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T&C's

Excellence Coaches® ('our business') and all staff and drivers are working towards smooth, timely and enjoyable transfers for you, your family, and friends.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHUTTLE SERVICE

  1. All Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) rights and guarantees apply.
  2. These terms and conditions form the entire agreement between Excellence Coaches® and any travelling passenger.

A: There are no Queensland Public Health Directions since 31 October 2022

There are no Queensland Public Health Directions in effect. Travellers are encouraged to continue the same health precautions they used when flying into Cairns. 

B. Payments and Quotations

  1. Quotes are valid for 24 hours, or until a time specified in the quote.
  2. Payments are processed by Excellence Coaches or the affiliate you are allocated to when using our book and pay forms. You will always receive a PortDouglasAirportShuttle.com approved booking reference and can contact our business direct with any enquiry about your booking, refund (subject to cancellation fees), 100% credit, or to change travel dates. Every booking receives direct contact details for your shuttle, and please feel free to contact your shuttle directly.
  3. If a quote is paid after the quote has expired our business reserves the right to refund in full and not deliver service. Our business is not responsible for any loss or delay to passengers who have paid for a quote after the validity window has expired.
  4. Partial payments are not sufficient to secure a transfer booking, and may only be accepted by separate arrangement on a case by case basis.
  5. Payment must be made in full to secure your booking.
  6. Our business reserves the right to make the final decision on any booking or service delivery against partial payments, or payments outside of the quote window.
  7. Our business applies uniform pricing to allow maximum flexibility for the movement of bookings between our affiliated services.

C. Unplanned after hours arrivals or significantly delayed arrivals:

Flight schedules can sometimes throw up significant delays outside our control and also outside our ability to deliver transfers due to WH&S issues including driver fatigue and safety issues. The remedies and processes in this clause are intended to address these challenges to the benefit of our passengers. Thank you for your understanding.

  1. All bookings on this website are for transfers commenced between 0600 and 1700 from Port Douglas, and 0700 and 1900 from Cairns Airport.
  2. If a booking is made for a transfer outside those hours, we will advise you and refund your money via our PayPal gateway. 
  3. Bookings for standard hours transfers between 0600 and 1900 that arrive after hours between 1900 and 0600 are subject to after-hours rates. For example, a shuttle booked to arrive at 1430 cannot automatically be transferred at the same cost for a shuttle pick up from a delayed flight arriving at 2300.
  4. For passengers who have provided us with notice of the late arrival we will transfer the value of your earlier booking towards your after hours arrival, and at our earliest ability advise the difference in fare.  Passengers will always know they have a delayed departure, and should immediately contact our office when the delay will result in an arrival to Cairns after 1900. If arriving before 1900 we will usually be able to simply move your booking. Transfers after hours between 1900 and 0600 are flat rate one way private transfer $249 for 1-5 pax, and $345 for 6-13 pax which includes after hours drivers surcharge (Subject to change. Please check with us for current rates).
  5. If we cannot meet you for your standard hours arrival that ends up as after hours arrival, and you elect not to pay after hours rates, then we will refund 100% of the standard hours value to your credit card, or by online banking if we no longer have access to your credit card details after processing your payment.
  6. If you have a private transfer booking which is significantly delayed into after hours time and we have no driver availability when your flight arrives, we will pay 100% of the taxi or Uber cost to Port Douglas. We will make this offer to you before you arrive. Simply keep the receipt and email to us together with your BSB and account details.

D. Online booking less than 24 hours before first travel

  1. Online booking under 24 hours before travel will not guarantee transfer. On all our booking forms we advise that passengers wishing to book less than 24 hours before travel should contact us before making an online booking.
  2. If using our shuttle book and pay form to book for your shuttle service less than 24 hours before travel your booking may not be processed. You will be advised if your booking is unsuccessful. Please check your spam folder for the confirmation.
  3. Your credit card will not be charged, or the payment will be reversed, if your booking is not processed. 

