✈️ FREE Airport Pickup Service
BISM Airport Pickup
We assist students arriving at Indiana University Bloomington from the Indianapolis Airport (IND) to their apartment/hotel in Bloomington, IN for FREE
PICKUP DATES: August 1, 2026 – August 15, 2026
Important Dates
| Date/Time | Details |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | Registration Open – Airport Pickup Request Form opens. |
| August 12, 2026 | Registration Closes |
| July 25, 2026, onwards | Decision Notification – Students receive notification via email and unique link about the status of their pickup request. You will receive your volunteer driver information no later than 3 days before your arrival date. |
| Upon Approval | Volunteer Communication – Volunteer will contact the student via WhatsApp or WeChat (For Chinese students) to introduce themselves and further communicate about pickup details |
| August 1, 2026 – August 15, 2026 | Pickup Service Period – Pickup service provided from IND Airport to IU Bloomington |
Airport Pickup Request Process:
Complete the BISM Airport Pickup Request Form:
- Filling it DOES NOT guarantee your pickup request will be fulfilled unless it is APPROVED. Approval decisions are based on volunteer availability. We were able to full all of our 200 requests last year 🙂
Decision Notification:
- From July 25, 2026, onwards, you will receive a notification via email and your unique link whether your pickup request has been approved or not based on volunteer availability.
Track Your Request:
- You can track the progress of your pickup request and will receive pickup details through the unique link provided in your confirmation email.
Volunteer Communication:
- Once your pickup request has been APPROVED, you will receive details about your pickup volunteer. Your volunteer will reach out to you via WhatsApp to communicate with you further about your pickup time.
Pickup Details:
- Pickup Times: Based on individual appointment times if APPROVED.
- Pickup Location: Baggage claim area at Indianapolis Airport. (You will receive more info once your pickup request is approved)
- Drop-off: Directly to IU campus, off-campus apartment, or Bloomington area hotel.
Expectations:
- Pickup Requests are not guaranteed until APPROVED based on volunteer availability. You will receive an email three days before your pickup date if your request is APPROVED or not. For reference, we were able to fulfill all of our 200 requests last year 🙂
- This is a free service provided by BISM’s friendly verified volunteers at their own free time. They are not being paid for it, so please treat them kindly and not as an Uber driver 🙂
- Volunteers may take a maximum of 2-3 students, so students in larger groups may have different volunteers. DO NOT request to be accommodated together. Doing so will complicate your request. Spouses and kids will be accommodated together.
- Once approved, your volunteer will contact you via WhatsApp or WeChat (for chinese students) to introduce themselves and provide more information about your pickup.
- This process is different from last year, so please don’t get outdated information from your seniors and have different expectations than what is mentioned on this page and your email communications.
FAQ
How Do I Request a Free Ride?
To request a ride, please complete the BISM Airport Pickup Request form. You will receive a notification with the status of your request—and driver details if approved—no later than 3 days before your arrival date.
What if my pickup is not Accepted/Approved?
Pickup approval decisions are based solely on volunteer availability. If we are unable to fulfill your request, you should plan for an alternative mode of transportation like Go Express or Uber/Taxi. We were able to pickup 100% of our students last year for reference 🙂
Where must I go for the pickup?
Meeting location for the airport pickup is usually at the baggage claim area of the airport. Your pickup volunteer will communicate with you your exact pickup spot.
What do I do if I miss the pickup time because of flight delays/changes?
Our volunteers usually wait up to 2 hours from the designated pickup time. If you have a delay of more than 2 hours, it would depend on your volunteer if they can still pick you up or not. Please contact your volunteer via WhatsApp/WeChat to communicate any plane delays or flight changes.
What if I need to make some changes or cancel my pickup request?
You will get a unique link to manage your pickup request. You can make changes to your pickup request on the form provided. Do not share your unique link with anyone else. Once your pickup has been approved and you are assigned a volunteer, any significant changes to Flight Arrival Time/Flight Number should be communicated to your volunteer via WhatsApp/WeChat.
Once you cancel your pickup request after it has been approved, there is no guarantee that we will be able to accommodate you again as other students will be given priority.
Once you cancel your pickup request after it has been approved, there is no guarantee that we will be able to accommodate you again as other students will be given priority.
How do I contact my volunteer at the airport?
Indianapolis airport has free Wi-Fi. When you land, log into the wifi and text your volunteer on WhatsApp. It will take a while to get your luggage, so make sure to update your volunteer of your progress.
My bags didn’t arrive/got lost. What do I do?
If your bags get lost, please go to the customer service desk for your airline, which is usually located near the baggage claim carousels. Report the issue, and they will provide you with a form to fill out. Inform your volunteer about the situation, as there may be a line at the customer service desk and it could take some time.
I got assigned one volunteer, and my friend was assigned another volunteer. I want to be assigned the same volunteer as my friend.
We understand that you would like to be assigned the same volunteer as your friend. However, the airport pickup service is provided by BISM volunteers who use their own personal cars and free time to assist students. Due to space limitations, most cars can only accommodate 2-3 students along with their luggage.
As a result, we are unable to accommodate group requests to ensure the efficiency and fairness of the service. Please refrain from requesting to be grouped with friends as this WILL complicate your case as no volunteer may be able to accommodate you. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.
Rest assured, our volunteers are friendly and committed to making your journey to Bloomington enjoyable. You might even have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and make new friends by keeping an open mind. Spouses and parents with children will be accommodated together.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you to IU!
As a result, we are unable to accommodate group requests to ensure the efficiency and fairness of the service. Please refrain from requesting to be grouped with friends as this WILL complicate your case as no volunteer may be able to accommodate you. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.
Rest assured, our volunteers are friendly and committed to making your journey to Bloomington enjoyable. You might even have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and make new friends by keeping an open mind. Spouses and parents with children will be accommodated together.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you to IU!
How much does the airport pickup service cost?
The airport pickup service is offered as a free service by volunteers of Bloomington International Student Ministries (BISM) and does not cost you anything. Visit www.iubism.org to learn more about BISM and the services that we provide international students from IU.
I have problems filling out the request form, issues updating my information, or other tech issues/errors.
If you are facing any tech issues, send us a WhatsApp message at +1-812-578-7434. Do not call, text only.
What if I have some other questions?
For more information, please contact us at kitty@ifmusa.org. All pickup requests and changes need to be done through the system and not by email/text. Please do not contact us inquiring about your request until the deadline passes.
✈️ What Last Year’s Students Are Saying About BISM Airport Pickup
Hemang “I can’t express enough gratitude to Andy and Katie for picking me up. They were so kind and caring! This experience made me feel like I had a family waiting for me here.”
Fatima-Zahra “Jayme and Kyle are wonderful people. They provided such a warm welcome, answered all my questions, and gave me so much peace as I arrived in a new country.”
Anish “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the BISM team. The ride was smooth, the driver was very kind, and I felt at ease the whole time.”
Antara “I was very pleased with the warm welcome and hospitality. It made my transition to Bloomington so much easier!”
Arathi “Hi Melissa! It was great meeting you and talking during the drive. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me get settled in!”
Mahesh “I loved the conversation during the ride. It was such a beautiful way to start this new chapter in my life.”
Sandra “Thank you for going out of your way to help me with my luggage and get settled in. Your kindness meant a lot.”
Luis “The driver waited patiently and helped me navigate the airport after a long flight. It made me feel safe and cared for.”
Meilin “Such a warm welcome! I felt like I was already part of a community. Thank you for the encouragement and support!”
Yusuf “It was comforting to see a smiling face after a long trip. The care and hospitality made a big difference.”
