Australia: 1300 638 258
International:+61 413 905 215
Speak with Sophie, our AI digital assistant, who can answer all of your questions and relay messages 24/7.
For immediate assistance, registered clients, or passengers in transit can request to be transferred to operations.
Stress-free Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Airport Transfers Over Christmas And New Year
Australian holiday travel has never been busier. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane airports are all forecasting record passenger volumes across the Christmas and summer school holiday period.
Sydney Airport alone projects around 5.8 million passengers moving between mid-December and late January. On peak days, over 80,500 domestic passengers and 60,000 international passengers pass through the terminals in a single 24-hour period. Melbourne and Brisbane airports report similar patterns, with daily volumes often exceeding pre-pandemic peaks.
That level of demand does not just affect check-in and security. It impacts road congestion, taxi availability, airport parking, and luggage handling.
This guide helps you plan smarter, avoid the chaos, and ensure your Sydney airport transfers, Melbourne airport transfers, and Brisbane airport transfers are the most predictable part of your journey.
For travellers in a rush, here are the critical rules for 2025/2026:
Secure flights and airport transfers at least 6–12 weeks ahead of peak dates.
Mid-December (outbound domestic), early January (inbound international), and late January (school return).
1 hour before domestic (carry-on only), 2 hours before domestic (checked bags), 3 hours before international
Secure both arrival and return transport in advance to avoid relying on taxis or rideshare during peak periods and to guarantee availability when you need it most.
Across Australia, the heaviest pressure on airports and roads falls into four specific windows:
Mid-December: The first Friday after schools finish and the following week of departures.
Late December: The 48 hours immediately before Christmas Day.
Early January: The return of international travellers and families coming home.
Late January: The final weekend before school resumes.
Practical Advice: If you cannot avoid flying on these days, treat them as Red Zone travel days. Add at least 30 minutes to your usual airport arrival window and assume rideshare prices will surge while taxi availability will be zero. This is exactly when pre-booked, fixed-price airport transfers provide the greatest value.
1. Arrival Times & Check-in
Airports consistently recommend minimum arrival times, but for peak holiday dates, you should treat these as absolute baselines.
Pro Tip: Security lanes and bag-drop queues can spike unexpectedly during holidays. Use online check-in and digital boarding passes to bypass at least one queue.
2. Packing Strategy
Small packing decisions make a big difference when security lines are long:
✈︎ Checked vs. Carry-on: Put anything you do not need explicitly for the flight into checked luggage.
✈︎ The Airport Bag: For families, pack a separate small bag with snacks, wipes, and activities for children so you aren't digging through carry-ons in the queue.
✈︎ Organize Electronics: Keep laptops and tablets easy to reach for security screening (though new scanners are rolling out, many lanes still require removal).
With millions of passengers moving through the city, standard transport options often break down under pressure.
Why Rideshare and Taxis Struggle
» Surge Pricing: Rideshare fares often multiply by 3x–5x on peak days. A standard trip to the airport can suddenly cost hundreds of dollars.
» Cancellations: Drivers frequently cancel shorter or lower-paying trips to chase premium fares in other zones.
» Taxi Queues: Ranks can stretch for hundreds of meters after large arrival banks, with wait times of 45–90 minutes not unusual during Christmas.
Why Pre-booked Transfers Work Better
Booking a professional chauffeur service like Cars on Demand eliminates the uncertainty.
» Fixed Pricing: No surge, no holiday loading, no guessing. The price you book is the price you pay.
» Guaranteed Allocation: A professional driver is reserved specifically for you.
» Flight Tracking: We monitor your flight automatically. If you are delayed, your pickup time adjusts instantly.
Premium service connecting Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) throughout metropolitan Sydney, including CBD, North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, and Western Sydney business districts. Our Sydney operations handle over 6,000 transfers annually, maintaining our signature 99.9% on-time performance.
Book Transfers →
Executive transportation from Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Avalon Airport (AVV) to Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Docklands, and surrounding corporate areas. Our Melbourne fleet is strategically positioned for optimal response times.
Book Transfers →
Professional service connecting Brisbane Airport (BNE) with Brisbane CBD, South Bank, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast destinations. Our Brisbane operations ensure seamless connectivity across Queensland's key business regions.
Book Transfers →
Comprehensive coverage available across all major Australian airports, including Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and regional destinations. With over 15,000 annual transfers nationwide, Cars on Demand is Australia's trusted partner for executive ground transportation.
Book Transfers →
Holiday travel is often family travel. Here is how to manage the logistics:
Families with Children
» Safety First: Pre-book your transfer with child or booster seats so you don't have to carry your own through the terminal.
» Space Management: Request a larger vehicle (SUV or People Mover) for prams and extra holiday bags rather than squeezing into a standard sedan.
Multi-Generational Groups
» Travel Together: Groups of 4 to 14 passengers should book a single People Mover or Minibus. It is often cheaper than multiple rideshares and ensures nobody gets lost or separated.
» Door-to-Door: Save older family members from the long walk to distant rideshare pickup zones or parking stations.
Many Australians combine flights with long drives to regional destinations (e.g., Sydney to Central Coast, Brisbane to Sunshine Coast). Road safety authorities consistently warn about fatigue during these periods.
Safety Advice: Avoid driving long distances immediately after a long international flight. Reaction times suffer significantly when fatigued. Consider booking a professional transfer for your regional connection—it is not just a luxury; it is a safety decision.
Fantastic service, I use Cars on Demand regularly and the care and reliability of the service offered means I’m in highly professional hands. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Cars on Demand team. Thank you!!
The team at cars on demand is phenomenal. The app was super easy to use and understand. We were able to book rides with ease and could relax knowing we were going to be picked up and dropped off on schedule. Thank you for making our visit to Sydney even more fabulous.
A very professional outfit. Their support is excellent. I highly recommend you try. I have used many drivers world wide. COD is our go to every time now. You will not be disappointed. Good job Simon and team. Thank you.
I booked Cars on demand for my father after reading the great reviews, and the six hour hire went according to schedule. My father was very happy with the courteous service provided by driver Paul. The five stars I have given are for transparency, professionalism & reliability. Thank you Simon.
Very happy with the service provided by Cars on Demand. I always get a courtesy sms to confirm pick up. Drivers are on time, courteous and professional. Cars are always clean. Special praise for my regular driver Doug who bought me a coffee for the trip to the airport this morning.
We used Cars on Demand for getting our guests to our wedding at Banjo Paterson. Fantastic service received from all drivers, with everyone picked up on time from various locations. Very helping getting elderly and disabled people in and out. Would not hesitate to use them again.
While we can accept bookings up to a few hours before pickup, we strongly recommend booking 12 to 24 hours or more if you know your travel dates in advance for December and January travel. This secures your preferred vehicle type during high-demand windows.
At Cars on Demand, our pricing remains consistent. We do not use dynamic surge pricing. The only exceptions are public holiday rates on days like Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, which are transparently displayed at the time of booking.
Yes you can and if that driver is available we will send him/her. Otherwise we will send another driver. Please advise us of the driver name in the Additional Information box at the bottom of the booking sheet.
If your flight is delayed it's okay! Our driver monitors your flight information, and will have real time updates on your planes whereabouts.
We operate all across Australia in all major cities and many regional areas. Please try to book and if the system allows it then it means we operate there. We are constantly growing our operation due to customer demand so please let us know if you are looking at a region that we don’t currently operate in and we will try and assist you.
The only forms of payments we accept are VISA, MASTERCARD, and AMEX. Feel free to use any of these options as your method of payment.
Download the Cars on Demand App here:
.png){kind=small}
Language
COD Operations Pty Ltd ©2025