--- title: "What to Tell Your Airport Transfer Driver Before You Land" description: "Not sure what information for airport transfer booking Jamaica operators need? Send these flight, passenger, luggage and address details before you land." url: "https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/" lang: "en" published: "2026-08-14" modified: "2026-08-14" author: "D-JARPS Transport Solutions" tags: ["airport-transfers","planning"] image: "https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/og/blog-what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver.jpg" --- Travel guide # What to Tell Your Airport Transfer Driver Before You Land By D-JARPS Transport Solutions ยท 14 August 2026 - [Airport transfers](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/airport-transfers/) - [Planning and costs](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/planning/) ![Wide view of a palm planted roundabout island on a coastal road in Jamaica with green hills and a faint plane in the sky](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/hero.jpg) You have booked the ride, or you are about to, and now there is a form with boxes you are not sure how to fill in. Which airport, which terminal, which flight number, how many bags? Sending the wrong detail can mean a driver at the wrong place, a vehicle that is too small, or a long wait after a flight that landed early. The information for airport transfer booking in Jamaica is not complicated, but it is specific, and it is easier to send all of it once than to fix gaps by phone from the arrivals hall. Practices differ from one operator to the next, so every point below is something to confirm with your own provider rather than assume. By the end you will have a short message you can copy, and a list of answers to ask for before you fly. ## Send These Details Before Your Flight Leaves So Your Driver Is Ready The details a driver needs are the same ones most booking forms ask for. Published operator forms in Jamaica ask for the airline, the flight number and the arrival time, along with names, a contact number, the pickup and drop-off points, and the numbers of adults and children. Those fields exist because they let the operator match the right airport, flight, vehicle and passengers. Be exact about the destination. Give the full name of the hotel, not just the resort area, and mention a second entrance or a specific tower if the property has one. A short note field on the form is the place for special timing, accessibility needs or oversized items. If you want to see the whole booking process from first message to confirmation, [how to book an airport shuttle in Jamaica](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/how-to-book-airport-shuttle-in-jamaica/) walks through it. For airport transfers with [D-JARPS Transport Solutions](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/services/airport-shuttle/), you send us the details of your trip, and we go over them, give you the price and confirm the trip before the day. ## Make the Pickup Easy to Find After Customs The most common arrival problem is not a late driver. It is two people looking for each other in different places. Public discussions describe travellers who left through the wrong exit, could not tell whether to look for a name sign or a hotel sign, or could not receive calls after landing. ![Row of nested airport luggage trolleys beside concrete pillars at an empty covered kerbside with bright daylight beyond](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/in1.jpg) At Sangster International Airport (MBJ), the airport lists transfer and tour operators in the Ground Transportation Arrivals Hall, and says customer-service representatives direct passengers to a hotel lounge or ground transportation company after Customs. Its [transfer and tour operator page](https://www.mbjairport.com/transfer-tour-operators) lists desk details. At Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston, arrange your transport before you leave the airport, and check the airport's current ground-transport details on [nmia.aero](https://nmia.aero/). So, before you fly, ask three things: where exactly the driver will meet you, what name or sign to look for, and whether the driver may enter the terminal or you should walk to a desk or the kerb. Save the answers and the operator's phone number where you can read them with no signal. The Jamaica Tourist Board advises checking with your mobile provider about an international roaming package, and you can ask the operator whether WhatsApp, calls, SMS or email is the best way to reach them. If your phone will not connect, the airport information desk, your hotel desk or an authorised transport desk can help. A fully charged phone matters more than usual on arrival day, because most of this plan runs through it. A small [power bank in your carry-on](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/go/power-bank/) is an easy safeguard after a long flight. ## Know What Happens If Your Flight Is Delayed or Changed Delays are normal, and a good booking says in advance how they are handled. Do not assume that your driver will see a change you have not told them about. One Jamaican operator specifically asks customers to notify it when the flight