How far in advance should you book a taxi to the airport?

A taxi to the airport can be booked days or weeks in advance, or for the same day. The best thing is to do it as soon as you know your flight time, and at the latest the day before if you are leaving in the early hours or need a 7-seater vehicle or a child seat. For the same day, booking a few hours ahead is enough; if there are less than 2 hours to go, it is best to phone 911 76 00 81.

Watch out for a common mix-up: how far in advance you make the booking is one thing, and what time the taxi picks you up is another. Here we are talking about the first; for the second, see our guide to the best time to order your airport taxi.

There is no single rule, but there are situations in which waiting until the last minute is a bad idea. This table sums up our recommendations:

Booking weeks ahead has no drawbacks at all: booking is free and the fixed fare for your area does not go up because you book early. It also takes one task off your list and lets you add whatever you need without rushing, such as a large vehicle or a child seat. We go through the other benefits in the advantages of booking a taxi in advance.

The precaution is simple: flights change. Airlines alter schedules fairly often, so a few days before you travel check your flight booking and, if the time has changed, let us know by phone or WhatsApp so we can adjust the pickup.

You can, and it is the norm when a trip comes up suddenly. Bear two things in mind:

• With several hours to spare, the online booking form works perfectly and shows you the price instantly.
• With less than 2 hours, call: it is quicker than waiting for a written booking to be processed. If you are really short of time, follow our tips for an urgent taxi to the airport.

A standard taxi for two people with a suitcase each is the simplest thing to arrange. A taxi with up to 7 seats or a child seat, on the other hand, is confirmed subject to availability, and the earlier you ask, the easier it is to fit it in at exactly the time you want. The same goes for early-morning departures on busy dates, when lots of people fly at once.

Many travellers book the outbound journey and forget about the return until they land. If you also book your pickup at Barajas with your flight number, you will not have to queue at the taxi rank when you arrive: the terminal is checked and the meeting point confirmed. And if your return flight is delayed, just let us know.

Time your pickup so you are at the terminal around 2 hours before European flights and 3 hours before international ones, and add some margin if you have to check in luggage or are travelling at busy times. We explain it in more detail in when to get to the airport.