Before You Book a Johannesburg Airport Shuttle: 7 Things to Check

Not all airport shuttles are the same. Some are professionally run, and some are a person with a car and a WhatsApp number. Whichever company you choose, these seven checks take five minutes and can save you a bad start to your trip.

1. Is the price fixed, and confirmed in writing?

A fixed price agreed before you travel means no surprises when traffic is bad. Ask what is included, and whether late-night trips carry a surcharge. At A2B, trips between 11pm and 6am carry one, and it is shown before you pay.

2. Does the driver hold a valid PDP?

In South Africa, drivers who carry paying passengers need a professional driving permit (PDP). Ask for confirmation. All A2B drivers hold a valid PDP.

3. Is the operator legitimate?

Ask if the company has a proper operating licence and insurance for passenger transport, and whether it has a track record you can check. Read the Google reviews, and look at how the operator replies to the bad ones as well as the good ones.

4. Do you know which vehicle will arrive?

You should be told the vehicle type before you book, and it should fit your group and luggage. A sedan seats three; a Mercedes V-Class seats up to seven; a 13-Seater Minibus (or similar) up to 13.

5. Are the vehicles inspected?

Ask how often, and by whom. Our vehicles are inspected at regular intervals, and we only use recent models with working air conditioning.

6. Will they track your flight?

A late flight should not mean a lost pickup. Ask whether the operator monitors your flight and whether the pickup time moves for free. We track your flight and adjust automatically, and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after you land (then R200 per hour).

7. Where exactly will you meet the driver?

A driver with a name board inside the arrivals hall is far easier than a phone call in a car park. Ask for the meeting point and the driver’s contact details before you land.

How A2B measures up

We have been running Johannesburg transfers since 2016, with more than 5,000 trips completed and 39 of our 40 Google reviews rated five stars. Have a look at our OR Tambo airport transfers page, or get a fixed quote in a minute.