Ski-season airport runs from London: room for the skis, and a car at 4am
- ✓ TfL-licensed operator · licence 11588
- ✓ Fixed price, confirmed before you pay
- ✓ Flights tracked · 60 min free waiting
- ✓ Meet & greet in arrivals
- ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours
- Reviews on Trustpilot →
Skis do not fit in a saloon. Every December someone discovers this at 5am on the pavement. Ski-season airport transfers are about two things: the right vehicle for the bags, and a car that is definitely outside at 04:00 on a Saturday between Christmas and New Year when the first train to Gatwick has not left yet. Fixed fares, MPVs and V Class, and pickups timed to the 06:00 wave.
Which vehicle fits skis and boards
| Vehicle | Passengers | Ski/board bags + cases | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon (E-Class or similar) | up to 4 | 1 ski bag (folded rear seat) + 2 cases — tight | A solo skier or couple travelling light |
| MPV (V-Class or similar) | up to 6 | 3–4 ski bags + 4 cases | Families, groups of four with kit |
| V Class | up to 7 | 5–6 ski bags + cases | Two families, chalet groups |
| Minibus 9–16 with trailer | 9–16 | All of it | Club and school trips |
Tell us the number of ski bags when you book; we will not send a saloon for four people with skis.
Early departures 20–27 December
The Christmas ski exodus runs from the Saturday before Christmas to the Sunday after, with charter and scheduled departures to Geneva, Grenoble, Chambéry, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Turin concentrated between 06:00 and 08:00 at Gatwick, plus Heathrow's Geneva and Zurich flights and Luton's easyJet departures. On Saturday 26 December 2026 the railway is largely closed and on 27 December it is on a Sunday timetable with works — for a 06:30 flight, a 03:30–04:00 pickup from London is the plan that works every year.
Fares from London to each airport
| Central London ⇄ airport (ski season) | Saloon (1–4, 2 cases) | MPV (up to 6) | V Class (up to 7) | Road time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | from £110 | from £100 | from £145 | 40–75 min | Book this |
| Gatwick | from £123 | from £138 | from £183 | 60–90 min | Book this |
| Stansted | from £124 | from £139 | from £184 | 60–90 min | Book this |
| Luton | from £113 | from £128 | from £173 | 55–90 min | Book this |
| London City | from £85 | from £100 | from £145 | 20–45 min | Book this |
| Southend | fixed quote | fixed quote | fixed quote | 75–105 min | Book this |
From-prices as published on our airport pages. Your exact fare is fixed when you book — the price on the confirmation is the price you pay, whatever the traffic or the date. Postcode zone charges may apply for City, Bloomsbury and King's Cross addresses.
From other London postcodes and the Home Counties, quoted by postcode. Ski bags carry no extra charge.
Groups and families
Chalet groups split across two flights, families with grandparents in tow, children who need seats: we book multiple vehicles under one reference with staggered pickups. See booking multiple cars and family airport transfers.
Return during the works week
Coming home between 27 December and 4 January means landing into airports whose rail links may be under engineering possession — Gatwick's Thameslink route and Heathrow's Paddington link are regular casualties. Inbound transfers are flight-tracked with 60 minutes' free waiting, and the driver is in arrivals with the MPV sized for the bags. Check the works tracker.
- Quote and book online at any hour — the fare is fixed at the moment you confirm.
- Driver details (name, vehicle, registration, direct mobile) arrive the day before.
- Flight tracking on every airport pickup: if your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no charge, with 60 minutes' free waiting after landing.
- Pay by card when you book. No cash, no meter, no surge.
Frequently asked questions
- Do skis fit in a taxi?
- In a saloon, one ski bag at most with the rear seat folded. For two or more sets of skis book an MPV or V Class — there is no extra charge for the bags.
- What time should I leave London for a 6:30am ski flight from Gatwick?
- Pickup at about 03:45–04:00 from central London gives you check-in at 04:45–05:00, two hours before departure with a margin for the M23.
- Are there trains to Gatwick early on 26 or 27 December?
- On 26 December most operators run nothing; on 27 December a Sunday timetable with a late start. Neither works for a 06:30 departure.
Essentials for international visitors
Flying in from abroad? The six things that catch people out, in one place. Full detail, with official links, in our UK visitor essentials guide.
Entry
Most visitors from Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia need a UK ETA (£20, apply in the UK ETA app, valid two years) — airlines have enforced it since 25 February 2026. eGates from age 8 for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and most other visa-free passports. More ›
Money
Pounds sterling; cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, contactless taps up to £100. Choose to pay in pounds when a terminal offers your home currency. Prices include VAT and there is no tourist tax refund. More ›
Phone
Free Wi-Fi at all London airports; UK SIMs and eSIMs from £75 in every arrivals hall; EU roaming depends on your operator. WhatsApp +44 20 8888 9988 works from any country. More ›
Christmas & New Year
Bank holidays on 25 and 28 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. No public transport at all on Christmas Day, reduced service and engineering works on Boxing Day; shops shut on 25 December. Pre-booked cars run every day at the fixed fare. More ›
Children & luggage
Child seats on request when you book. In a licensed private hire car children may travel without one if none is available (under-3s on the rear seat). Tell us the bag count and the right size of car turns up. More ›
Emergencies
999 or 112 for police, fire or ambulance; NHS 111 for urgent advice; A&E is free at the point of use, but bring travel insurance. Plugs are Type G, 230 V; traffic drives on the left — look right. More ›
Book your fixed-fare car
Price confirmed at booking, driver details the day before, flight tracked where relevant. Pay by card online — nothing to settle in the car.