E. Liability limited to refund of transfer cost or redelivery of service.

  1. The maximum liability and remedy accepted by Excellence Coaches for any dispute regarding our shuttle transfer service is the cost of the transfer provided. No liability is accepted by Excellence Coaches for any amount greater than the shuttle transfer cost already paid. No liability is accepted by Excellence Coaches for any other loss or consequential loss such as the cost of airfares, accommodation costs, labour costs, missed wages or any other loss whatsoever resulting from the events just mentioned or any delays including but not limited to delays caused by other passengers, accidents, landslides or inundations which close the Captain Cook Highway, or any unforeseen circumstance which prevents the shuttle from gaining access to the airport or gaining access before a flight check in has closed or any similar event to that just mentioned which affects the delivery of the shuttle service.
  2. No liability beyond refund or redelivery of service is accepted by Excellence Coaches for any loss, or any claim made, whatsoever, against any affiliate shuttle service providing contracted services to our business.

F. Cancellation fees and refunds

  1. To secure a refund less cancellation fee, cancel requests must be made at least 24 hours prior to travel time in writing by email.
  2. Return seat in shared shuttle cancellation more than 24 hours before travel attracts $18 fee per adult and $9 fee per child. These fees cover non refunded bank fees, insurances, vehicle costs, labour costs, airport access fees and administration associated with the shuttle we have booked for you. Cancellation of any booking means capacity has been directly allocated to your transfer and has cost implications for all service providers.
  3. One way seats in shared shuttle cancellation attract 50% of fee: $9 per adult and $4.50 per child.
  4. Cancellation of private transfer more than 24 hours before travel is $30 for one way private transfer, and $50 for return. Cancellation of any private transfer less than 24 hours before travel is a $100 fee to cover the cost of the dedicated vehicle allocated to your group. 
  5. We reserve the right to alter private transfer cancellation fees for tailored group packages where additional resources have been organised and allocated. If we have elected to alter the private cancellation fees this will be expressly noted in your quotation and invoice which will then form the cancellation terms component for your travel agreement with us in addition to the terms and conditions on this page.
  6. Cancellations may alternatively request 100% credits which can be issued for travel within 12 months. You will keep the same booking reference.
  7. If cancelling a credit once issued, the same cancel fees and process above applies.
  8. We usually make refunds by online banking direct deposit. We do this because we do not retain credit card details, retrieved from an online vault using two step authentication access, after processing your booking.
  9. Please allow five (5) business days for us to process your refund and a further 1-2 business days to show in your account, however the system is usually quicker. We will email you a receipt at the moment we process your refund. Recent history has shown that during COVID and following Cyclone Jasper in Dec 2023 and Jan 2024 our office can be flooded with refund requests and we need to process them in an orderly manner. During COVID we processed refunds for transfers in a date order acccording to date of travel. We thank you for your understanding.
  10. For all cancellations less than 24 hours before transfer no refund is payable.
  11. For discounted return bookings, cancellation of one of your transfers will mean your booking is taken to be a one way price and the cancellation fee conditions F(3)-F(5) as above apply.  
  12. Passengers at the airport who do not make themselves known to the driver by the time their flight has cleared or who are not at a designated point of meeting at the time arranged, or are not contactable on their nominated mobile will be regarded as a NO SHOW and no refund will be made if the bus has already departed. For passengers who are non-contactable and later make contact we will try (but are under no obligation) to allocate a later bus if possible, but this may involve extra costs.

G. Delays or frustrations to delivery of service can happen. Events beyond everyone’s control may cause a delay, or frustrate our ability to deliver your transfer, but the goal is to minimise any impact for passengers. Passengers must be contactable to help us manage delivery of service.

