An airport transfer service is a car booked before you fly, at a fixed price, with a chauffeur who tracks your flight and meets you inside the terminal. The point is that the ride is settled before you land: you know who is meeting you, where, in what vehicle and for how much, and none of it depends on the taxi line or the app queue at the moment your flight arrives.
This guide walks through an arrival step by step, then covers luggage by vehicle, flat-rate versus metered fares at several large airports, and the small details that make the difference on the day: flight numbers, name boards, child seats and departure timing. Elly8.net airport fares are the same fixed price in either direction, so everything here applies to the trip to the airport as well.
How does an airport transfer service work when you land?
You book with your flight number. The chauffeur tracks the flight, adjusts to the real landing time and waits inside arrivals with a name board. Waiting after a tracked landing is complimentary, so a delay does not cost you more. The chauffeur helps with bags and walks you to the car; the fixed price was set when you booked.
Here is the arrival in order.
1. Before you fly. The booking holds the pickup airport, flight number, passenger name, number of travellers, number of bags and the drop-off address. The flight number matters more than the scheduled time, because it is what lets the desk follow the aircraft.
2. While you are in the air. The flight is tracked. If it lands early, late or at a different terminal, the pickup moves with it. You do not need to call from the gate.
3. On landing. Switch your phone on; the desk is reachable 24/7 if anything changes. Walk through immigration and customs if you are arriving internationally, then collect your bags.
4. In arrivals. The chauffeur waits inside, holding a name board. This is meet and greet: the difference between a car "somewhere at the kerb" and a person who walks with you to it. Waiting after a tracked landing is complimentary, so a long passport queue or a slow baggage belt is covered.
5. To the car. The chauffeur takes the bags and walks you to the vehicle. Where the car is parked depends on the airport. At Chicago O'Hare, for example, the Chicago Department of Aviation describes pre-arranged limousine drivers meeting passengers in baggage claim and walking them to designated livery parking across from the terminal, typically a five to seven minute walk (O'Hare ground transportation).
6. The drive. You ride straight to the address on the booking. If you need a stop on the way, add it when you book; multi-stop trips are priced in the booker.
Why meet and greet beats the kerb
At many large airports, app rides no longer meet you at the door. At JFK, the airport's ride-share page notes that pickups for Terminals 5 and 7 have temporarily moved to the Howard Beach AirTrain Station during construction, which means a train ride before the car ride. At Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, ride-share pickups are on Level 2 of the parking garage at Terminal 1 and on the Valet Level of the garage at Terminal 3. At LAX, app rides and taxis are sent to the LAX-it lot, reached by shuttle bus.
None of this is a problem for one traveller with a carry-on who knows the airport. It becomes one with three suitcases, two children, a client, or a flight that lands at midnight. A chauffeur inside arrivals removes the search. Our post on Lyft vs Uber covers how the two apps handle airport pickups if you prefer an app.
Luggage: which vehicle fits your bags
Luggage decides the vehicle more often than passenger numbers do. These are the per-vehicle figures from the Elly8.net fleet table.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Bags | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Sedan (E-Class, CT6, Continental or similar) | up to 3 | 2 | One or two travellers, carry-ons and a checked bag |
| First Class Sedan (S-Class or similar) | up to 3 | 2 | Executives and VIP arrivals |
| Electric Sedan | up to 3 | 2 | Zero-emission business trips |
| Business SUV / Van (Suburban, Yukon XL or V-Class) | up to 6 | 6 | Families, ski and golf bags, four adults with checked luggage |
| First Class SUV (Escalade, Navigator or similar) | up to 6 | 6 | Premium family or team arrivals |
| Jet Sprinter | up to 6 | 4 | VIP cabin with captain's chairs |
| Executive Sprinter | up to 12 | 12 | Teams, wedding parties, tour groups |
Two rules of thumb help. First, a sedan's two-bag figure means two full-size checked cases; three adults each with a large case need an SUV. Second, oversized items such as golf bags, skis, strollers and musical instruments count as more than one bag. Tell the desk exactly what you are carrying. A sedan takes three passengers at most, so four adults always need an SUV; it is easier to choose the right vehicle at the start than to swap it on the kerb.
Child seats are available on request. Add the ages of the children when you book so the right seats are fitted before pickup.
Flat rate vs metered: what the airport alternatives cost
A fair comparison uses the published numbers from airport and taxi authorities, then compares them with the fixed Elly8.net fare for the same trip.
New York, JFK. Under the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, a yellow cab between JFK and Manhattan is a US$70 flat fare in either direction, plus a 50-cent MTA surcharge, a US$1.00 improvement surcharge, a US$5.00 rush-hour surcharge from 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays, the congestion surcharge, tips and tolls, and a US$2.00 airport access fee for pickups at JFK. The AirTrain single fare is US$8.75 to Jamaica or Howard Beach, before the subway or rail fare. An Elly8.net transfer from JFK to Midtown Manhattan is a fixed US$210 in a business sedan and US$550 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in.
Las Vegas. The Nevada Taxicab Authority publishes approximate zone fares from the airport to the Strip of about US$22.25, US$26.25 and US$30.25 depending on the zone, with a 3% excise tax, a US$3.00 card fee and a fuel surcharge set by the Authority. For one or two people with light bags, that is good value. Elly8.net's LAS to the Strip fare is US$125 in a business sedan and US$325 in an Executive Sprinter.
Chicago. O'Hare taxis run on the meter, and the airport puts the average fare to downtown at about US$50 before tip. Elly8.net's O'Hare to the Loop fare runs from US$215 in a business sedan to US$560 in an Executive Sprinter.
