Luton Airport has a single terminal, and with Esskay Cars your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board. They park in the short-stay car park, a short walk away, so you do not need to look for a pick-up bay or a rank. For departures, we drop you at the terminal drop-off zone, with the charge already in your fare. This page covers both, plus the Luton DART shuttle and the best time to arrive for the airport’s busy morning departures.
Quick answers
- How many terminals? One.
- Where is my driver? In the arrivals hall, with a name board.
- Drop-off charge? Included in our fare.
- What is the DART? A shuttle train between the terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station.
- Harpenden fare? £54 in a saloon.
Where do I meet my taxi at Luton Airport?
In the arrivals hall, after you have cleared passport control and collected your bags.
Your driver waits with your name on a board where passengers come out into the hall. If you cannot see them, stay inside and call or WhatsApp the number on your booking. Pre-booked drivers cannot wait on the roads outside the terminal, so please do not go out to the rank.
Where are departures drop-offs at Luton?
At the terminal drop-off zone, close to the entrance.
Luton charges vehicles for using the drop-off zone outside the terminal, and that charge is included in our fixed fare. There is also a free drop-off area further away, with a shuttle bus, but we take you right to the terminal so you do not need to wait for the bus.
What is the Luton DART?
The DART is a short shuttle train between the terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station. It takes a few minutes.
If you arrive by train, you take the DART from Luton Airport Parkway to the terminal. It is quick, but you still need to get to the station first, often via central London. A taxi takes you directly from your door to the terminal entrance.
How early should I get to Luton for my flight?
Two hours before a European flight, or longer at peak times.
Luton handles a lot of early low-cost departures, and security can be very busy from 4:30am to 7am. Arriving two and a half hours early gives you a comfortable margin during school holidays.
How long does Luton arrivals take?
Usually 20 to 40 minutes on a European flight, but longer when several flights land together.
The driver tracks your flight and is waiting when you come through. If the passport queue is long, send a message so the driver knows you are on your way.
How much is a taxi to Luton Airport?
From Harpenden £54, from St Albans £62, from Watford £68 and from central London £103 in a saloon.
| Luton | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpenden | £54 | £61 | £73 | £97 | £273 |
| Hemel Hempstead | £59 | £67 | £80 | £106 | £287 |
| St Albans | £62 | £70 | £83 | £110 | £288 |
| Stevenage | £68 | £77 | £91 | £122 | £297 |
| Watford | £68 | £77 | £91 | £121 | £305 |
| Milton Keynes | £79 | £89 | £105 | £140 | £328 |
| Bedford | £84 | £95 | £112 | £149 | £336 |
| Aylesbury | £88 | £100 | £117 | £156 | £342 |
| Cambridge | £102 | £115 | £136 | £181 | £363 |
| Kings Cross | £96 | £109 | £128 | £170 | £347 |
| Central London (Victoria) | £103 | £116 | £137 | £182 | £353 |
Prices from our booking system, checked in October 2026, one way per vehicle.
Can I be collected from a hotel near Luton Airport?
Yes. We collect from hotels at the airport and in Luton, Dunstable and Harpenden.
Give us the hotel name, and the driver will meet you in reception at the agreed time.
What if my Luton flight is diverted?
Call 0207 8400 344, and we will move the pick-up to the airport you land at.
In fog or high winds, Luton flights sometimes divert to Stansted or another airport. We will rearrange the pick-up and agree any change in fare with you first.
Which airlines fly from Luton?
Luton is a major base for easyJet and Wizz Air, and other airlines such as TUI and Ryanair also fly from there.
All flights use the single terminal, so there is no risk of being dropped at the wrong building. Bag drop times vary by airline, so check yours before you travel.
How long is the drive home from Luton?
From Harpenden about 15 minutes, from St Albans and Hemel Hempstead 20 to 30, from Watford 30 to 40, from Milton Keynes 35 to 45, and from central London about an hour to an hour and a quarter.
Most journeys leave the airport on the M1 or the A1081. The fare is fixed, so traffic on the M1 does not change the price.
Can a friend pick me up at Luton instead?
Yes, but they will need to pay to use the pick-up area or the short-stay car park.
A pre-booked taxi includes all of that in the fixed fare, and the driver comes into the arrivals hall to meet you.
Do you collect from Luton late at night?
Yes. We run 24 hours a day, at the same fixed fares.
Luton has many late evening arrivals from Europe, and delays can push them past midnight. The driver tracks the flight and waits.
Why can pre-booked cars not wait outside Luton terminal?
The roads in front of the terminal are kept moving for buses, coaches and drop-offs, so pre-booked cars must park in a car park.
That is why the driver comes into the hall to meet you and walks you to the car, rather than waiting at the kerb. It also means you are not standing outside with your bags while the driver searches for a space.
What if I cannot find my driver at Luton?
Stay in the arrivals hall and call the driver or our office on 0207 8400 344.
If your phone has no data, connect to the airport Wi-Fi and send a WhatsApp message to 020 3355 8186. Do not leave the terminal to look for the car, as the driver will be inside looking for you.
Can I get assistance at Luton?
Yes. Book free special assistance through your airline, and tell us so the driver meets you at the right point.
Mention any wheelchair, walking aid or mobility needs when you book, so we send a suitable vehicle and plan the meeting point.
Is a taxi better than the train from Luton for a family?
Usually, yes. The train involves the DART, a change, and carrying bags through stations, while the taxi goes door to door at one fixed price for the car.
From Luton to central London, an estate costs £116 for up to four people with four cases. For families, that often compares well with separate rail and DART tickets.
Do you pick up from Luton for onward journeys to other airports?
Yes. We run from Luton to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted for connecting flights.
Allow plenty of time for the drive, which can be well over an hour. Enter both airports in the booker for a fixed price.
How busy is Luton in the early morning?
Very busy between about 4:30am and 7am, when the first wave of low-cost flights leaves.
If you are flying in that window, leave home in good time. We plan night pick-ups so you reach the terminal with at least two hours to spare.
How do I book a Luton Airport pick-up?
Enter Luton Airport as the pick-up in the booking form at the top of this page, add your flight number and confirm.
Or call 0207 8400 344. See also Luton airport taxi and Luton taxi prices.
Luton Airport pick-up and drop-off: common questions
Where do pre-booked taxis pick up at Luton Airport?
In the arrivals hall.
How many terminals does Luton Airport have?
One.
Is the Luton drop-off charge included?
Yes.
What is the Luton DART?
A shuttle train to Luton Airport Parkway station.
How much is a taxi from St Albans to Luton Airport?
From £62 in a saloon.
What if my flight is diverted?
Call us, and we move the pick-up.
