Confirming Airport Pickup

Ще ме посрещнете ли на летището?

Shte me posreshtnete li na letishteto?

Will you meet me at the airport?

The core ask — confirms someone is actually coming for you.

Полетът ми каца в десет.

Poletat mi katsa v deset.

My flight lands at ten.

Give your landing time — swap the number for yours.

Номерът на полета е FB402.

Nomerat na poleta e FB402.

The flight number is FB402.

Lets them track your flight if it's early or late.

Пристигам утре.

Pristigam utre.

I arrive tomorrow.

Anchor the day so there's no mix-up about which flight.

Къде ще се срещнем?

Kade shte se sreshtnem?

Where will we meet?

Big airports have several exits — pin down the spot.

Ще чакам на изхода.

Shte chakam na izhoda.

I'll wait at the exit.

Tell them where you'll stand so they can find you.

Как ще ви позная?

Kak shte vi poznaya?

How will I recognize you?

When a stranger — a driver or host — is collecting you.

Каква кола карате?

Kakva kola karate?

What car do you drive?

Useful when they'll pull up outside rather than come in.

Аз съм с червено яке.

Az sam s cherveno yake.

I'm wearing a red jacket.

Describe yourself so they spot you in the crowd.

Ще закъснея малко.

Shte zakasneya malko.

I'll be a little late.

Passport control can be slow — a quick heads-up keeps them calm.

Полетът е закъснял.

Poletat e zakasnyal.

The flight is delayed.

When the delay is the airline's, not yours.

Моля, изчакайте ме.

Molya, izchakayte me.

Please wait for me.

Ask them to hold on rather than leave.

Ще се обадя, като кацна.

Shte se obadya, kato katsna.

I'll call when I land.

Set the plan before you board so you're not scrambling on arrival.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

Say it the instant you lose the thread.

Можете ли да повторите?

Mozhete li da povtorite?

Can you repeat?

Polite 'again, please' for phone or in person.

Къде сте сега?

Kade ste sega?

Where are you now?

Re-locate each other when you can't find them at the exit.

Пишете ми съобщение, моля.

Pishete mi saobshtenie, molya.

Send me a message, please.

Fallback when the line is bad — a text is easier to read than hear.

Ще се видим там!

Shte se vidim tam!

See you there!

Upbeat confirmation once the plan is set.

Благодаря предварително!

Blagodarya predvaritelno!

Thanks in advance!

Gracious close when someone's doing you a favor by collecting you.

Обаждам се да потвърдя трансфера за утре.

Obazhdam se da potvardya transfera za utre.

I'm calling to confirm the transfer for tomorrow.

The day-before confirmation call — 'трансфер' is the word the airport transfer firms use for themselves, so it opens the call cleanly.

Направих резервация през сайта ви.

Napravih rezervatsiya prez sayta vi.

I made a booking through your website.

You booked online, got an automated email, and nobody has confirmed by phone — this explains why you're calling.

Казвам се Смит, имам резервация за утре сутринта.

Kazvam se Smit, imam rezervatsiya za utre sutrinta.

My name is Smith, I have a booking for tomorrow morning.

The dispatcher looks you up by surname — give the name and the slot in one breath so they can find you.

Кажете ми име и фамилия, моля.

Kazhete mi ime i familiya, molya.

Give me your first and last name, please.

Something you hear: the dispatcher asks for both names before they open your booking. 'Фамилия' is the surname, not your family.

Да, всичко е потвърдено.

Da, vsichko e potvardeno.

Yes, everything is confirmed.

Something you hear: the answer that ends the call. If you don't catch it, the whole reason you rang is unresolved.

Кацам на Терминал 2.

Katsam na Terminal 2.

I land at Terminal 2.

Sofia has two terminals a shuttle ride apart — naming the wrong one is the classic way to lose your driver.

Полетът каца в осем и половина вечерта.

Poletat katsa v osem i polovina vecherta.

The flight lands at half past eight in the evening.

Giving the landing time out loud. 'Вечерта' matters — Bulgarians say the time then tag the part of the day rather than using a.m./p.m.

Идвам с полет от Виена.

Idvam s polet ot Viena.

I'm coming on a flight from Vienna.

The dispatcher can't find your flight number — the departure city narrows it down immediately.

От кой полет сте?

Ot koy polet ste?

Which flight are you on?

