Plan your airport car pickup
A practical checklist for airport rides: what to send when you book, how to choose a pickup time that fits your arrival, and what to do if your flight changes.
Updated October 30, 2026
What to send with your quote request
An airport pickup depends on a handful of details. Send them all in your first message and we can match the vehicle, the meeting point and the timing to your actual flight, with nothing left to chase later.
Use the checklist below. The examples show the level of detail that helps; swap in your own. If you're not sure which vehicle your group needs, compare the vehicle classes first.
| Detail | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Airline and flight number | Tells your chauffeur which terminal to head for | UA 1234 (example) |
| Landing date | Overnight and long-haul flights often land the day after they leave | The date you arrive, not the date you take off |
| Pickup time | Free waiting time starts here, not at landing | Chosen with your bags and customs in mind |
| Passengers | Sets the vehicle class | 2 adults and 1 child, age 4 (example) |
| Bags | Seats and bags are separate limits; see the vehicle and luggage guide | 2 large suitcases, 2 carry-ons, 1 stroller (example) |
| Requests | Confirmed with the price in your quote | Meet & greet, a child seat, luggage assistance |
| Destination | Hotels and offices often have more than one entrance | Full address and the entrance you'll use |
| Contact on the day | Your chauffeur needs one number that will answer | The lead traveler's mobile |
Timing
Choose a pickup time, not just a landing time
Free waiting time starts at the scheduled pickup time you choose. It's an easy detail to miss. Your landing time says when the plane arrives; your pickup time says when you'll be ready at the meeting point, and that's the one we plan around.
Airport pickups include 45 minutes of free waiting time. If you set the pickup for the minute your flight lands, part of that time goes on taxiing to the gate, the walk through the terminal and the wait at the carousel. Set it for when you expect to be ready, and the free waiting becomes a cushion for a slow jet bridge or a late bag.
Not sure what to choose? Tell us your flight and whether you're checking bags, and we'll talk it through with you before you confirm.
Airport transfersHow bags and customs change your timing
Use this as a planning aid. It describes what happens after landing rather than how long it takes, because that varies with the airport, the terminal, the time of day and how full the flight was.
| Your arrival | What happens after you land | Where to set your pickup time |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic, carry-on only | Off the plane and straight to the meeting point | Closest to your scheduled landing |
| Domestic with checked bags | A wait at the carousel, then the walk out | Later, to allow for baggage claim |
| International arrival | Passport control, baggage claim, then customs | Later again; your airline can tell you what to expect |
| Gate-checked stroller or car seat | A short wait at the aircraft door | A little later than carry-on only |
| Family or group | More bags and more people to gather | Add extra on top of the rows above |
If you're still inside when the free time runs out
Additional waiting time and extra hours are charged per minute at the hourly rate for your vehicle class. If you can see you'll be late, call us at (415) 881-6199 so we know where you are.
Curb pickup or meet & greet inside
We confirm where to meet before your trip. At every airport there are two ways to do it, and you choose in the quote form.
At the curb
Your chauffeur waits outside at the pickup area for prearranged cars. It suits travelers who know the airport, have their bags in hand and want to leave quickly. Keep your phone on after landing so you can confirm where you are.
Inside arrivals with meet & greet
Your chauffeur meets you inside the terminal, so you aren't searching for a car at a busy curb. It's a good choice on a first visit to the Bay Area, for a family with a lot to carry, or for a guest you've booked the ride for. Meet & greet is an extra charge, shown in your quote.
Help with bags
Ask for luggage assistance in the quote form if you'd like a hand with suitcases. Like every request, it's confirmed with the price in your quote.
Flight number in hand?
Send it with your destination and your bag count, and we'll reply with a vehicle and a price.
SFO, OAK and SJC
Notes for each Bay Area airport
San Francisco International has several terminals, and your airline decides which one you use. Send the airline with your flight number and your chauffeur heads to the right one. Our SFO airport car service page covers rides to the city and the Peninsula.
Oakland has two terminals, and again your airline tells us which. It sits in the East Bay, with the Bay Bridge linking it to San Francisco. See Oakland Airport car service.
At San José, prearranged cars use different pickup areas from app rideshare, so don't follow the rideshare signs. We confirm exactly where to meet before your trip. See San Jose Airport car service.
Heading to the airport instead
Departures are simpler, because you choose the pickup time from home. A few things still help.
- Work back from your flight: the drive, check-in, bag drop and security. Your airline's guidance on when to arrive is the place to start.
- Be ready at the door with bags packed. Pickups away from the airport include 15 minutes of free waiting time.
- Tell us your airline and whether the flight is domestic or international, so your chauffeur heads for the right terminal.
- Flying out and back? Ask for a round trip in one request, and add the return flight when you have it.
- Leaving very early? Put your bags by the door the night before, and make sure the number on the booking is the phone you'll carry.
When your flight is delayed, early or rebooked
If your flight is delayed, cancelled or rebooked, call us at (415) 881-6199 or email info@sf.limo with the new flight number and landing time. We're available 24/7. The sooner we hear, the easier it is to move your pickup.
Landing early doesn't move your pickup on its own. It stays at the time you chose unless you change it, so call if you'd like to leave sooner and we'll tell you what's possible.
Plans change before the day? Free cancellation at least 24 hours before scheduled pickup. Later cancellations and no-shows are charged the full reservation price. The cancellation and waiting policy has the full wording.
Booking a pickup for a guest or colleague
You can book an airport ride for someone else. Add the passenger's name and mobile number to the request along with your own, so we can confirm the details with you and your chauffeur can reach the traveler on the day.
Then pass on the meeting instructions we confirm, including whether to look for the chauffeur inside or at the curb. For regular business travel, our corporate car service page explains how we look after trips you arrange for others.
Common questions.
Which date goes on an airport pickup request?
The date your flight lands. Overnight and international flights often land the day after they take off, so check your arrival date, not your departure date.
Should my pickup time match my landing time?
Usually not. Free waiting time starts at the scheduled pickup time you choose. Choose the time you expect to be at the meeting point, after taxiing, baggage claim and, on a flight from abroad, customs.
How long will my chauffeur wait at the airport?
Airport pickups include 45 minutes of free waiting time, starting at the pickup time you chose. Additional waiting time and extra hours are charged per minute at the hourly rate for your vehicle class.
Where do I meet my chauffeur?
We confirm the meeting point with you before your trip: at the curb, or inside arrivals with meet & greet. At SJC, prearranged cars use different pickup areas from app rideshare.
Is meet & greet worth adding?
It helps on a first visit, with young children or a lot of luggage, and when you're booking for a guest. Meet & greet is an extra charge, shown in your quote.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
Send the new flight number as soon as you know: call us at (415) 881-6199 or email info@sf.limo. We're available 24/7.
Can I book the ride back to the airport at the same time?
Yes. Ask for a round trip and add the return date and flight. We quote both rides together.
Can I book an airport pickup for someone else?
Yes. Add the passenger's name and mobile number to your request. We confirm the details with you, and your chauffeur contacts the passenger on the day.
Ready to plan your airport ride?
Send your flight number, your destination and your bag count. We'll reply with a vehicle and a price.
info@sf.limo