My son needs to get from Oxford College to Birmingham airport for a 9:00 a.m. international flight. What's the best way to do this (by taxi or public transport) and at what time does he need to leave?

What college? One of the colleges w/i Oxford, or maybe some other college w/ Oxford in the name but in another town?

If it is in Oxford - a taxi? I'd think not unless he is a very rich underclassman, since Oxford is nearly 70 miles from Birmingham.

There are frequent trains and buses from Oxford to B'ham though

But let us know what college you mean . . . .

If it's a college of Oxford University and it's an international flight that your son is heading for then take the train to Birmingham International railway station (not Birmingham New Street). Most trains from Oxford with be direct and operated by Virgin. Get a train that will arrive around 6.30am and you'll have enough time to check in. The station is right next to the terminal, linked by a walkway and transit system.

To clarify: He'll be Exeter College at Oxford University.

He was told that the earliest train to Birmingham airport is at 7:00 which I think would be too late for an international flight.

If he flies out of Heathrow he has no problem with transportation but the flights (booked way too late) is US$1000 more. In that case even a very pricy taxi to the airport might make sense. Just don't know what's available.

ABC, Luxicars, 001, and several other Oxford based taxi firms will bite your hand off to get a nice airport job like that. A quick run up the M40, leaving around 6.30am to avoid any heavy traffic and it should all work out rather nicely.

Actually, make that 5.45am as I think that's the time I'd order the taxi for. Just to get a margin in for unforseen circumstances. You never know who has feel asleep at the wheel and jack knifed their truck across the central reservation causing an early morning jam south of Warwick.

If it were me - and saving $1000 - I'd just take the train or a bus up to B'ham airport the night before and stay at the Travel Inn. The rates are very low and he wouldn't have to hassle w/ a 6:00 a.m. taxi or possible traffic tie ups.

Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone care to guess on how much a taxi would cost?

My local bloke charges £70-£80 for a journey to BHX that's slightly shorter but slightly slower.

Incidentally, be VERY cautious about using the train between Oxford and BHX if you've got a plane to catch (or an admissions interview to attend).

We use this about once a fortnight. It's about eighteen months since it was last on time (ie within 10 mins of scheduled arrival. Delays of up to an hour are by no means rare. Nor are abitrary cancellations in mid-route.

Take the train that's at least two hours earlier than the one you need for any important appointment. Take ample reading matter (though the absurd Richard Branson, who's responsible for this national disgrace, writes letters to The Times saying how wonderful his in-train radio system is, as if that compensates for the chapter of horrors his company inflicts on us all). Don't waste time booking a seat: they often don't bother putting the seat reservations out. The overcrowding on the Oxford-Birmingham bit can be so bad you can't read anyway.

And remember next time you're thinking of crossing the Atlantic that this management team, so spectacularly uninterested in its customers' welfare, is the same team you're trusting to get you safely across 3,500 miles of stormy weather.

You have a choice in the air between Branson's shower and professional airline companies. Given a choice, there's no choice.