Are airport transfers included in the trip?

Arrival and departure transfers on the trip are included for the majority of our small group trips as long as we receive full flight information from you. We have a handful that don't include them but the trip notes will make this clear.

Transfers fall into the following categories:

• You can arrive at any time on day 1 and/or leave at any time on the last day of the trip and as long as we receive your full flight details at least 30 days before the trip you will receive a transfer. Where Explore have booked your trips, you do not need to provide this information as we already have it
• The trip has one fixed arrival and/or departure transfer and your flight must land by/depart after the times specified and at the airport (or occasionally train station) listed in the trip notes.
• The trip has more than one fixed arrival and/or departure transfer and your flight must land by/depart after one of the times specified and at the airport (or occasionally train station) listed in the trip notes. If arriving pre tour or departing post tour you will need to advise which fixed transfer you would like to join no later than 30 days before departure.
• No arrival or departure transfer is included as part of the trip and you will need to make your own arrangements to/from the hotel

When do you need to arrive or depart to receive transfers?

Unless a trip has specific joining/ending times then as long as we receive full flight details no later than 30 days before your trip then the following applies:

• Arrival transfer provided if a flight lands between 0000 on day 1 to 0400 on day 2 - if your flight lands prior to midnight then we can usually provide an arrival transfer however this will be at an additional cost.
• Departure transfer provided if a flight takes off between 0000 on the last day until 0400 on the day after the trip ends. We can provide a transfer for this however this will be at an additional cost.

When do we need to receive flight info?

Unless you are booking within 30 days of departure then we need to receive your full flight details as least 30 days before travel to ensure we can arrange your transfers. We cannot add people last minute as vehicles will have been booked to accommodate the group size travelling. 

For customers booking within 30 days of travel we will discuss transfers with you during the booking process.

What if my flight times have been changed by the airline?

If your flight times have been changed you need to let Explore know as soon as possible. If the flight is still 30 days or more away then you can update the flight information in the Customer Gateway. If your flight is leaving within 30 days then please contact the Customer Service Team as soon as possible to advise so details can be updated.

If Explore have booked your flights we will make sure your flights meet with the trip's requirements. 

If you have booked your own flights and you are booked on a trip with fixed start and/or end times and your flight change means you will now not arrive on time/depart too early you may need to look for alternative flights. 

What if a flight has been delayed?

If a flight is delayed then a transfer will wait if the delay is short. For longer delays you will contact the local agent or the Explore Duty Manager to discuss how and if Explore can catch you up with the trip. These contact details are in your Final Documentation sent 3 weeks before your trip starts.

Flight delays is one of the biggest reasons we ask for full flight information from all customers, even when a trip starts at the airport. It means that our tour leaders are fully aware of when all customers are expected to arrive.

I am arriving early and/or departing after the trip and don't need transfers - why are you still asking for flight information?

We ask for arrival and departure information so we can let our tour leaders know when to expect you. If you are arriving a day before and intend to meet the group for a fixed transfer we will add notes for the tour leader to advise them of this. If you plan to meet at the hotel we let them know. 

For trips with a fixed start time we need your flight info in case your flight is delayed - your tour leader will be able to track the flight to see when you will arrive.