About Southampton Airport (SOU)
Where it is
Southampton Airport (IATA code SOU) is located approximately 4 miles north-east of Southampton city centre, in the Eastleigh borough of Hampshire. It is a regional airport serving primarily UK domestic and short-haul European destinations.
Terminal & rail link — and what Airport Parkway is
The airport has a single passenger terminal, which keeps pickups and drop-offs simple, and it sits on the M27 at junction 5. Worth knowing that Southampton Airport and Southampton Airport Parkway are two different collection points, even though they are a two-minute walk apart: the first is the airport terminal, the second is the railway station on the London Waterloo and Reading lines. We collect from either, and the station works for any journey rather than cruise ones only — a train down from London and a car onward to a hotel, Winchester or the New Forest is booked exactly like an airport pickup. Tell us which of the two you want so the driver waits in the right place. The rail-and-air-to-ship journey has its own page: Southampton Airport to cruise terminal.
Common transfers we cover
Southampton Airport to and from the city centre, Southampton hotels, the University of Southampton, and surrounding areas including Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford, Hedge End, Bitterne and Shirley.
Which vehicle to book
Three tiers run on this route, and luggage usually decides it rather than headcount. A Premium takes up to 4 passengers with up to 3 cases — fine for a couple or a family travelling light. The 8-seater MPV (a Mercedes V-Class or similar) takes up to 8 passengers with up to 8 cases, which is the one for a group or anyone with sports kit or oversized bags. The Executive carries up to 4 passengers with up to 2 cases in an E-Class or 5 Series class car, for business travel where the arrival matters — our executive chauffeur service covers that regularly. Tell us your case count at booking and the right vehicle is sent.
Where else we go from the airport
Plenty of arrivals at SOU are not staying in Southampton. Common onward runs include Winchester and Eastleigh just up the line, the New Forest and Lymington for the ferries, Portsmouth along the M27 and Bournemouth down the A31. Each is quoted door to door from the terminal in the same booking form.
Onward connections
Onward connections from SOU are available — for example, Southampton Airport to Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. We handle these as separate fixed-price routes; tell your driver if you need a multi-leg booking and we will quote both ends as one fixed total. Flying from a London airport rather than SOU? All Southampton airport transfers covers Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted on fixed fares.