Book a private transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) in Ontario, Canada, to a hotel, residence or business address in Ottawa. Provide your flight details, complete destination and luggage requirements to plan the onward journey. Your confirmed instructions identify the meeting arrangements for the booked service.
WelcomeTaxi is an international private transfer and chauffeur service for airport arrivals, departures, hourly itineraries and long-distance journey requests. YOW also has public transport, taxis and rideshare options. A pre-booked vehicle is useful when you need a specific capacity, a direct trip with luggage or an onward route agreed in advance; regional destinations require route-specific confirmation.
How It Works
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Choose the route and a vehicle |
| Select service type you need, choose the route (or hourly hire duration), indicate number of passengers and luggage, as well as other necessary details if needed. See the price for different vehicle classes, choose one suitable for you and press Next. |
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Choose the payment method |
| Complete the booking form, choose the payment method, press Make Booking button, make online prepayment (if needed) and get email confirmation. When a driver will be assigned to your job, his phone number will be emailed to you. |
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The driver meets you with a name tag |
| Your driver will meet you on-site with a name tag at the right time. He will walk you to the car and safely drive you to your destination. At the end of your ride, if needed, you will pay in cash or by card-to-card transfer to your driver. |
Our Benefits
English-speaking drivers
Always available — friendly, professional, and communicative.
Fixed prices — no surprises
Know your fare in advance, with no hidden fees.
Meet & greet included
Your driver will wait at arrivals with a name tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a ride?
We recommend booking your transfer or hourly hire service at least 72 hours in advance. If you don’t have that much time, you can request an urgent transfer — we’ll let you know as soon as possible whether we can confirm it.
What pick-up time should I specify for the transfer?
If your transfer starts from an airport or railway station, please specify your flight or train arrival time as the start of your transfer. This helps the driver organize the meeting more accurately.
If your transfer starts from a hotel to an airport, please indicate the time you wish to be picked up at reception. You’ll need to calculate it yourself, allowing extra time for check-in. We recommend adding about 3 hours before your flight’s departure. For example, if your flight leaves at 14:00 and the trip takes 1 hour, your pick-up time should be 10:00.
How do I know if my order has been accepted?
After submitting your booking, you’ll receive an email with all trip details and your order status as “Waiting”. Once we receive and confirm your payment, the status will change to “Accepted”, and you’ll receive another email confirmation.
If you don’t receive the confirmation email, please contact our support team at office@welcome.taxi.
How do I change my booking?
To make changes to your booking, please contact our support team at office@welcome.taxi.
Important note: Requests for changes made less than 72 hours before your trip may be declined.
How can I cancel my booking?
You can cancel your booking in two ways:
- Via the booking page on our website — use the cancellation number provided in your booking voucher, at least 72 hours before the trip.
- By contacting our support team if it’s less than 72 hours before your ride.
Important note: In case of urgent cancellation, we may not be able to refund your deposit. The free cancellation period is stated in your confirmation email.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed by less than 30 minutes, the driver will adjust their arrival time automatically.
If the delay is longer, please inform the driver directly (their phone number is in your confirmation voucher) or contact WelcomeTaxi Customer Support at office@welcome.taxi. Please include your order number and the new arrival time.
Important note: The driver may charge an additional fee for extended waiting time.
How will I find my driver?
For airport transfers, if you’ve added the meet-and-greet option to your order, the driver will meet you in the arrivals area — right after passport control and baggage claim. You’ll see a name sign with your first and last names (or custom text, if specified in your booking).
Important note: We strongly recommend adding the meet-and-greet option to your airport transfer booking.
For hotel pickups, the driver will wait for you in the hotel lobby. Detailed meeting instructions and your driver’s contact number are provided in your booking confirmation voucher.
How can I be sure that my driver will pick me up?
WelcomeTaxi guarantees that your driver will do their best to meet you on time.
Both you and the driver will have each other’s phone or WhatsApp number. Please keep your mobile phone switched on at the time of pickup. If you can’t reach the driver, contact our support team immediately.
I can’t find my driver. What should I do?
