How should I choose the pickup time?
Learn how to choose the right pickup time for domestic and international travel, including recommended buffers for flights, customs, baggage, and airport departures.
Choose your pick-up time based on your travel type — domestic or international — and always add a buffer for unexpected delays.
General Recommendation
We recommend scheduling your ride at least 30 minutes after your flight's landing time. This gives you enough time to go through customs, immigration, and collect your luggage. The exact buffer you need may vary depending on whether you are traveling domestically or internationally.
Pick-Up Times by Travel Type
Domestic Travel
If you are traveling domestically, you typically do not need to go through immigration or customs. This means your pick-up time can be shorter than for international travel. Consider the following:
- No immigration or customs wait time is usually required.
- If you are only carrying hand luggage, you may need less buffer time than checked baggage travelers.
- A buffer of 30 minutes after landing is still recommended as a general guideline.
International Travel
International travel involves additional steps that require more buffer time. Use the comparison below as a guide:
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Arriving at the airport (flight pick-up) | Schedule ride at least 30 minutes after landing to allow for immigration, customs, and baggage collection. |
| Departing from accommodation to the airport | Aim to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure, plus travel time and buffer for delays. |
Travelling to the Airport (Departures)
If your ride is picking you up from your accommodation to take you to the airport, follow these steps to calculate your ideal pick-up time:
- Check your flight's departure time.
- Calculate your travel time to the airport using any online geolocation service.
- Add a buffer time to account for unforeseen situations such as bad traffic, poor weather, or road conditions.
- Remember that airlines generally recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before departure.
- Select the pick-up time that best fits your needs and schedule based on the above.
Important Information
Before confirming your pick-up time, account for potential delays that may affect your journey. These can include:Always plan for extra time to make sure your ride is there exactly when you need it.
- Flight delays
- Security checks
- Passport control
- Baggage collection