number changes. ![Small passenger aircraft descending low over green mangroves and a channel of calm water under soft grey cloud](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/in2.jpg) When something changes, send it to the booking channel as soon as you know. Include the booking name, the original date, the original flight number, the new flight number if there is one, the new arrival time and the booking reference. Then ask direct questions: does the operator track flights, will the driver adjust automatically, and how long will the driver wait after landing? Some operators publish their answers. One, Transfeero, publishes real-time flight tracking and a 60-minute free wait at the airport, with 15 minutes at other pickups. Another, MekAMove, publishes 15 minutes of airport waiting and 10 minutes elsewhere. Those are each operator's own terms, not a Jamaican rule, and another company may offer more or less. What matters is that your provider states its terms in writing before you pay. For more on this, [what happens to your transfer when a flight is delayed](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/flight-delayed-jamaica-airport-transfer/) covers the planning in depth, and [keeping track of your transfer on arrival day](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/track-airport-transfer-arrival-day/) looks at the contact side. ## Choose the Right Kind of Ride: Private, Shared or Airport Taxi Not every ride that starts at the airport is the same service. A transfer is usually pre-booked, with the destination and price arranged before you land. A taxi can be arranged after landing. A shared shuttle may wait for other passengers and make several hotel stops. Public discussions show travellers confusing these, such as assuming a hotel transfer is private when it is shared. At MBJ, the airport lists JUTA and JCAL as the two authorised airport taxi companies, with a shared authorised taxi desk just outside Customs. The Jamaica Tourist Board adds that licensed taxis display red PPV or white P plates, and that drivers display a Transport Authority Driver ID. It also notes that rental cars are available at international airports and town centres. What you are booking | Option | What to confirm | | --- | --- | | Pre-booked private transfer | Destination, meeting point, price, waiting terms and flight handling are arranged before you land | | Shared shuttle | Whether it waits for other passengers and how many hotel stops it makes | | Authorised airport taxi (MBJ) | Fare and vehicle before you leave the airport; use the authorised desk and avoid unsolicited rides | | Rental car | Age, licence, insurance, deposit and who navigates; Jamaica drives on the left | If you are wondering whether airport transfers are cheaper than taxis, there is no universal answer. The comparison depends on the airport, the destination, the passenger count, the vehicle, whether the service is private or shared, luggage, waiting time, extra stops and whether the taxi fare is quoted per vehicle or per person. Compare the complete total for the same route and the same people and bags. ## Fit Your Luggage, Children and Extra Stops Into the Booking Luggage is where bookings quietly go wrong. Groups bring more than the booked vehicle can carry, and nobody notices until the bags will not fit. MekAMove says in its own guidance that a standard sedan fits about two to three [suitcases](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/go/checked-suitcase/) and an SUV or van about four to six. Treat any such figure as one operator's guide. Tell your provider the number and size of your bags, plus [strollers](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/go/travel-stroller/), sports equipment or other large items, so the right vehicle is sent. If you are not sure how heavy your cases are, a [luggage scale](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/go/luggage-scale/) from home tells you before the airline does. For larger loads, [how much luggage fits in an airport shuttle](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/airport-shuttle-luggage-guide-jamaica/) has more detail. ![Row of plain suitcases and a child car seat standing against a tiled wall on a tiled floor, tags absent](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/in3.jpg) Children need their own line in the booking. Some operators offer child seats only on request. One asks for the number of seats needed, and another asks for the child's age. Availability, type, age or weight suitability, installation and any fee must be confirmed with the specific operator before you pay. Do not assume a seat is included. For extra stops, give the address or landmark of each stop, the order, and whether passengers will leave the vehicle. Ask for the revised total and any waiting or detour charge in writing before the day. ## Understand What the Price Should Cover Before You Pay A price is only useful when you know what is inside it. Ask for the total, the currency, and whether taxes, tolls, parking, waiting time and gratuity are included. Ask whether the quote is per vehicle or per passenger. Ask when payment is due, how you pay, and what the cancellation and refund terms are. An operator may confirm a booking only after it checks availability, the