Christmas & New Year 2026 Airport Transfers: Book Early
Flying over Christmas or New Year 2026? We run airport transfers from Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch all season. The busy dates and when to book for Heathrow and Gatwick.
We run airport transfers right through Christmas and New Year, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Some firms close or cut back over the holidays, so the festive dates fill up first. If you know you are flying between mid-December and early January, the simple advice is: book now, and change it later if you need to.
The dates for 2026
Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, so the holiday runs over two long weekends:
- Thursday 24 December: Christmas Eve
- Friday 25 December: Christmas Day (bank holiday)
- Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December: substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day
- Thursday 31 December: New Year's Eve
- Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day (bank holiday)
Which days are tightest
- The last weekend before Christmas (Friday 18 to Sunday 20 December), when most schools have broken up: the busiest departure days of the year from Dorset to Heathrow and Gatwick. Families fly out, and morning slots go first.
- Christmas Eve to Boxing Day (24–26 December): we are running, but with fewer drivers, so there are fewer slots. The holiday supplement applies (see below).
- New Year's Eve and New Year's Day: again fewer drivers. Late-night and early-morning runs on 1 January go quickly.
- Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 January: the big return weekend before schools go back, with lots of arrivals into Heathrow and Gatwick needing a lift home.
When to book: Heathrow and Gatwick
Our published fixed fares start from £150 to Heathrow and from £175 to Gatwick (estate car, from Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch). The price is fixed when you book.
Holiday supplement
On the main holiday dates a 50% supplement applies to the journey fare:
- Christmas Eve from 6pm (Thursday 24 December)
- Christmas Day (Friday 25 December)
- Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December)
- New Year's Eve from 6pm (Thursday 31 December) until 12 noon on New Year's Day (Friday 1 January)
The supplement is worked out on the fare before airport parking and drop-off charges, so those are not increased. Every other day over the festive period, including 27–30 December, New Year's Eve before 6pm, the afternoon of New Year's Day and 2–4 January, is at the normal published fare. Your full price is shown and fixed when you book.
| Travelling | Book by |
|---|---|
| 18–23 December | End of November |
| 24–26 December | As soon as you have your flight times |
| 27–30 December | Early December |
| 31 December – 1 January | Early December |
| 2–4 January (returns) | Mid-December |
These are the dates by which we would suggest booking, not deadlines. We take bookings closer to the day where we have a driver free, but over the holidays that can't be guaranteed.
Getting there on time over Christmas
- Allow extra time on the M3 and M27. The Friday and Saturday before Christmas are some of the heaviest days of the year on the roads to London and Southampton. We build that into your pickup time.
- Purbeck and Studland: the Sandbanks Ferry is out of service for its refit from 2 November for about seven weeks, so trips from that side go via Wareham. Check the reopening date before you travel.
- Coming home: we track your flight, so if you land late on Christmas Eve or early on New Year's Day, your driver adjusts to the real landing time. Up to 60 minutes' free waiting after landing is included.
- Presents and extra luggage: if you are taking gifts or skis, tell us when you book so we send a car with enough room. A small MPV takes four people and their cases.
Book your Christmas transfer
Book now to fix your price and date, or call 01202 028334. You can see every fixed fare on our Heathrow and Gatwick pages.