Airport pick-up FAQ

Eligible incoming international students will receive a code upon airport pickup registration to receive 40% off of their Airways Transit trip if they are arriving between August 26 – September 8. When you reserve your Airways Transit shuttle, you will put this code in the box labelled “Booking Code”. 

By using the discount code, you consent to the disclosure to and use of certain personal information, (including, but not limited to first name, last name, email address) by the University of Waterloo for the sole purpose of confirming your eligibility for the discounted service offered by Airways Transit. Such personal information will not be used by the University of Waterloo for any other purpose and is collected under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act, 1972, and privacy policies. Questions with respect to this collection may be directed to: Privacy Officer, Information and Privacy, Needles Hall, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, 519-888-4567 x36101 or fippa@uwaterloo.ca. The University of Waterloo is not responsible for any modification, loss, damage or deletion of your personal information by any third-party service provider, such as Airways Transit. 

Without the 40% discount, UWaterloo students are still eligible for discounted prices:

• $188.43 for one person  
• $94.21 each for two people on the same flight arriving at one location 
• $71.47 each for three people on the same flight arriving at one location 

The prices include gratuity and applicable fees. 

You can register up until 14 days before your pick-up date. We recommend registering before August 4 to increase your chances of getting grouped with other students. If you register after August 4, you will likely not receive the reduced rate from Airways Transit. However, you can still be eligible for the 40% discount if you are arriving between August 26 – September 8. 

The discount is for incoming international undergraduate and graduate students beginning their studies in the fall 2024 term. Students who do not fall under this category or are arriving outside the August 26 to September 8 time frame are encouraged to check the Airways Transit website for ride sharing fees or arrange alternate transportation to Waterloo. 

The 40% discount is reserved for incoming first-year undergraduate and graduate international students. While your travel companions will not receive the additional 40% discount, they will be able to register for a reduced cost. 

Yes, you can cancel or update your registration by emailing infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com.  Students who have flight delays or change in flight information (i.e. change in flight number, airline, travel dates etc.) are required to contact Airways Transit as soon as possible to communicate changes to their arrival information. Please provide your name and Airways Transit confirmation number in your email. 

On airport shared rides, a minimum cancellation notice of 12 hours from the scheduled pickup time or flight arrival time applies. Reservations can be modified or canceled online up to 12 hours in advance by contacting Airways Transit 24 hours a day. The conditions of the cancellations are as follows:  

• For no shows or cancellations under 12 hours prior to pickup, no refunds or credits will be issued.  
• For cancellations over 12 hours prior to pickup, you will receive 
  • full credit for future travel within 1 year, or 
  • a 90% refund on the original credit card used for booking.

Airways Transit monitors your incoming flight. Passengers are not considered a no-show if their flight is delayed. In the event of a flight cancellation please contact us promptly with your new flight information. 

Yes, you will receive a confirmation email to the account you register with. We recommend taking a screenshot of this email or printing it to easily find your information once you land.

Airways Transit will keep 10% of the cancelled reservation fee. If their system is unable to pair an additional student with your booking, then you may be subject to a rate increase as a double or single booking. If you have any questions about your registration, please contact Airways Transit at infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com or by phone at +1 519 886 2121.

Once you have confirmed your registration, you can call Airways Transit directly at +1 519 886 2121 or you can email infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com to register your travel companions and ensure that you are placed on the same shuttle. 

Gratuity is often not automatically included in services in Canada. Airways Transit has a policy in place to ensure that their drivers are compensated fairly which includes an 15% gratuity fee on registration.  

If there are other students who have registered for an Airways Transit shuttle on the same flight as you and being dropped off at the same address, up to 3 total students, then your cost will decrease, and you will receive an updated confirmation from Airways Transit. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your reservation, you can email Airways Transit at infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com.

If your flight is arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport, there will be representatives from the University of Waterloo available at peak times from August 26 to September 8. You can find these representatives at the University of Waterloo booth located in Terminal 1. Jump to the "Navigating Pearson" section for more information.

All UWaterloo students will receive a reduced cost when registering for the Airways Transit service. 

ONLY students who fall into the following categories are eligible for the additional 40% discount: 

• First-year international undergraduate students 
• First-year international graduate students 

Yes! Airways Transit will be able to drop you off at any location in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region including: 

• Hotels or other short-term accommodations 
• Houses or apartment buildings 
• University of Waterloo Residences or Colleges 

Because Airways Transit has your flight information, they will see if your flight is delayed and adjust accordingly. If customs takes longer than anticipated, please notify the Airways Transit representative once you reach the booth and they will be able to help you.  

If you need to make changes to your reservation or cancel, please contact Airways Transit directly at least 12 hours before your scheduled time. Otherwise, you may not receive a refund for your trip. 

If your luggage does not arrive at Pearson International Airport, you will need to contact your airline for support. There is a lost luggage station for each airline near the baggage pickup area, and you can file a lost luggage report over there. We recommend taking a photo of your luggage and attaching a luggage tag with your personal information so it can be easily identified by the airline personnel.

Yes! Once you have registered through Airways Transit, please contact infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com with your name, confirmation number, and flight information to let them know what supports they should be aware of and they will do their best to accommodate you/your travel companion.

We recommend limiting your luggage to 2 large suitcases per person to ensure that everyone is able to fit on the shuttle. If you are concerned about space on your shuttle, please email infowaterloo@airwaystransit.com for recommendations.

Pearson Airport has free WiFi that you can access on your personal device. If you require support connecting, please visit the Information Desk located in Terminal 1 or Terminal 3. There will be University of Waterloo representatives at the Terminal 1 booth who can answer any questions about the University and help you find your shuttle.