Something you hear: the first question the transfer desk asks, before your name or your hotel.

Ще следя полета ви.

Shte sledya poleta vi.

I'll track your flight.

Something you hear: reassurance that a delay won't leave you stranded — the driver is watching the arrivals board.

Ще ви чакам в залата за пристигащи.

Shte vi chakam v zalata za pristigashti.

I'll wait for you in the arrivals hall.

The default meeting spot — say it before you land so neither of you is circling the kerb.

На кой изход да изляза?

Na koy izhod da izlyaza?

Which exit should I come out of?

You're through customs with a trolley and there are two sets of doors — ask before you pick one.

Излезте на изход 2 и завийте надясно.

Izlezte na izhod 2 i zaviyte nadyasno.

Come out of exit 2 and turn right.

Something you hear: the driver's actual instruction on the phone. Catching the exit number is the whole call.

Аз съм пред Терминал 1, до таксиметровата стоянка.

Az sam pred Terminal 1, do taksimetrovata stoyanka.

I'm in front of Terminal 1, by the taxi rank.

You've already walked outside and need to describe where you're standing using something the driver knows.

Колата е на паркинга, на второ ниво.

Kolata e na parkinga, na vtoro nivo.

The car is in the car park, on level two.

Something you hear: many transfer drivers won't wait at the kerb, so they park and send you up a level.

Може ли да влезете вътре да ме посрещнете?

Mozhe li da vlezete vatre da me posreshtnete?

Could you come inside to meet me?

First time in the airport, heavy bags, no idea which door is which — ask the driver to come to you.

Висок съм, с очила и черно яке.

Visok sam, s ochila i cherno yake.

I'm tall, with glasses and a black jacket.

The driver asks what you look like while you're still at baggage claim — two or three concrete details is what he needs. A woman says 'Висока съм'.

С два големи куфара съм.

S dva golemi kufara sam.

I've got two big suitcases with me.

In a crowded arrivals hall the luggage is more visible than the jacket — this is often what actually finds you.

Как сте облечен?

Kak ste oblechen?

What are you wearing?

Something you hear: the driver scanning the crowd wants one thing to look for. To a woman he'd say 'Как сте облечена?'.

С мен са жена ми и две деца.

S men sa zhena mi i dve detsa.

My wife and two children are with me.

You booked for one name but four people are walking out — say so, both to be found and so the car is big enough.

Какъв е номерът на колата?

Kakav e nomerat na kolata?

What's the car's registration number?

Asked on the confirmation call — the plate is the one detail that can't be faked by a tout at the door.

Черна шкода, номер СВ 4521 АХ.

Cherna shkoda, nomer SV 4521 AH.

A black Skoda, plate CB 4521 AH.

Something you hear: the reply, colour then plate. Sofia plates start СА or СВ, and the letters are read out one by one.

Аз съм с бял бус.

Az sam s byal bus.

I'm in a white van.

Something you hear: airport transfers for families or ski luggage usually turn up as a minivan, not a saloon.

Вие ли сте за господин Смит?

Vie li ste za gospodin Smit?

Are you here for Mr Smith?

Walking up to a man holding a sign you can only half read — this checks it's your driver before you follow him to a car park.

Държа табела с вашето име.

Darzha tabela s vasheto ime.

I'm holding a sign with your name on it.

Something you hear: the driver telling you to look for the paper sign rather than for him.

Виждам ви, идвам.

Vizhdam vi, idvam.

I see you, I'm coming.

The moment you spot the sign or the car across the pavement — say it and stop the phone hunt.

Кацнах, взимам си багажа.

Katsnah, vzimam si bagazha.

I've landed, I'm picking up my luggage.

The first call after wheels-down — it tells the driver you're here and buys you the twenty minutes at the belt.

Излизам след пет минути.

Izlizam sled pet minuti.

I'll be out in five minutes.

Your bag is on the trolley and passport control is behind you — give the driver a number he can act on.

Идвам след пет минути.

Idvam sled pet minuti.

I'm coming in five minutes.

Something you hear: the mirror image of your own line, and the one that decides whether you wait inside or outside.

Къде точно сте?

Kade tochno ste?

Where exactly are you?

Something you hear: the driver is circling and needs a landmark, not 'at the airport'. Have one ready before you answer.

Стоя до кафенето срещу изхода.

