Considerations for pricing up an airport run
When it comes to private hire and bookings, airport runs are among the most common jobs. Getting them right is essential, since missing a plane can be expensive and will certainly leave angry customers. For many taxi firms, the airport run is bread and butter, with good money for pre-arranged work. Getting the pricing right is therefore essential and can make the difference between getting a job or not, and making a profit or loss. It is important to consider and adopt an appropriate pricing strategy for airport runs to ensure that opportunities are not wasted.

Competitors
Understanding what your competitors are charging is important. Whilst it is hoped that your loyal customers will not look elsewhere, airport runs are usually planned in advance, which gives customers ample opportunity to shop around for the best prices. Understanding what your competitors are charging is therefore important to ensure that your prices are competitive and, indeed, that you are not undercharging.
Time
It is worth calculating how long it would take you to drive to and from various airports so you can identify those you are willing to service. Different drivers have varying preferences, with some willing to dive hundreds of miles, and other staying more local. Once you know which airports you’re happy to drive to, you can approximate how long it will take to get there and calculate pricing based on your desired hourly rate.
Distance
In addition to how long a journey will take, it is important to calculate how far you will travel. Considerations for fuel and wear and tear should be factored into the price, with contingency for diversions and lower fuel efficiency due to traffic conditions. Failing to appropriately factor in fuel, or attributing a cost to the general depreciation of the car and its maintenance costs, will result in a lower profit and even loss.
Delays
Keeping on top of your customers’ flight status is important to avoid unnecessarily wasting time waiting for delays. Likewise, it is worth thinking about alternative options for bad traffic. In either case, you may find yourself out of pocket, wasting hours waiting that could otherwise be spent driving other customers. This possibility should be costed accordingly, with appropriate contingencies allowing for a balance between good and bad runs. In the worst case, if a flight is missed or your fail to pick up a customer from the airport, you’ll need to ensure you know where you stand with regards to customer refunds.
Entry and parking fees
Some airports charge a pickup and/or drop-off entry fee, and you’ll certainly have to pay for parking if there are travel delays that require you to wait for any extended period of time. Before quoting for an airport run you should make sure you’re aware of all charges so you don’t turn up only to have all your hard-earned profits taken away from you.
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