  1. Usual wait is 20 minutes or less after all checked bags are collected from your flight’s baggage carousel. The 20 minutes target is our usual practice, and our clear goal, but not a binding term of carriage.
  2. The most common event that has occurred over the past few years is that the Captain Cook Highway gets closed (sometimes for several hours) if there is a traffic accident on the road. This is an event beyond the control of o. This most acutely impacts departures from Port Douglas to Cairns. This is one of the reasons we always work to a target of leaving Port Douglas approximately three (3) hours before scheduled flight departure, and earlier for international flights.  To assist the comfort and reliability of our service for all travelling passengers on a shared shuttle we are unable to alter the departure window for individual requests. We also recommend passengers have the potential to leave earlier if needed.
  3. We recommend travel insurance for any passengers who may be affected by unforeseeable circumstances or events beyond our control, or events which affect delivery of our service. Examples include, but are not limited to, events which are: any accident where the shuttle company vehicle has been directly or indirectly involved; delays caused by road closures, accidents, landslides or inundations on the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns, or in and around Cairns affecting access to the airport; severe weather events or tropical cyclone; delays caused by road or traffic conditions preventing the shuttle company from getting to the airport or getting to the airport on time; and any other events of the nature described here.
  4. Any passenger on our shuttles must be actively contactable on the mobile number indicated on the booking form, and specifically actively contactable on the day of their departing transfer from Port Douglas, Palm Cove or other location we are collecting you from. On arrival please have your mobile phone switched on as soon as permitted at Cairns Airport, and on departure for several hours before collection in Port Douglas. By being actively contactable – including checking for missed calls or text messages – your assistance will help any shuttle company minimise delays and manage unforeseen circumstances.
  5. Our business actively minimises delays by monitoring flight status before you arrive in Cairns and before your departure from Port Douglas. This includes shuttle drivers being able to monitor flights from the drivers waiting shed at Cairns airport where flights are indicated in real time as landed, on the block and then arrived – which means passengers are disembarking.
  6. Shuttle services may be affected by any pick up or drop off changes implemented by Cairns Airport, and these are beyond our control.
  7. If, through circumstances not foreseeable or beyond our control, shuttles are delayed or unable to transfer you we cannot be responsible for any financial or material losses which may be incurred by passengers. This is another important reason why we recommend travel insurance for any passengers who may be affected by unforeseeable circumstances or events beyond our control, or events which affect delivery of our service. Examples include, but are not limited to, events which are: accidents where the shuttle company vehicle has been directly or indirectly involved; delays caused by road closures, accidents, landslides or inundations on the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns, or in and around Cairns affecting access to the airport; severe weather events or tropical cyclone; events like Cairns Iron Man which closes the road annually for 12 hours once per year; triathlon or cycling events in Port Douglas with road closures and diversions which cause delays and prevent the shuttle company from getting to the airport or getting to the airport on time; COVID-19 lockdowns, border closures or announcements which restrict liberty and movement between Port Douglas and Cairns; and any other events of the nature described here.
  8. If through circumstances beyond the control of our business we are unable to transfer you we will seek to arrange for you alternative and reasonably similar road transport to the service you booked at no additional cost. This may mean redelivery on the day following your initial transfer, if for example, the road was closed and Cairns was inaccessible when you needed to travel.
  9. We will not fly passengers in a helicopter or a plane, or charter a boat, if the road is closed.
  10. For delays caused by circumstances within the control of the shuttle the maximum liability and remedy for any dispute regarding this transfer service is the cost of the transfer provided.
  11. It is standard practice for all shuttle companies to monitor incoming flights as planes can arrive early or late. Planes that arrive a few minutes late may mean a slightly longer wait for those passengers who have arrived on an earlier flight.  We ask those passengers for patience on these limited occasions – as it could be your flight that is running late or arriving early and nobody wants to be left stranded. If a severe delay in a plane’s arrival occurs, passengers on that delayed flight will be transferred to the next available bus or we will make alternative arrangements for their transfer to minimise the waiting time for those already at the airport. There may be an additional costs incurred by the delayed flight if arriving after 1900 (refer C: Unplanned late arrivals above)

H. Safety. Please obey Australian traffic regulations and driver safety advice.

  1. All passengers – including all children – must wear a seat belt in the shuttle van. Failure of any passenger to wear a seat belt will mean the shuttle will not move.
  2. All vehicles associated with this booking service are equipped with safety belts. Front facing or rear facing child seats are available and can be installed in our iMax and 13 seater vehicles if booked at the time of your booking. Vehicles must comply with Queensland Transport authority’s rules and are regularly checked by that authority for compliance. 
  3. Child seats are not compulsory in Queensland on buses that carry 13 or more people (including driver).
  4. All shuttle bus drivers are experienced drivers who must have Queensland Transport issued Drivers Authority (DA) to transfer fare paying passengers. This DA issued by Queensland Transport ensures a driver has passed a medical exam, eye examination and criminal records check. Drivers must also hold an upgraded Queensland drivers license for either LR (Light Rigid) or MR (Medium Rigid) vehicle – depending on the vehicle they are driving.
  5. For many reasons it is the policy of our business not to carry unaccompanied minors, and therefore all children must be accompanied by their legal guardian, parent or adult who is travelling together with the children.

