswell!!
Ive got to give it a go, the only concern I have is how saturated the market is I suppose. But if I can offer a top class service, who knows it might just take off.
I have a family member who has already said he would be willing to jump in and work for me in say 12/18 months time if I did manage to get myself off the ground and could supply a steady stream of work.
Any advice on the van? Vito or transporter? Or another??
Surprised at some of the attitudes to the vehicle.
I don’t really give a flying F what the guy drives as long as it’s smart, clean, comfortable and will get all our luggage in.
10 year old Skoda estate with peeling paint and fag smoke? Do one.
Nice, comfortable Merc MPV? Great.
My company (large corporate) uses local firms, but I have to say we don’t have an awful lot of regular work. It’s not just for our people, we have a reliable local guy who we use to collect clients from the airport as well.
It’s certainly a cut throat business and will take time to build up. Getting in with a local firm as a subbie to start with sounds sensible.
I don’t really give a flying F what the guy drives as long as it’s smart, clean, comfortable and will get all our luggage in.
10 year old Skoda estate with peeling paint and fag smoke? Do one.
Nice, comfortable Merc MPV? Great.
My company (large corporate) uses local firms, but I have to say we don’t have an awful lot of regular work. It’s not just for our people, we have a reliable local guy who we use to collect clients from the airport as well.
It’s certainly a cut throat business and will take time to build up. Getting in with a local firm as a subbie to start with sounds sensible.
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