Birmingham Airport has one passenger terminal, so dropping off and picking up is simpler than at the big London airports, but the charges and the car park layout still catch people out. When you book a transfer with Onward Travel Solutions (OTS Taxi), your driver drops you right outside the terminal for departures and meets you inside the arrivals hall when you land, with the airport fee already included in the fixed fare. This guide explains how both work, the options for friends and family doing it themselves, and what a taxi costs from towns across the West Midlands.
Quick answers
- How many terminals? One.
- Where is my driver? Inside the arrivals hall, with a name board.
- Drop-off charge? Included in our fare.
- Free drop-off? The Drop Off car park gives 10 free minutes, a short walk from the terminal.
- City centre fare? From £69 in a saloon.
Where do taxis drop off at Birmingham Airport?
At the drop-off area right outside the terminal, a few steps from the check-in desks. The airport charge for using it is included in our fare.
The terminal’s premium set-down area sits next to the entrance and is charged by time, starting from a few pounds for a short stop. Our driver stops there, unloads your bags at the kerb and leaves, so you walk straight in to check-in. You do not pay anything on the day: the fee is part of the fixed price you see in the booker.
Is there a free drop-off at Birmingham Airport?
Yes. The Drop Off car park gives the first 10 minutes free, with a covered walkway and a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
If a friend or relative is dropping you off, the free option saves money but adds a 5 to 10 minute walk, or a wait for the shuttle with your luggage. Staying longer than the free period is charged at normal rates. A pre-booked taxi avoids the walk entirely because the driver uses the terminal set-down area.
Where do pre-booked taxis pick up at Birmingham Airport?
Your driver parks in the short-stay car park next to the terminal and meets you inside the arrivals hall, with your name on a board.
After passport control, baggage reclaim and customs, you come out into the arrivals area. Look for your driver among the people waiting to greet passengers. The car is a minute or two’s walk away in the adjacent car park. You have one hour of free waiting after the flight lands, and the driver tracks your flight, so delays are not a problem.
Can family or friends pick me up for free?
Not really. Birmingham Airport has no free pick-up area; collecting someone means paying for short-stay parking.
The car parks next to the terminal are a short walk from arrivals but charged from the moment you enter, and the free 10 minutes in the Drop Off car park is rarely long enough to collect someone from a flight. That is why many people find a fixed-fare taxi works out at a similar cost, without anyone having to drive to the airport, park and wait.
How much is a taxi to or from Birmingham Airport?
From Solihull a saloon costs £53, from Coventry £62, from Birmingham city centre £69 and from Leicester £97.
| From | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater minivan | 16-seater minibus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solihull | £53 | £60 | £72 | £95 | £271 |
| Coventry | £62 | £70 | £83 | £110 | £286 |
| Birmingham city centre | £69 | £79 | £93 | £124 | £299 |
| Nuneaton | £71 | £80 | £95 | £126 | £307 |
| Warwick | £76 | £86 | £102 | £136 | £324 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | £79 | £90 | £106 | £141 | £329 |
| Wolverhampton | £87 | £99 | £116 | £155 | £331 |
| Worcester | £92 | £104 | £123 | £163 | £355 |
| Leicester | £97 | £110 | £129 | £172 | £361 |
Fares from the Onward Travel Solutions booking system, checked in October 2026 for a weekday journey. Prices are one way, per vehicle, and include the airport drop-off or parking charge. Your exact fixed price shows in the booker before you confirm.
How long does it take to reach Birmingham Airport?
About 10 to 15 minutes from Solihull, 20 minutes from Coventry, 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre and 45 to 55 minutes from Leicester or Worcester.
| From | Approximate distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Solihull | 4 miles | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Coventry | 11 miles | 20 minutes |
| Birmingham city centre | 8 miles | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Nuneaton | 16 miles | 25 minutes |
| Warwick | 18 miles | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 23 miles | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Wolverhampton | 23 miles | 35 to 45 minutes |
| Leicester | 40 miles | 45 to 55 minutes |
The airport sits beside the A45 and close to junction 6 of the M42, which makes it quick to reach from most of the region. The M42 and the M6 around Birmingham are busy at rush hour, so allow more time on weekday mornings and evenings.
How early should I get to Birmingham Airport?
Two hours before a European flight and three hours before long-haul is a sensible guide. Check your airline’s own cut-off times.
Birmingham is busiest in the early morning, when many holiday and short-haul flights leave, and at the start of school holidays. Security queues can build quickly at those times, so leaving a little earlier is worth it. For a 6am flight, a pickup between about 3:15am and 3:45am suits most of the West Midlands.
Can I get to the terminal from Birmingham International station?
Yes. The free Air-Rail Link shuttle connects Birmingham International station with the terminal in about two minutes.
The shuttle runs from early morning until after midnight, and outside those hours the walk takes around a quarter of an hour. Trains to Birmingham International run from Birmingham New Street, Coventry and London Euston. With heavy luggage, children or an early flight, a taxi from your door to the terminal is usually easier.
Which vehicle should I book?
A saloon for up to three people with three cases, an estate for four, a people carrier for six and an 8-seater minivan for larger families or groups.
From Birmingham city centre to the airport, an estate costs £79, a people carrier £93 and an 8-seater £124. For groups of up to 16, a 16-seater minibus from the city centre is £299.
What if my flight into Birmingham is delayed or diverted?
The driver tracks the flight and waits for the real landing time. If the flight is diverted, call us and we move the pickup.
Fog occasionally diverts Birmingham flights to East Midlands, Manchester or another airport. Call 07575 470883 and we will arrange the pickup where you land, agreeing any change in fare with you before the driver sets off.
Can you collect me from the NEC or a hotel near the airport?
Yes. The NEC, Resorts World and the hotels around the airport are all close by, and we collect from any of them.
Business travellers attending exhibitions at the NEC often fly into Birmingham and stay nearby. Give us the hotel or hall name and the entrance you will use, and the driver will meet you there. For journeys from the NEC to the terminal, the drive is only a few minutes, but traffic around big events can be heavy, so allow extra time.
Can I book the return journey at the same time?
Yes. Add the return to your booking with your inbound flight number, and both prices are fixed when you book.
On the way home, your driver tracks the inbound flight, waits in the arrivals hall with a name board and takes you back to your door. Booking both legs together means the trip home is sorted before you leave.
How do I book a Birmingham Airport transfer?
Enter your address and Birmingham Airport in the booking form at the top of this page, add your flight number and confirm the fixed price.
You pay the driver on the day, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. See also Birmingham airport taxi and Birmingham airport taxi prices. Current parking and drop-off charges are on the Birmingham Airport website.
Birmingham Airport pick-up and drop-off: common questions
Does Birmingham Airport have one terminal?
Yes, a single passenger terminal.
Where do taxis pick up at Birmingham Airport?
The driver meets you inside the arrivals hall and parks in the adjacent car park.
Is the Birmingham Airport drop-off charge included?
Yes, it is in our fixed fare.
Is there free drop-off at Birmingham Airport?
The Drop Off car park offers 10 free minutes, a short walk away.
How long is the taxi from Birmingham city centre to the airport?
Usually 20 to 30 minutes.
Does the Air-Rail Link run all night?
No. It runs from early morning to after midnight.