The airport arrivals hall is where most transport-related scams happen. You are tired, possibly jet-lagged, carrying luggage, and less alert than you would be at home. Scammers know this and position themselves accordingly. Here is what to look for.

The Approach at Arrivals

The most common scam starts with someone approaching you directly. They may hold a sign, offer a taxi, or ask where you are going. In many cases they look professional. They are not licensed.

Unlicensed drivers who approach tourists in arrivals halls will either quote a suspiciously low price to hook you in, then add fees for luggage or tolls at the end, or quote no price at all and name one when you arrive that bears no relation to any normal fare.

The rule: if someone approaches you unsolicited offering a taxi or transfer, decline. Every time.

Pre-Booking Online Scams

Search results for "airport transfer" in major cities often surface unofficial websites that look like licensed transfer services but are not. They take payment online and either do not show up, send an unlicensed driver, or exist primarily to collect card details.

How to tell: no company registration information, no physical address, no reviews on third-party platforms, prices that seem too good to be real. Book transfers through your hotel, a rideshare app, or a well-reviewed transfer service with a clear brand identity and verifiable reviews.

Inflated Meters and Extras

Some nominally licensed taxis overcharge in subtler ways: running the night-rate meter during the day, starting the meter before you get in, charging "airport fees" that do not exist, or taking a significantly longer route than necessary.

Before you get in, confirm whether a fixed fare applies (Rome, Barcelona, and some other cities have fixed airport-to-city-centre rates). If not, confirm the meter will be used from the start. Check the starting meter rate looks reasonable.

The Safest Options

Official taxi rank: Signed, usually outside the terminal, with licensed taxis in a queue. Fixed or metered rates. Driver details visible. The slow but reliable option.

Pre-booked rideshare or Uber/Bolt: Book your transfer before you land. You know the price. You can track the driver. No cash involved. This is the most practical option for most travellers.

Pre-booked hotel transfer: More expensive than a taxi or rideshare, but zero ambiguity. The driver is there, waiting, has your name, and gets you to the hotel directly. Worth it for late-night arrivals or if you are arriving in an unfamiliar city for the first time.

Airport train or metro: Where available, always the most reliable and scam-proof option. Gatwick Express, the Paris RER B, Rome's Leonardo Express, Amsterdam's direct train to Centraal: all fixed-price, frequent, and with no human interaction required beyond buying a ticket.

The overarching principle: reduce the need to negotiate transport with strangers at arrivals. Book in advance, use apps, or use official transit. The few pounds saved by taking whoever approaches you is never worth the risk.