Stoya do kafeneto sreshtu izhoda.

I'm standing by the cafe opposite the exit.

The answer to 'къде точно сте' — name a fixed thing near you rather than describing the crowd.

Може ли да ми звъннете, като стигнете?

Mozhe li da mi zvannete, kato stignete?

Could you ring me when you get here?

Setting the plan so you can sit down with a coffee instead of standing in the draught watching the doors.

Ти къде си, пред кой изход?

Ti kade si, pred koy izhod?

Where are you, in front of which exit?

Something you hear, in the informal 'ти': a young ride-hailing driver often drops straight into it on the phone. Answer in 'вие' or match him — both are fine.

Имам два големи куфара и една раница.

Imam dva golemi kufara i edna ranitsa.

I have two big suitcases and a backpack.

Said on the booking call — the dispatcher assigns a car by boot size, so undercounting here means a second trip.

Ще се съберат ли в багажника?

Shte se saberat li v bagazhnika?

Will they fit in the boot?

The car pulls up smaller than you expected and you're standing there with a ski bag.

Багажникът е голям, няма проблем.

Bagazhnikat e golyam, nyama problem.

The boot is big, no problem.

Something you hear: the driver waving off your worry as he opens the tailgate.

Трябва ни по-голяма кола.

Tryabva ni po-golyama kola.

We need a bigger car.

The bags genuinely don't fit — say it plainly before someone starts forcing a case onto a back seat.

Може ли да ми помогнете с куфарите?

Mozhe li da mi pomognete s kufarite?

Could you help me with the suitcases?

Two heavy cases and a kerb — most transfer drivers load them anyway, but asking first is the polite move.

Трябва ни детско столче.

Tryabva ni detsko stolche.

We need a child seat.

Say it on the booking call, not at the kerb — a seat has to be fitted before the car leaves the depot.

Детето е на три години.

Deteto e na tri godini.

The child is three years old.

The age decides which seat they bring, so the dispatcher will ask for it straight after you request one.

Столчето се доплаща — десет евро.

Stolcheto se doplashta — deset evro.

There's a supplement for the seat — ten euros.

Something you hear: extras are quoted separately from the fare. Prices are in euro since Bulgaria switched over.

Ще пътуваме четирима.

Shte patuvame chetirima.

There will be four of us travelling.

Headcount for the booking — 'четирима' is the counting form used for people, not the plain 'четири'.

Колко ще струва до центъра?

Kolko shte struva do tsentara?

How much will it be to the centre?

Ask before you load the bags. An agreed number up front is the single best protection against an airport overcharge.

Това крайна цена ли е?

Tova krayna tsena li e?

Is that the final price?

The number sounded good — this closes the door on 'plus luggage, plus night rate' at the destination.

Цената е фиксирана, тридесет евро.

Tsenata e fiksirana, trideset evro.

The price is fixed, thirty euros.

Something you hear: transfer firms quote a flat fare to the city rather than running the meter.

Чакането включено ли е в цената?

Chakaneto vklyucheno li e v tsenata?

Is the waiting time included in the price?

Your flight may land late and your bag may be last — settle who pays for the extra half hour before it happens.

Има ли доплащане за багаж?

Ima li doplashtane za bagazh?

Is there a surcharge for luggage?

Asked while the boot is still shut — luggage supplements are the most common surprise on the final bill.

По телефона се разбрахме за двадесет и пет евро.

Po telefona se razbrahme za dvadeset i pet evro.

On the phone we agreed on twenty-five euros.

The driver names a higher figure at the end of the ride — this states the agreement calmly, without accusing anyone.

С карта ли да платя, или в брой?

S karta li da platya, ili v broy?

Should I pay by card or in cash?

Asked as you pull up, while there's still time to find a cash machine if the answer is cash.

Само в брой, ако може.

Samo v broy, ako mozhe.

Cash only, if possible.

Something you hear: plenty of drivers have a card terminal and would still rather you paid cash.

Имам само банкнота от петдесет евро.

Imam samo banknota ot petdeset evro.

I only have a fifty-euro note.

Straight out of the airport cash machine with nothing small — warn the driver before he starts hunting for change.

Може ли касова бележка?

Mozhe li kasova belezhka?

Could I have a receipt?

You're claiming the transfer on expenses and need the printed slip, which won't be offered unless you ask.

