Getting to or from Melbourne Airport should be the simplest part of any trip. For passengers travelling from the Frankston Line, the Dandenong corridor or anywhere along the Cranbourne route, the distance is real, the timing is tight and getting it wrong costs more than money. Silver Taxi operates out of SE Melbourne, which means a driver who starts close to you, knows the route and has the airport run confirmed before you even think about packing your bag.
The Problem with Rideshare at the Airport
Uber and Ola work fine for short local trips. At the airport, they become a gamble. At peak departure times, surge pricing can push a Frankston to Melbourne Airport fare well past $150 to $180. Drivers cancel without notice. There is no guarantee of a vehicle. You request again, the price moves again and you are now watching the clock.
There is also no meet and greet with rideshare. If you land after a 14-hour international flight and need someone standing at arrivals with your name on a card, rideshare cannot offer that. A pre-booked taxi can.
What rideshare is also missing is accountability. With a metered taxi booking, the fare is regulated. There is no algorithm adjusting the price while you are in the air.
How Silver Taxi Airport Runs Work
When you book an airport transfer with Silver Taxi, you provide your flight number at the time of booking. The driver monitors your flight status. If your flight is delayed, the driver adjusts. You do not need to call ahead for standard delays.
For departures, the driver arrives at your front door at the agreed time. For arrivals, the driver meets you at the terminal. If you book the meet and greet option, the driver waits inside the arrivals hall with a name card. This is available on request at no extra charge beyond standard metered time.
Silver Taxi runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That covers 5am international departures, midnight domestic arrivals and airport runs on public holidays.
The SE Melbourne Advantage
Most Victorian taxi operators base their vehicles in or near the CBD. For a passenger in Frankston or Dandenong, that means the driver is travelling 45 to 55 kilometres before the trip even begins. Silver Taxi is based in SE Melbourne. For passengers in Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Dandenong, Clayton, Carrum Downs or Seaford, the driver starts close to you. That reduces wait time and, on some routes, reduces the metered distance before the main journey.
If you have ever booked an airport taxi and been told it will take 45 minutes just to reach you, this is why.
Airport Taxi Fares: What You Will Pay
Silver Taxi uses Victoria’s standard regulated metered fare structure.
- Flag fall: $9.90
- Standard rate per kilometre: $2.20
- Tariff 3 (Friday and Saturday nights, 10pm to 4am): $2.34 per kilometre
- Minimum fare: $39.90
- Airport return pickup fee: +$4.50
The airport return pickup fee applies when your driver collects you from Melbourne Airport. It covers the terminal access levy and is added on top of the metered fare for all airport pickups.
For reference, Frankston to Melbourne Airport is roughly 68 to 72 kilometres depending on route and traffic. Expect a metered fare of around $160 to $175. From Clayton, the distance is approximately 35 kilometres and the fare is around $90 to $105. From Dandenong, expect approximately $100 to $120. All fares are metered and regulated by the VCAA.
Meet and Greet at Arrivals
If you want your driver waiting inside the terminal at the arrivals gate with a name card, request this at the time of booking. There is no separate charge for meet and greet. The driver enters the terminal and waits in the arrivals hall. Metered time continues from when the driver enters the terminal.
Meet and greet is particularly useful after international flights, when you are travelling with elderly passengers, when you have a lot of luggage or when you simply want the certainty of seeing a face at the gate.
Luggage, Child Seats and Cabcharge
Silver Taxi vehicles handle full-size luggage. For large groups travelling with multiple suitcases, mention this at booking so the driver can confirm the right vehicle is assigned.
Child seats are available on request. Provide the child’s age and approximate weight when you call so the correct seat is fitted before the driver arrives at your door.
Cabcharge is accepted for all airport transfers. Corporate accounts are available for businesses running regular airport trips for staff or clients. Call 0412 456 588 to set one up. Invoice billing is available for monthly account holders.
How to Book Your Airport Transfer
Call or WhatsApp 0412 456 588. Have the following ready:
- Pick-up address
- Date and time
- Flight number
- Number of passengers
- Special requirements: child seat, Cabcharge, Silver Service tier, meet and greet
For recurring airport bookings, email book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au to arrange a standing booking. Corporate travellers with regular airport runs can set up a weekly or fortnightly schedule that does not require a fresh booking each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pre-book a taxi to Melbourne Airport?
Call or WhatsApp Silver Taxi on 0412 456 588 with your pickup address, the date and time you need to leave, your destination at Melbourne Airport (Terminal 2 or Terminal 4 depending on your airline), the number of passengers and your flight number. Providing your flight number at the time of booking allows the driver to track your departure and adjust if there are any schedule changes.
For departures, book at least 30 minutes in advance for same day trips. For early morning flights, booking the night before is recommended so your driver is confirmed and you have nothing to arrange on the morning. If you are booking an airport pickup rather than a drop off, share your inbound flight number so the driver can monitor landing time and arrive at the terminal on schedule. You can also email book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au for corporate or advance bookings.
What happens if my flight is delayed and I have a pre-booked taxi?
When you book your airport transfer with Silver Taxi, you provide your flight number at the time of booking. The driver monitors your flight through to arrival. If your flight is delayed, the driver adjusts their pickup time accordingly. You do not need to call ahead to notify us of standard airline delays because the driver tracks the flight directly.
For delays longer than two hours, it is worth calling 0412 456 588 to confirm the booking is still running as expected. The driver will not leave the airport if your flight is showing a delay, and you will not be charged any waiting fee for the delay period itself.
If your flight is cancelled, call as soon as you know. If you give enough notice, there is no cancellation fee. If the driver has already departed for the airport, a partial charge may apply to cover travel costs already incurred.
Is Silver Taxi cheaper than Uber for Melbourne Airport transfers?
It depends on the time and distance. On a standard weekday, a metered Silver Taxi fare from Frankston to Melbourne Airport typically comes to between $160 and $175. Uber’s standard pricing for the same route is often similar, but at peak airport departure times or on Friday and Saturday nights, surge pricing can push the Uber fare considerably higher.
Silver Taxi uses VCAA regulated metered fares. There is no surge pricing. On Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 4am, the Tariff 3 rate of $2.34 per kilometre applies rather than the standard $2.20. This is a regulated rate, not a surge based on demand. The flag fall of $9.90 and the airport return pickup fee of $4.50 remain the same.
For business travellers, the comparison goes beyond price. Silver Taxi offers advance booking confirmation, flight monitoring, Cabcharge acceptance and corporate accounts. Uber does not offer dedicated corporate accounts or flight tracking for airport transfers booked in advance.
