HALO Cars

HALO Cars: airport transfers and intercity journeys in the UK

HALO Cars is a private hire vehicle company focused on airport transfers and long-distance journeys between cities. According to its own presentation, it operates across the UK and holds private hire licence PHOP226. The company identifies itself as Limited Company 11838315 with VAT number 343908979. Its offering is managed mainly through its website, where users can request a quote and book online.

Transport services

The company offers two main types of service: airport transfers and long-distance taxi services between cities. For airports, it covers arrivals and departures at the main UK airports, including Birmingham, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, East Midlands, Gatwick and Manchester. For intercity journeys, it allows you to set a starting point and a destination, with the option of intermediate stops.

The service includes flight tracking: drivers monitor the status of the flight provided to manage delays and cancellations. On arrivals, they offer the option of Meet & Greet, an optional service whereby the driver waits for the passenger in the arrivals area. The company also states that drivers contact the passenger on arrival and that a 60-minute waiting time applies at airports without the driver leaving the premises.

Fleet and capacities

HALO Cars has three vehicle categories. The Saloon (standard) category includes models from brands such as Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, BMW and Volkswagen, with capacity for 4 passengers and luggage consisting of 2 x 20 kg suitcases and 2 carry-on bags. The Executive category includes vehicles such as Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6, also for 4 passengers and the same luggage. The Mini Van category is designed for groups of up to 8 passengers, with capacity for 10 x 20 kg suitcases and 10 carry-on bags.

The company states that it does not outsource journeys: all trips are carried out by its own drivers, trained for airport transfers and with CRB checks. In addition, they offer complementary services such as the transport of guide dogs in all vehicles, the transport of pets (dogs, cats and other small animals) alongside passengers, and the provision of child seats and boosters of different classes: Class 0 for newborns up to 4 years, Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 for children aged 4 to 8, and Class 4+ booster for those over 8. The company warns that child seats are not always fitted at the time of pickup due to configuration according to the child's height, and that this is an additional paid service.

Booking, payments and cancellation policy

The booking process is carried out online through the website, where the user enters the journey details and receives a quote. The company states that the price is fixed with no hidden costs, with immediate confirmation by email after payment. It accepts online and telephone payments, but does not accept cash payments. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. For advance bookings, the website shows the possibility of getting up to 5% off using a promotional code.

There is the option to make an offer (Make An Offer) for the journey, which is reviewed by an operator and answered by email. This type of booking does not allow discount codes to be applied. UK customers can receive an SMS notification when the operator responds to the offer.

Airport parking supplements

The company details the parking charges applied by airport authorities that are added to the journey price. These charges are paid by the driver and passed on to the customer. For Birmingham, pickup and drop-off cost 3 GBP each. At Heathrow, drop-off is free and pickup costs 8 GBP. Luton applies 4 GBP for both drop-off and pickup. Stansted charges 3 GBP for drop-off and 5 GBP for pickup. East Midlands applies 4 GBP in both cases. Gatwick has free drop-off and pickup for 5 GBP. Manchester charges 4 GBP for drop-off and 5 GBP for pickup. The company warns that these amounts are the minimum required and may increase with prolonged parking times.

Customer service and opening hours

HALO Cars offers telephone, email, live chat and WhatsApp support. The WhatsApp service is text only. Opening hours vary by channel: online bookings are available 24 hours; telephone and WhatsApp are available from 9:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday and from 10:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays and Sundays; live chat and email have specific hours detailed on the website's opening hours section. The company also states that business customers can receive complimentary hot drinks from Costa, Starbucks or McDonald's, and that drivers offer sealed bottles of water on airport arrivals when possible.

COVID-19 protocol and health measures

The company maintains a specific COVID-19 protocol. According to published information, vehicles are cleaned between journeys, drivers use personal protective equipment and government guidelines are followed. Passengers are asked to wear face coverings and not to book if they have symptoms compatible with COVID-19. The company declares itself open for essential travel, airport transfers and journeys between cities.

Corporate profile and regulatory compliance

HALO Cars presents itself as a GDPR-compliant company. Its parent company is HALO Tech Ltd, which operates under the HALO Cars brand. The company holds private hire licence PHOP226 and is registered as Limited Company 11838315 with VAT 343908979. The company states that it operates across the UK with nationwide coverage and full insurance.