Задръжте рестото.

Zadrazhte restoto.

Keep the change.

Rounding up as a tip after a helpful ride — tipping isn't obligatory here, but rounding up is normal.

Смениха ми полета за петък.

Smeniha mi poleta za petak.

They moved my flight to Friday.

The airline rebooked you and the transfer is now on the wrong day — lead with this before anything else.

Може ли да преместим с един час по-късно?

Mozhe li da premestim s edin chas po-kasno?

Could we move it an hour later?

A short delay you already know about — shifting the slot beats leaving the driver sitting at the terminal.

Съжалявам, налага се да отменя посрещането.

Sazhalyavam, nalaga se da otmenya posreshtaneto.

I'm sorry, I have to cancel the pickup.

Calling it off — the apology first is what keeps you welcome the next time you book with them.

Няма проблем, ще го запиша.

Nyama problem, shte go zapisha.

No problem, I'll note it down.

Something you hear: the dispatcher accepting the change. Wait for it before you hang up, or nothing was actually changed.

Има ли такса за отказ?

Ima li taksa za otkaz?

Is there a cancellation fee?

You've cancelled and want to know whether the card you left on file is about to be charged.

Чакам вече двадесет минути.

Chakam veche dvadeset minuti.

I've been waiting twenty minutes already.

Standing at the kerb past the agreed time — states the fact without turning the call into an argument.

Още колко ще се забавите?

Oshte kolko shte se zabavite?

How much longer will you be?

You need a number so you can decide between waiting and taking a taxi from the rank.

Закъснявам, има задръстване на околовръстното.

Zakasnyavam, ima zadrastvane na okolovrastnoto.

I'm running late, there's a jam on the ring road.

Something you hear: the standard Sofia excuse, and usually a true one — the ring road feeds the airport.

Ще ви чакам вътре, на топло.

Shte vi chakam vatre, na toplo.

I'll wait for you inside, where it's warm.

January at the terminal doors — tell the driver you're moving indoors so he doesn't look for you at the kerb.

Не мога да ви намеря.

Ne moga da vi namerya.

I can't find you.

You're both at the airport, both on the phone, and neither of you is where the other one thinks.

Извинете, не ви чувам добре, много е шумно.

Izvinete, ne vi chuvam dobre, mnogo e shumno.

Sorry, I can't hear you well, it's very noisy.

The driver has just called and the tannoy and the trolleys are drowning him out — this explains the problem instead of just going quiet.

Може ли по-бавно, моля?

Mozhe li po-bavno, molya?

Could you speak more slowly, please?

He's talking at native speed down a bad line. Slowing him down keeps the call in Bulgarian instead of collapsing.

Извинете, не разбрах.

Izvinete, ne razbrah.

Sorry, I didn't catch that.

The go-to line the moment a sentence goes past you. The past tense 'не разбрах' points at this one sentence, not at your Bulgarian in general.

Повторете номера на изхода, моля.

Povtorete nomera na izhoda, molya.

Repeat the exit number, please.

You got the whole sentence except the one digit that matters — ask for just that part again.

Извинявайте, още уча български. Ако е по-лесно, може и на английски.

Izvinyavayte, oshte ucha balgarski. Ako e po-lesno, mozhe i na angliyski.

Sorry, I'm still learning Bulgarian. If it's easier, English is fine too.

Last resort, and only after you've visibly tried in Bulgarian. Opening a conversation with 'do you speak English?' lands badly here; offering it apologetically at the end of a real attempt does not.

Благодаря, че ме изчакахте.

Blagodarya, che me izchakahte.

Thank you for waiting for me.

Your bag took forty minutes and he stayed — this is the line that earns you a good driver next time.

Добре дошли в България!

Dobre doshli v Balgariya!

Welcome to Bulgaria!

Something you hear the moment the driver realises you're new here. 'Благодаря' back is all it needs.

Благодаря ти, лек път!

Blagodarya ti, lek pat!

Thanks, safe journey!

The informal 'ти' version, for a young driver who has been calling you 'ти' the whole ride. 'Лек път' is what you wish someone driving off.

Ще ви дам пет звезди в приложението.

Shte vi dam pet zvezdi v prilozhenieto.

I'll give you five stars in the app.

Getting out of a ride-hailing car after a good trip — drivers here care about the rating and will thank you for saying it.