itinerary, vehicle requirements and applicable authorisation; one Jamaican provider says exactly that in its own terms. So, a form you submit may be a request until the operator confirms it. Keep the booking reference, the voucher or receipt, and a copy of the confirmation offline. It also helps to ask what licence the operator holds for paid passenger transport. The [Jamaica Information Service](https://jis.gov.jm/information/get-the-facts/get-the-facts-how-to-apply-for-a-public-passenger-vehicle-ppv-licence/) explains that a public passenger vehicle can be identified by a red plate and a special windscreen sticker, and that the licence gives legal authority to carry passengers under set conditions. Check your transfer details 1\. What should you do if your flight number changes after you have booked? Show the answer **Send the new flight number and arrival time to the operator straight away**. Operators cannot be assumed to detect a changed flight number, and at least one asks customers to notify it. 2\. Which of these is the most reliable way to compare a transfer with an airport taxi? Show the answer **Compare the full total for the same route, passengers and luggage**. The cost depends on the route, vehicle, passengers, luggage, waiting and stops, so only a like-for-like total tells you. 3\. What should you ask about a child seat before paying? Show the answer **Whether one is available, which type, whether it suits the child's age and size, and any fee**. Child seats are operator-specific and are often available on request only. ## Plan Realistic Drive Times From MBJ and KIN Your arrival time and your pickup time are different things. Landing, immigration, baggage claim and Customs all come before the drive. A published figure for the drive is an estimate, not a promise. ![High lookout view of a winding road through green valleys toward a distant sea, with one tiny plain vehicle](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/what-to-tell-airport-transfer-driver/in4.jpg) The Jamaica Tourist Board's Getting Here reference gives approximate distances from the airport at MBJ: about 5 miles to central Montego Bay, about 50 miles to Negril, about 64 miles to Ocho Rios, about 115 miles to Kingston and about 72 miles to Mandeville. Its [airports page](https://www.visitjamaica.com/plan-your-adventure/getting-here/airports-in-jamaica/) describes MBJ as convenient for Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, and KIN as serving Kingston. A tourism publication describes Ocho Rios as roughly 80 minutes east of MBJ and about 60 minutes from KIN. Traffic, weather, roadworks, daylight, luggage collection, queues and the exact hotel or villa all change the real time. A shared transfer can take longer because of other passengers and hotel drop-offs. Ask your operator for the expected range from your exact address, along with the route and any planned stops. Remember the paperwork too. The Jamaica Customs Agency says arriving passengers must complete the electronic C5 declaration, and the [Jamaica Tourist Board](https://www.visitjamaica.com/plan-your-adventure/travel-tips/entry-requirements/) says the online form is free, can be submitted up to 30 days before travel and must be completed for each traveller, children included. ## Copy a Simple Arrival-Day Message to Send Your Driver Use this message as a template. Send it a few days before you fly, then again with any update. > Hello, this is the arrival information for my airport transfer. Name: \[full name\]. Phone and WhatsApp: \[number\]. Airport: \[MBJ or KIN\]. Date: \[date\]. Airline and flight: \[airline and flight number\]. Local arrival time: \[time\]. Passengers: \[adults\], \[children with ages\], \[infants\]. Bags: \[number and size\], plus \[any large items\]. Destination: \[full hotel, villa or address, with parish\]. Extra stops: \[none or list\]. Please confirm the meeting point, how I will recognise the driver, the waiting time, what happens if my flight is delayed, the total price and currency, and the cancellation terms. Keep the reply. If anything on the day is different from what the reply says, you have it in writing. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I get from the airport to my hotel in Jamaica? You can use a pre-booked private transfer, a hotel shuttle, an authorised airport taxi, a shared shuttle or a rental car. At MBJ, transfer operators and taxis are in the Ground Transportation Arrivals Hall outside Customs, and the authorised taxi desk is just outside the Customs exit. At KIN, arrange your transport before leaving the airport. ### Are airport transfers cheaper than taxis? There is no universal answer. Compare a complete written quote with the airport taxi fare for the same route, passengers and luggage, and check whether each price is per vehicle or per person. ### How can I track my transfer to Jamaica? Give the operator the correct flight number and ask whether the driver tracks the flight, how delays are handled and where the driver will wait. Some operators publish flight tracking and others do not. Also check your airline's status page and save the driver's or dispatcher's number. ### Do airport transfers provide car seats? Some operators offer child seats on request, but not all do, and they