Minibus Airport Transfers: 8, 12 & 16 Seater

When five or more people travel together, the maths changes. Two saloons cost nearly double one larger vehicle, and you end up with half the group waiting for the other half at the terminal. A minibus keeps everyone together.

How many people and how much luggage?

This is the question that matters most. Seats are easy to count; luggage is where groups get caught out.

Vehicle	Passengers	Large suitcases (approx.)
MPV (VW Sharan or similar)	Up to 5–6	4–5
Executive minivan (Mercedes V-Class or similar)	Up to 7	6
8 seater minibus (Mercedes Vito or similar)	Up to 8	6–8
12 seater minibus (Mercedes Sprinter)	Up to 12	10–12
16 seater minibus (Mercedes Sprinter)	Up to 16	12–16

If your group has skis, golf clubs, a wheelchair or a large pushchair, mention it. Sometimes the right answer is a minibus for people and a second car for kit.

Who uses our minibuses

• Families travelling with grandparents and children
• Groups of friends going on holiday or to a wedding abroad
• Sports teams and clubs heading to tournaments
• Business teams flying out to conferences
• Cruise passengers heading to Southampton or Dover

Child seats in a minibus

We can fit child seats and boosters. Tell us the age or weight of each child and we will bring the right seats.

Airports and ports covered

All six London airports, plus cruise terminals at Southampton, Dover, Tilbury, Portsmouth and Harwich. See the airports page for journey times.

Planning a group transfer

1. Count people and cases separately. Eight people can mean sixteen bags on a long holiday.
2. Mention bulky kit such as golf bags, skis, instruments or sports equipment.
3. List every pickup address if you are collecting from more than one place.
4. Name a lead passenger with a UK mobile for the driver to contact on the day.
5. Book early for peak dates. School holidays and bank holiday weekends fill up first.

One minibus or two cars?

One minibus is usually cheaper and keeps the group together. Two cars can make sense if half the group is coming from a different address or flying at a different time. Tell us the plan and we will suggest whichever works out better.

Minibus transfers to each London airport

Airport	What groups should know
Heathrow	Long-haul groups bring the most luggage. Count cases carefully and allow for the M25.
Gatwick	Busy with holiday groups at weekends. Check whether you fly from North or South Terminal.
Stansted	Popular for stag, hen and city-break groups. Early flights mean early pickups.
Luton	Very busy in school holidays; allow extra time at the terminal.
London City	Ideal for business teams. Short walk from drop-off to check-in.
Southend	Small and quick to get through, good for Essex-based groups.

Choosing between 8, 12 and 16 seats

The 8 seater suits extended families, stag and hen groups and small teams. The 12 seater is the popular choice for wedding parties and sports teams, with room for a case each. The 16 seater is built for clubs, school and university trips and corporate events. If luggage is heavy, size up: a group of ten with large cases is more comfortable in a 16 seater than squeezed into a 12. For premium group travel, our executive minivan carries up to seven in executive comfort.

Group trips we plan for

Most of our minibus bookings fall into a few familiar patterns, and each has its own quirks.

Weddings abroad

Wedding parties travel with suit carriers, dresses and gifts as well as normal luggage. Tell us about anything that needs to lie flat, and if guests are coming from different addresses, list each pickup so we can plan the route.

Sports teams and clubs

Kit bags and equipment take up far more room than suitcases. Give us a rough count of bags and any long items such as hockey sticks or golf bags, and we will confirm whether one minibus is enough or a second car is needed for kit.

Family holidays

Grandparents, parents and children in one vehicle is easier for everyone than a convoy of cars. Request child seats and boosters when you book, with each child’s age or weight.

Corporate teams

Teams flying to conferences or events often travel together from the office. We can collect from your workplace and send the invoice to your company.

Minibus or coach?

Our minibuses carry 8, 12 or 16 passengers with luggage. For groups larger than 16 we combine vehicles, for example a 16 seater and an 8 seater travelling together, so everyone leaves at the same time. For very large groups, a coach operator may be the better option, and we will tell you if so.

How a minibus booking works

1. Tell us the group size and luggage. Count people, large cases, hand luggage and any bulky items separately.
2. List every pickup address. If the group is meeting at one place, give us that address instead.
3. Add flight numbers. For airport collections we track the flight and meet you in arrivals.
4. Get a fixed group fare. One price for the vehicle, not per person.
5. Name a lead passenger with a UK mobile number for the driver to contact on the day.

Return trips for groups

Groups usually fly out together and back together, so it makes sense to book both legs at once. If the return is staggered, for example some of the group staying a few extra days, tell us and we will quote separate return journeys in the right size of vehicle for each.

Splitting the cost

Because the fare is for the vehicle rather than per seat, the cost per person drops as the group gets bigger. A full 8-seater often works out cheaper per head than the train for the same journey, especially once you add the cost of getting to and from the station with luggage. We send one price; how the group shares it is up to you.

Accessibility for groups

If someone in the group uses a folding wheelchair or walking aids, mention it when you book so we can plan space for it. If a passenger needs to travel seated in their wheelchair, contact us before booking to check availability of a suitable vehicle.

Cruise groups

Family cruise holidays are a natural fit for a minibus: plenty of luggage, several generations and a fixed boarding window. See our cruise port transfers page for terminal details at Southampton, Dover and Tilbury, then send us your boarding slot with your quote request.

Minibus pickups across London and the home counties

We collect groups from anywhere in London and the surrounding counties: homes, offices, hotels, sports clubs and churches. If your group is meeting at one address, give us that. If not, list each pickup in order and we will plan the route and price the stops into the fixed fare. Remember to allow extra time for multiple pickups when choosing your departure time.

Booking your minibus

Send us the group size, the luggage, every pickup address and your flight details. We reply with one fixed price for the vehicle and confirm in writing. On the day, the driver contacts the lead passenger, collects everyone in the planned order and gets the group to the terminal together.

For larger groups, ask about combining a minibus with a second car so everyone travels together and the luggage still fits.

Every minibus fare is fixed when you book, whatever the traffic on the day.

Questions

Do you charge per person?

No. The fare is for the vehicle, whichever number of seats you fill.

Can the minibus collect from more than one address?

Yes. Give us each pickup when you ask for a quote and we will include the extra stops.

Do I need to book far ahead?

For summer weekends and school holidays, yes. Minibuses get booked up first.