Airport transfers fail in predictable ways

This is less a set of instructions about getting to and from airports than an argument, and it is worth saying so at the start.

The last train problem

Airport rail links generally follow the operating hours of the wider network, which frequently ends well before the last arrival of the night. A delayed evening flight can therefore land you at an airport with no train, no bus and a taxi queue priced accordingly. Checking the last departure of the airport link against your scheduled arrival, with an hour of margin, takes a minute.

The same problem occurs in reverse for very early departures, where the first service arrives after check-in closes.

Taxi and ride-hailing rules vary by airport

Some airports ban ride-hailing pickups entirely, some confine them to a distant car park, and some allow them at the terminal kerb. Official taxi ranks are usually metered or fixed-price, and the fixed price to the centre is often published, which removes the negotiation.

Unofficial drivers approaching passengers inside the terminal are the standard overcharging mechanism in many countries. Look up the specific arrangement for the arrival airport rather than assuming the one you are used to.

Prebooked transfers trade flexibility for certainty

A prebooked private transfer removes the queue and the language problem and fixes the price, which is worth most on late arrivals and with luggage or children. The failure mode is a delayed flight, so choose an operator that tracks the flight number and states what happens if you land late. Shared shuttles are cheaper and wait to fill, which can add an hour and several stops before yours.

For departures, a prebooked car removes the risk of no taxi appearing at five in the morning.

Departures need more buffer than arrivals

On arrival, a slow transfer costs you time; on departure, it costs you the flight, and the two are not symmetric. Rush hour, roadworks and event traffic affect the road route unpredictably, while rail links are usually immune to both. Where a train exists, it is generally the correct choice for departures even when a taxi is more comfortable.

Work backwards from check-in closing rather than from the departure time, because the two can be an hour apart.

Multi-airport cities

Large cities often have several airports at very different distances, and a cheaper fare into the distant one can cost more once the transfer is added. Transferring between airports in the same city is usually slow and expensive, and should not be attempted on separate tickets with a tight gap. Confirm which airport your booking actually uses, since the codes and names are similar and the distance is not.

In practice, include the transfer time and cost in any fare comparison, because it can exceed the fare difference.

Border and customs rules are national and are the ones worth double-checking.

Luggage changes everything

A transfer that is easy with a cabin bag can be impractical with two large cases, particularly where it involves stairs, changes or a walk. Buses with limited luggage space fill at peak times and may refuse large items.

At the airport, left luggage at the airport or a central station lets you use a fast public transfer and collect the bags separately, which is worth doing on a long layover. Check whether the route involves an interchange with no lift before committing to it at midnight.

The takeaway

Check the last train before you book the last flight, and work backwards from check-in closing.

Every kilo you leave behind pays you back at the third connection.