I. Pick up and drop off points, pick up delays, buses cannot access a street with no turning ability or one that has a gate with no key code, unsealed roads.

  1. Due to the design and access issues of some streets we may not be able to enter some areas of Murphy Street, some gated real estate like Beachfront Mirage and Bougainvillea Way Villas, and some caravan parks where there is no turning option for our bus and trailer. These drop off and pickup are then available only at the street corner, nearest security gate or nearest practical access point to your accommodation.
  2. Shuttle buses are prevented from entering unsealed roads due to insurance and damage liability issues.
  3. Our shuttles drop your party at one location only. If you need to collect keys from an agency, we will drop your party at either the accommodation OR the agency. Due to the nature of being transferred in ‘seats in shared shuttle’ service and timetabling, we are unable to keep passengers waiting while other passengers collect keys.

J: Waiting times for pick ups from Port Douglas limited to 5 minutes maximum after allocated time

  1. Your vehicle may be running early, so if you are ready for collection 10 minutes before your allocated time, that can assist your schedule. Regardless, we will wait for maximum 5 minutes for all seat in shared shuttle services, at your accommodation reception, after your scheduled and confirmed pick-up time. If we cannot locate you 5 minutes after your allocated time your vehicle must leave to maintain service for return transfers booked from Cairns Airport. No refund is applicable in these circumstances. We track our drivers using GPS and phone records to verify and provide evidence of our pick-up schedule and vehicle attendance. Thank you for your assistance to be ready.

K. Entire Agreement

  1. When we offer a quote or provide a transfer service these terms and conditions (T&Cs) are applicable to any and all bookings made or subsequently made.  A link to these T&Cs is linked from emailed confirmation docs, and our shuttle book and pay forms. It is the responsibility of any travelling passenger to be aware of these terms and conditions related to our service.
  2. These terms and conditions form the entire agreement between Excellence Coaches and any travelling passenger.
  3. No additional terms, conditions or warranties may be implied into this agreement unless required by statute in the State of Queensland, or as required under Australian Consumer Law (Queensland) rights and guarantees which apply here.

Updated January 2023

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Port Douglas Airport Shuttle Booking Form

Use this booking form for one way and return transfers from Port Douglas. .

1. Use this form for Port Douglas to Cairns seats in shared shuttle transfer.
2. Click here to see COVID SAFE Travel information Policy.
3. We go direct Port Douglas to Cairns Airport. No stops in Palm Cove.
4. Cairns CBD/ Esplanade? Yes, city service via our Cairns Domestic Airport interchange.
5. Bookings under 24 hours before travel please call between 8am to 5pm daily on 0475 457 320 to check availability.

Fields with (*) are important compulsory questions. Please review all fields in this booking form.


Port Douglas Airport Shuttle Booking Form

Use this booking form for one way and return transfers from the Cairns Airport. 

1. Please use this form for seats in shared shuttle transfer.
2. Click here to see COVID SAFE Travel information Policy.
3. We specialise in Cairns Airport – Port Douglas – Cairns Airport. We go direct door to door – no stops in Palm Cove or Cairns Northern Beaches.
4. T2 Domestic pick up: Meet your driver with your name on a sign at baggage carousel 1 beside the airport shuttle desk.
5. Bookings under 24 hours before travel must call first between 8am to 5pm daily on 0475 457 320 to check availability.

October 2021: All services are available. Please book more than 24 hours before arrival. Online bookings less than 24 hours before travel will not be processed.

Fields with (*) are important compulsory questions. Please review all fields in this booking form.