Toronto. The UP Express train runs from Pearson Terminal 1 to Union Station in about 28 minutes, every 15 minutes, with an adult single fare of C$12.35. Elly8.net's Pearson to downtown fare is US$155 in a business sedan and US$405 in an Executive Sprinter.
Miami. MIA publishes its taxi rates: US$2.95 for the first sixth of a mile, a sliding per-mile rate, a US$2.00 airport origination fee and a US$15 minimum from the airport, with a 30 percent surcharge for SUV or van taxis. Elly8.net's MIA to Miami Beach fare is US$180 in a business sedan and US$470 in an Executive Sprinter.
| Airport and route | Public option (official) | Elly8.net fixed fare, all-in |
|---|---|---|
| JFK to Midtown Manhattan | Taxi US$70 flat plus surcharges, tolls, tip; AirTrain US$8.75 plus onward fare | US$210 sedan to US$550 Executive Sprinter |
| LAS to the Las Vegas Strip | Taxi zone fares about US$22.25 to US$30.25 plus tax and fees | US$125 sedan to US$325 Executive Sprinter |
| ORD to the Loop | Taxi on the meter, average about US$50 | US$215 sedan to US$560 Executive Sprinter |
| YYZ to downtown Toronto | UP Express C$12.35 adult single | US$155 sedan to US$405 Executive Sprinter |
| MIA to Miami Beach | Taxi on the published meter, US$15 minimum | US$180 sedan to US$470 Executive Sprinter |
The honest verdict: for one person with light bags, landing in the daytime and staying near a station, the train or a taxi is usually the better buy, and we say so. A pre-booked transfer wins when the group is three or more with checked bags, when you land late, when children need seats, when a client or meeting is waiting, or when you want the price fixed regardless of traffic and demand. Our chauffeur vs taxi and chauffeur vs airport shuttle comparisons go further.
What a fixed fare includes
Elly8.net airport fares include the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes, standard gratuity and airport meet and greet. Tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. The fare is per vehicle, not per person; a family of five in a Business SUV pays the SUV fare once.
There is no surge. A fare booked for a Friday evening arrival is the same as for a Tuesday morning one. That is the main financial difference from app-based rides, whose price is set at the moment you request. Our explainer on what Uber Black is sets out how that premium app tier is priced.
Departures: the same fare, different timing
Every Elly8.net one-way airport fare is the same fixed price from the airport or to it. For departures, the timing questions change.
- Pickup time. Work back from the airline's check-in and bag-drop cut-off, add security time for that airport and day, then add the real drive time for that hour. The desk will suggest a pickup time if you give us the flight.
- Terminal. Give the airline and flight number so the chauffeur drops you at the right door.
- Return trips. Round-trip fares are listed on each city page, for example New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Business travel and accounts
For companies that move people through airports every week, corporate accounts add monthly invoicing and one 24/7 desk for every city. Executive assistants book once with a flight number and the rest is handled. NDAs are available on request. For teams arriving together, the Executive Sprinter takes up to twelve passengers and twelve bags; our Sprinter van limousine guide explains when it beats two SUVs.
Hotels and travel agents can also book for guests through dedicated accounts; see the travel agent and hotel pages.
Booking tips that prevent problems
- Use the flight number, not just the time. Tracking depends on it.
- List every bag. Include strollers, golf bags and boxes.
- Name the lead passenger. That is the name on the board.
- Give a mobile number that works abroad. The desk needs to reach you on the day.
- Add stops at booking. A stop at a second hotel or office is easier to plan than to add on the kerb.
- Book early for peak dates. Holiday weekends, major conventions and big sporting events fill the best vehicles first.
- Say who is paying. If a company or a hotel is covering the ride, book it through the account so the invoice goes to the right place and the traveller is not asked to pay on the day.
Elly8.net books airport transfers in 141 cities. In Toronto and the GTA the rides are operated by the Elly8 fleet; elsewhere they are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network, with Elly8.net taking the booking, fixing the price and running the 24/7 desk. For flights and hotels, our travel partner is BookingWorldwide.net. The airport transfers service page covers how to book any airport we serve.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the chauffeur meet me at the airport?
Inside the terminal, in the arrivals area, holding a name board with the lead passenger's name. At some airports, such as Chicago O'Hare, the meeting point is baggage claim, followed by a short walk to designated livery parking. Your email confirmation covers the pickup, and the 24/7 desk can be reached if plans change on the day.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Nothing changes for you. The flight is tracked, the pickup moves to the real landing time and waiting after a tracked landing is complimentary. Waiting beyond the included time is billed at cost, but delays caused by the flight are covered by tracking the actual arrival.
How much luggage fits in an airport transfer car?
Per vehicle, a Business or First Class Sedan takes up to three passengers and two bags, a Business or First Class SUV up to six passengers and six bags, and an Executive Sprinter up to twelve passengers and twelve bags. Count golf bags, skis and strollers as extra bags when choosing.
Is a taxi or train cheaper than an airport transfer service?
For one traveller with light luggage, usually yes. The UP Express in Toronto is C$12.35 and the Las Vegas taxi zone fares to the Strip start at about US$22.25. A fixed transfer becomes better value for groups and families, late arrivals, heavy luggage and trips where the price must not change.
Are prices per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. An Elly8.net airport fare covers everyone who fits in the vehicle you book, with chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet included. Tolls and parking are billed at cost. The same fixed fare applies to the airport and from it.
Can an airport transfer be cancelled?
Yes. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup. Within 72 hours the charge is 10%, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or for a no-show 100%. Refunds go back to the original card.
