Whether you are planning a holiday or are a seasoned FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) worker, choosing the best airport shuttle service is an important part of the equation.
Choosing the best airport shuttle service involves prioritizing reliability, checking online reviews, and considering factors like cost, safety, and convenient booking options. Evaluate the service’s reputation, registration status, and customer feedback to ensure a seamless and stress-free travel experience.
In this article, we will give you 10 tips for choosing a reliable airport shuttle that best fits your needs.
What is an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttles are a convenient way to travel between your home and the airport. They safely take you to and from the airport. You can book airport shuttles in advance. This gives you more security compared to taxis and rideshare services.
10 tips for choosing the best airport shuttle service.
1. Reliability

Reliability is paramount and possibly the most important factor when choosing an airport shuttle service. There are several ways to check an airport shuttle service’s reputation and reliability record.
Not all airport shuttle services have a great record for reliability. Finding a reputable service is crucial to avoiding missing flights.
- Reviews: Checking Google reviews is a simple yet reliable way to check a business’s reputation.
- Friends: Ask your friends and family if they have used an airport shuttle. Was the shuttle reliable and professional?
- Professionalism: Look at the quality of the business’s website. Is it professional, or is it a backyard operation?
- Contact: Was contacting the business simple, and did they answer your call or text? Or can you book your airport shuttle online, and was it processional?
2. What will an airport shuttle cost?

What are you prepared to pay to get to the airport? I’m a firm believer in the saying, “You get what you pay for.” The cheapest option is not the best option when choosing an airport shuttle.
Adding to the cost factor is the style of service you need. Some offer basic services with fewer options, and some offer more luxury services.
Airport shuttles come in a variety of forms, which can affect the cost. Many airport shuttle services will display pricing on the website. You may need to contact smaller businesses that don’t have websites to confirm the cost.
3. What style of service suits you best?

Choosing the style of airport shuttle that suits you best is a large part of the process. Airport shuttles come in a variety of vehicle choices or styles.
- Solo Rides: This option is the most expensive. But if you like to travel alone and are okay with paying more, then this is the best option for you. Solo rides have a more personal touch, and friendly conversation can be a nice touch to the ride. You will generally be travelling in a sedan or car of some sort as a solo ride.
- Shared Rides: Shared rides are the mid-range cost option. A shared ride will involve picking up more than one passenger. Shared rides have a cost advantage and can provide good networking opportunities. Shared rides can sometimes take longer to get you to the airport or home.
- Dedicated Shuttles: The most cost-effective option is the dedicated shuttle service. They pick up many passengers along a specific route, and you will arrive at the destination at fixed times. This is the option most favoured by FIFO workers who travel often due to the cost factor. Dedicated shuttles offer a great opportunity for networking.
4. Is the airport shuttle registered?

The airport shuttle industry is rife with illegal operators. Few people think to check this when choosing an airport shuttle service. The complications that may arise from using an unregistered service are quite scary. If you get injured in an accident, insurance won’t cover you as a passenger.
When you choose an airport shuttle, you can ask the business for registration details. In Western Australia, the following requirements are compulsory:
- ODBS: passenger transport operators must have a current ODBS. (On Demand Booking Service) number.
- PTV: Vehicles that transport passengers for hire must have a PTV. (Passenger Transport Vehicle) certificate.
- PTD: Drivers must have a PTD. (Passenger Transport Driver) issued by the Department of Transport.
5. Availability of the airport shuttle service

There is no point in even considering a service that will not be available when you need it. There are several points that revolve around availability. Below are the key points to consider:
- Hours of Service: Does the business operate at times that suit you?
- Shutdown Periods: Will the business shut down at certain times of the year? Christmas holidays, for example.
- Fixed Schedules: Does the service run on a fixed schedule? If so, does that suit your schedule?
- Location: Most services have a coverage area. Choose a service that covers your pickup location.
6. Ease of booking an airport shuttle

Is it easy to book the airport shuttle service? Several services offer online booking, which makes the process simple. Booking airport shuttles by phone or text is unreliable and outdated. Opt for a service with a reliable online booking system. One that will allow payment as you book.
7. Age of the airport shuttle business.

The age of a business often shows how professional and reliable it is. Sure, there are many new businesses that are run like Swiss watches. However, there are several things that can make an established business more desirable. Here are a few examples of that:
- Know their stuff: Running an airport shuttle can be confusing at times. Flight delays often cause last-minute changes to planned runs, for example. Experienced business owners, with years under their belts, will handle situations with ease. There are many other factors that can and do cause operational mayhem.
- Where am I: Have you ever been in an airport shuttle and heard the driver say? “Where are we?”. Drivers with more experience will have no problem navigating to the destination.
- Vehicle Knowledge: Drivers have more knowledge of their vehicles the longer they have been driving them. This is important for a quicker flat tyre change, for example.
- Traffic disruptions: How often are our main roads at a standstill due to an incident? More experienced drivers will know detours around such incidents.
8. Safety reputation

We all want to get to our destination in a safe and timely manner. I have watched airport shuttle drivers drive in a reckless and dangerous manner.
Google reviews are once again a great place to sift through the bad drivers. You don’t want to get tangled up in any high-speed pursuit with another motorist due to your driver’s. Trust me, it happens
Friends, family, and work colleagues can be a source of knowledge. No doubt, any bad experiences will be etched in their minds.
Be mindful of drivers who breach fatigue management. There is nothing worse than stepping off a plane and into a vehicle with a tired driver.
9. Airport shuttle cancelation policy

If you fly on a regular basis, you will be aware of the regular flight changes and cancellations. That’s one reason you may need to cancel your shuttle. Be sure the service you choose has a fair and legal refund policy. We have listed a few other reasons you may need to cancel a booking. How will the business deal with this?
- Illness: A sudden illness can occur at any time. What is the business’s refund policy?
- Flight changes: FIFO workers are always having last-minute flight changes. Will the shuttle business you choose be fair and reschedule or refund you?
10. Customer service

How easy is the airport shuttle business to deal with? Many businesses lack communication skills, particularly in small businesses such as airport shuttles.
Are they able to be contacted easily? or is it nothing short of a nightmare? Its so important that you can make easy contact. You may wish to cancel or reschedule, for example.
You need a service that makes your life simple and stress-free. Not being able to make contact will ruin that idea.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing an airport shuttle service needs some homework. As you can see, there are so many factors to consider. Get it wrong, and you could be in for a whole lot of pain.
Take your time and ponder over our 10 tips on how to choose the best airport shuttle.