If you can’t find your driver, please double-check the name signs again — the driver may have missed you in the crowd.
Try calling or messaging the driver via WhatsApp. If there’s no response within the meeting time, contact our support team.
If necessary, go to the airport’s Information Desk to arrange a local taxi to your destination.
Important note: If the driver fails to meet you, we will refund your payment.
What Our Customers Say
Italy
Vincenzo was excellent
Planning your onward journey from YOW
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport serves Canada's capital from the south side of the city. Its airport code is YOW. Before choosing ground transportation, check the complete destination address and whether it is in Ottawa, Gatineau or another municipality. A central hotel, a suburban home and a regional destination can involve quite different journeys, even when all are described informally as being in the Ottawa area.
WelcomeTaxi arranges pre-booked private transfers from the airport to confirmed destinations. Enter the number of passengers, the luggage you will carry and the exact address when requesting a ride. A suitable vehicle should have space for the whole party and its belongings. Sports equipment, unusually large cases and mobility equipment should be discussed before booking rather than assumed to fit a standard luggage allowance.
Flight details and meeting arrangements
Provide the arriving flight number and origin so the booking refers to the correct service. The flight's scheduled landing time is not the time you will necessarily be ready outside. Passport checks where applicable, baggage collection and the walk through the terminal all need to be allowed for. Keep the contact information in the booking accurate and accessible on the day of travel.
Follow the meeting instructions issued for your confirmed transfer. Airport rules distinguish between transportation types and their permitted loading areas; a taxi queue, a rideshare point and a pre-booked service should not be treated as the same location. Do not walk to a different curb solely because it looks closer. If your arrival circumstances change, use the contact details provided with the booking to clarify the next step.
Meet-and-greet arrangements depend on the booked option. Do not assume that every service includes a driver waiting inside with a name board. Check the selected meeting method, waiting conditions and the instructions for contacting the driver or dispatcher before departure. This is especially helpful when members of a party arrive on different flights.
Rail, bus, taxi and rideshare alternatives
Public transport offers an alternative to a private vehicle. The airport's ground-transport information describes O-Train Line 4 between Airport station and South Keys, with connections needed for many onward destinations. Check OC Transpo's current journey planner and service notices for the complete trip, including any changes or replacement services on the day.
Bus services also connect the airport area with the wider network. Compare the final walking distance and the number of changes as well as the route itself, especially with children or several bags. Timetables, fares and service arrangements can change, so use the transport operator's current information rather than relying on an old journey description.
Licensed taxis and rideshare are further options at YOW, with designated arrangements for each. A pre-booked private transfer is most useful when arranging the vehicle and endpoint beforehand matters to you. Public transit may be entirely suitable for a light-luggage trip with a convenient connection; no single option is best for every passenger.
Hotels and addresses in Ottawa
Airport transfers can be planned for accommodation in downtown Ottawa and other confirmed city locations. Supply the official hotel name and street address, including the postal code if available. A property described as near the airport may still require a road journey. For an apartment, include the building entrance and any practical access information relevant to the drop-off.
The Ottawa private transport page covers local trips, railway stations and hourly chauffeur itineraries after arrival. Keep a simple airport-to-hotel booking separate from a multi-stop service: if you want to collect keys, stop for a meeting or continue elsewhere, include those stops in the request so the agreed route reflects your actual plans.
Departures and regional travel
For a return transfer to YOW, plan backwards from the airline's required check-in and boarding times. Include a margin for road conditions, traffic and loading luggage. Winter weather can affect the journey, and an early departure should not depend on a drive taking the minimum possible time. Confirm the pickup address and meeting point at the accommodation.
For Gatineau, Montreal or another regional destination, request the exact route and confirm availability for that particular journey. A drop-off outside Ottawa does not automatically include a return pickup or waiting at the destination. Hourly chauffeur travel and long-distance services can be requested when the itinerary needs more than a single transfer; agree the stops, duration and luggage requirements in advance.
Photographs: YOW terminal by P199, September 2010, CC BY-SA 3.0. Desktop and mobile versions are cropped and resized from the original; the same licence applies to these adaptations.
