HeathrowThe booking
A passenger in Wendover booked a 03:45 pickup to Luton Airport two weeks before her flight. She was not sure how to pay. At the time, online payment at the point of booking was not yet offered, so a payment link was sent and the payment went through, leaving her to concentrate on the flight and her documents rather than settling up on the day.
The fare is paid online when the booking is confirmed, by card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. No card or booking fees, and nothing to pay the driver on the day.
The A41 was closed, so the route changed
The usual Wendover to Luton run uses the A41 towards Tring and then the A4251 and A5. Roadworks on the A41 that night ruled it out, so the driver took the B-road route north east through the Chilterns instead, combining Waze with his own knowledge of the roads. The passenger left the routing to him.
| Leg | Distance |
|---|---|
| Tring Road / Tring Hill (B4009) | 3.4 mi |
| Icknield Way / Upper Icknield Way (B488) | 4.3 mi |
| B489 and Icknield Way (B489) | 3.4 mi |
| Dagnall Road (B4506) and B4540 | 4.2 mi |
| A5183, then Luton Road (B4540) | 3.1 mi |
| Newlands Road, London Road (A1081) | 1.3 mi |
| New Airport Way (A1081) to the terminal | 1.8 mi |
21.9 miles door to terminal. The diversion added a few minutes compared with the planned route, and the passenger was at Luton about three hours before her flight.
What was included
- The longer route cost nothing extra. Every route has a fixed price agreed before travel. There is no meter, no surge pricing and no night surcharge.
- The driver is confirmed the day before and the car arrives 10 minutes before the agreed pickup time.
- ULEZ, tolls, parking and airport drop-off charges are included in the fare.
- Every journey is driven by a private hire driver licensed by Buckinghamshire Council, DBS-checked, with a council medical and an annual vehicle inspection.
- Flights leaving the airport are not tracked. If your departure time changes, tell us and the pickup time is moved.
The passenger left a five-star Google review afterwards.
Why it matters if you are booking an early departure
Overnight roadworks on the A41 and M25 are common and are not always on the sat nav until you reach them. A driver who knows the B-road alternatives can keep the delay to minutes. Book early enough that a diversion still leaves you at the terminal with time in hand, and pay online when the booking is confirmed so there is nothing to sort out at 03:45.