A private airport transfer in Cape Town is a chauffeur-driven vehicle booked for your party alone, with a driver who tracks your flight, waits in the arrivals hall at Cape Town International with your name on a board, handles the luggage and drives you directly to your door. At West Landau the fee is fixed per vehicle and per zone, and it includes the driver, fuel, tolls and the first 60 minutes after your flight actually lands.
That is the short answer. The useful answer is what each of those parts does for you on the day, and where a private transfer is the wrong choice.
Who a private transfer is for, and who it is not for
If you are travelling alone or as a couple with hand luggage, staying in the City Bowl and landing at midday, an e-hailing car from the pickup zone will do the job. You will wait a few minutes, the car will be whatever arrives, and you will get there.
A private transfer earns its place when the cost of getting the arrival wrong is higher than the cost of the vehicle:
- A family of five with car seats, a pram and six suitcases.
- A director arriving for a board meeting the same afternoon, who needs to work on the way in.
- A group of eight going to a Franschhoek guesthouse an hour away, where splitting into three cars means three separate arrivals.
- Guests you are hosting, where the first person they meet in Cape Town reflects on you.
- A late-night landing, when you would rather not be choosing a car on the kerb.
In each case the value is the same. Somebody has taken responsibility for the arrival before you board the plane.
Flight tracking and the 60 minutes after touchdown
The driver works from your flight number, not your scheduled time. If the flight lands 40 minutes early, the driver is already there. If it lands two hours late, nobody has been standing in the hall burning waiting time on your account.
The first 60 minutes after actual touchdown are included in the fee. That covers taxiing, disembarking, passport control on an international arrival, the baggage belt and the walk out. On most domestic arrivals you will be in the vehicle well inside that window. On a busy international evening, the hour is what keeps a long queue at immigration from becoming a cost. Waiting beyond the included hour is billed hourly at the rate on your quote, and the driver does not let it run without the concierge knowing.
If the airline cancels or diverts your flight, message the concierge. The transfer moves to your new arrival at no charge, subject to availability. An airline cancellation is never treated as a cancellation by you.
The meet in the arrivals hall
Your driver stands in the arrivals hall holding a name board. You do not need to find a pickup zone, read a number plate or call anyone. The evening before you fly, you receive the driver's name, a photograph and a direct number, so if your phone comes back on after landing you already know who to look for.
From there the driver takes the luggage trolley and walks you to the vehicle. If you are travelling with a family or a group, this is where the arrangement shows its value. One person is managing the bags while everyone else simply walks.
The vehicle, and how much luggage fits
West Landau runs two models, both 2025:
| Vehicle | Passengers plus driver | Luggage with every seat taken |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Staria Luxury | 8 | Around four large suitcases plus hand luggage |
| Hyundai Palisade Elite | 6 | Three to four large suitcases |
If your group has more luggage than that, the concierge quotes a second vehicle rather than squeezing bags onto laps. Parties of nine or more travel in two vehicles, one driver each, on a single booking. You can choose pearl white, black or silver and we honour it subject to availability. Child seats are fitted before pickup, so give the children's ages when you book and the right seat will be in the right row.
Every vehicle carries Wi-Fi, chilled water and privacy glass, and is detailed between hires.
How the fee works
The fee is per vehicle and per zone, not per person. Two people in a Palisade pay the same as six. The zone is set by where you are going, so a transfer to the Atlantic Seaboard is quoted differently from one to Stellenbosch or Hermanus. Driver, fuel and tolls are included. Add-ons such as child seats appear on the quote as separate lines, so you see the total before you confirm.
A return transfer can go on the same quote with one booking reference. The driver collects you at the agreed time and drops you at departures.
Destinations outside the listed zones are quoted individually. Our airport transfers page shows the zones and add-ons in full.
Booking and confirmation
Send the availability form or a WhatsApp message with your flight number, the number of passengers, the luggage and the destination. A named concierge replies within the hour during business hours with a written quote and a booking reference. The booking is confirmed once the quote is paid by EFT. Corporate clients can be invoiced monthly on account.
Cancelling more than 48 hours before pickup is free. Within 48 hours, half the booking value is retained, and within 24 hours or for a no-show, the full value. The detail is in the booking terms.
If you are planning the rest of the stay as well, the guides on choosing between a Staria and a Palisade and on what to send the concierge before you land cover the details that make the first hour go smoothly.
Common questions
Where exactly does the driver wait?
In the arrivals hall, holding a board with your name. You receive the driver's name, photo and number the evening before, so you can message them as soon as you land.
What if my bags take a long time?
The first 60 minutes after touchdown are included, which covers most baggage delays. If a bag is lost and you need to file a report, tell the driver. Waiting beyond the hour is billed at the hourly rate on your quote.
Can I book a transfer for guests and not travel myself?
Yes. Give the concierge the guests' names, flight and destination. The name board carries the guest's name, and the driver's details can be sent to them directly.
Is a private transfer more expensive than a taxi?
For one or two people with light luggage, usually yes. For a family or a group, a single vehicle priced per vehicle is often comparable to several separate cars, and everyone arrives together.
To get a quote, send the flight number, the date, how many people and bags, and the address you are going to. The concierge replies with a written quote and a reference.