usually need notice. Confirm the availability, the type, the age or weight range and any fee with the operator before you pay. ### Do I need to tell the driver if my flight changes? Yes. Send the booking name, the original flight, the new flight and the new arrival time as soon as you know, so the operator can adjust. ### What if my phone has no signal after landing? Save the operator's number, your confirmation and the meeting instructions where you can read them offline. Ask the airport information desk, your hotel desk or an authorised transport desk for help if you cannot connect. ## What This Means for You Airport pickups go smoothly when the driver knows the flight, the passengers, the bags and the destination, and you know the meeting point, the waiting terms and the total price. Send the checklist details early, update them if your plans change, and keep the written confirmation offline. A few minutes spent on the message above saves a longer search in the arrivals hall, and it gives you an answer to the question every tired traveller has after a flight: who is meeting me, and where. At [D-JARPS Transport Solutions](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/), we run our own vehicles and arrange airport transfers and other trips anywhere in Jamaica as each trip needs it, and we have been open since 2024. Send us your arrival details and destination, and we will go over them, give you the price and confirm the trip before the day. You can arrange it by phone between 6 AM and 10 PM every day, or send a trip request through [our contact page](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/contact/). Terms in this guide **MBJ:** Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. **KIN:** Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. **Transfer:** A pre-booked ride from the airport to your destination, with the details arranged before you land. **Authorised airport taxi:** At MBJ, a taxi from one of the two companies listed by the airport, JUTA and JCAL, which share a desk outside Customs. **PPV:** A public passenger vehicle, identified in Jamaica by a red plate and a special windscreen sticker. **C5:** The Immigration and Customs form every arriving traveller completes, online or on paper. **Flight monitoring:** When an operator watches the status of your flight to adjust the pickup time, offered by some operators and not others. Keep reading ## Related guides ![Wide view across an airport apron to a runway and green hills beyond, with one small distant aircraft under soft grey cloud](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/flight-delayed-jamaica-airport-transfer/hero.jpg) 12 October 2026 ### [Flight Delayed? What Happens to Your Jamaica Airport Transfer](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/flight-delayed-jamaica-airport-transfer/) Flight delayed airport transfer Jamaica: who to tell, what to send, and how operator terms on waiting, no-shows and rebooking differ. Check before you land. - [Airport transfers](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/airport-transfers/) - [Planning and costs](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/planning/) [Read Flight Delayed? What Happens to Your Jamaica Airport Transfer](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/flight-delayed-jamaica-airport-transfer/) ![Wide view of an empty airport kerb with a rack of luggage trolleys and palms under a pale sky](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/airport-shuttle-luggage-guide-jamaica/hero.jpg) 11 October 2026 ### [How Much Luggage Fits in an Airport Shuttle: A Planning Guide for Families and Groups](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/airport-shuttle-luggage-guide-jamaica/) Planning airport shuttle luggage Jamaica? Count your bags as well as your passengers, then match the count to a car, Hiace or Coaster before you book. - [Airport transfers](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/airport-transfers/) - [Family travel](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/family-travel/) - [Groups](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/groups/) [Read How Much Luggage Fits in an Airport Shuttle: A Planning Guide for Families and Groups](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/airport-shuttle-luggage-guide-jamaica/) ![Quiet pre dawn Kingston street with street lamps lit and a pale sky above low buildings](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/early-flight-norman-manley-airport/hero.jpg) 9 October 2026 ### [Catching an Early Flight Out of Kingston: Planning Your Ride to Norman Manley](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/early-flight-norman-manley-airport/) Early flight Norman Manley airport? Work back from your airline's check-in cutoff, add Palisadoes road time, and agree a pickup time with the driver. - [Airport transfers](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/airport-transfers/) - [Kingston](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/kingston/) - [Planning and costs](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/tag/planning/) [Read Catching an Early Flight Out of Kingston: Planning Your Ride to Norman Manley](https://djarpstransportsolutions.com/blog/early-flight-norman-manley-airport/)