Do you know the Cabify story? Cabify or taxi to Madrid airport at Barajas

To get to Barajas Airport, choosing between Cabify or a taxi depends above all on where you are leaving from and when. From inside the M-30 the taxi has a fixed fare of €33, and with a booking service like ours you get a fixed price from any area of the Madrid region. Cabify, a VTC (private-hire vehicles booked through an app) platform born in Madrid, shows you a price in the app before you confirm, which may vary with demand. The practical thing is to compare on the day under the same conditions.

Cabify is a company of Spanish origin that offers transport with a driver through a mobile app. In Spain it works mainly with vehicles and drivers holding VTC authorisation, the same system used by other platforms. The user enters the pickup point and destination, the app shows the price and the assigned vehicle, and payment is made through the app itself.

Because it is VTC, its activity follows specific rules: the service must be booked in advance, it cannot pick up customers by cruising the streets and it cannot use taxi ranks, including those at the terminals. These conditions are set by the regulations and are not exclusive to Cabify; we explain them in more detail in the differences between taxis and VTC.

The Cabify story is part of the same debate opened up by the arrival of other platforms. If you want to know that background, in the Uber story in Spain we explain why the model with private drivers was halted and how it moved over to the VTC model.

Where are you leaving from?

If you are leaving from central Madrid, the taxi’s fixed fare gives you a price known in advance. If you live in another town, check the price for your area in our fares table and compare it with what the app offers you.

What time is your flight?

For an early-morning flight, the most relaxed option is to have your transfer booked the day before, with the pickup time set. We operate 24 hours a day, and if you have less than two hours’ notice, it is better to call.

How many of you are there and how much luggage do you have?

For five passengers or more, or with lots of luggage, we recommend a 7-seater taxi booked in advance. That way you do not have to split the group between two cars.

Are you arriving or leaving?

On arrival, taxis wait for you at the ranks of each terminal, and if you prefer you can book an airport pickup with your flight number so we can confirm where to meet you. Whatever you choose, avoid anyone offering you transport in the arrivals hall that you have not booked; in pirate taxi drivers at Barajas we explain how to recognise these situations.