How to Find Cheap Transport to and From Major Airports
When you’re planning a big trip, it’s easy to forget about transportation to and from the airport. It can really cost you if you’re not careful. Fortunately, all of the world’s busiest airports have options available. These are the modes of transportation that you should look for if you want to save money.
Transfer service
These types of bus routes are specially designed for transportation to and from the airport, so they are different from the usual public bus routes. These rides will usually cost between $ 10 and $ 20, and while not the fastest way to get around, they will take you straight to your terminal. Keep in mind that these trips are shared with other passengers, so give yourself plenty of time to get there.
For example, travel blog The Points Guy recommends the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) FlyAway service, which has pick -up points throughout the city (shuttles are also available at the arrivals level if you’re heading into the city); Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has a Super Shuttle that offers transfers from downtown hotels; and at Narita International Airport (NRT) outside Tokyo, Japan, there is a Tokyo Shuttle that departs multiple times every hour from Tokyo Station. Be sure to contact your hotel as well. Many large hotels offer a minibus transfer service to / from the airport at low cost or free of charge for hotel guests.
Public transport
If there is no shuttle, there is always public transport. Train and bus services in most major cities stop at the airport. These rides usually cost less than $ 10, often less than $ 5, and are ultimately guaranteed to get you to the airport. While this is the most accessible form of transport, public transport can be time-consuming – plan accordingly.
For example, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has the Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Red Line and Golden Line , which terminate at the airport; Portland International Airport (PDX) has a red MAX line ; Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) has an RTA red line ; Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London, England has the Piccadilly Line and N9 ; Miami International Airport (MIA) has a Metrorail Orange line; Dubai International Airport (DXB) has the red line of the Dubai Metro ; Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has a UTA TRAX train; Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has the Dallas Orange Rapid Transit Line (DART) ; Sea-Tac (SEA) in Seattle, Washington offers Sound Transit central connection ; Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) has a blue metro line ; O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois has the Chicago Blue Line Transit Authority ; San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a yellow BART line ; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Washington DC connects you with the yellow Metrorail line ; and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) can be reached by public bus .
As you can see, there are many public transport options available. Just do a Google search for “[airport] + [public transport]” and you will find what you need. If you are unsure which route or bus to take, feel free to ask someone. Choosing the wrong route can cost you both money and time.
Express trains
If you’re willing to pay a little more than metro or metro lines, some cities have express trains that run to and from their main airports. These options can cost anywhere from $ 4 to nearly $ 40, depending on where you are and how quickly you need to get to the airport.
At Narita International Airport (NRT), you can hop on the Keisei Main Line Limited Express for about $ 10 or hop on the faster JR Narita Express (but it costs almost three times as much); Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has a SEPTA airport line that leads right into the city center; London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has the Heathrow Express that takes you quickly to the airport for less than $ 20; Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona has a PHX high-speed train that will take you to Valley Metro Station, from where you can reach city centers in Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa; Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) has a constantly running Airport Express that costs less than $ 5; JFK New York can be reached by AirTrain , via the MTA subway or Long Island Railroad; and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has an Airport Express for about $ 13. Be aware that most express trains leave from metro or metro stations, so you may have to buy a ticket to get to the express.
Ride Shares (if you’re close)
Last but not least, you can always try to get to the airport with Lyft or Uber. This is best if you are already close enough to the airport (less than 30 minutes drive) and not rush hour. I’ve caught trips from Los Angeles a few times for $ 20 plus tip and managed a trip to JFK from Brooklyn for about $ 25 plus tip during non-spike periods, so it doesn’t hurt to open the app and see how much it might cost. they will pick you up. It’s all about timing.