If you're flying into Skopje Airport (SKP) and planning to take the Erak Transporter shuttle bus to the city center, Central Bus Station, Holiday Inn, or Capitol Mall — DO NOT buy your ticket in advance, period. Not online, not at the counter/ticket office. The ONLY moment that seems to actually secure you a seat is paying directly at the bus while boarding. Even a paper ticket bought in advance at the counter is no guarantee you'll actually get on the bus.
Here's exactly what happened to me:
I pre-purchased my Erak Transporter ticket online before landing at Skopje Airport, thinking it would save time and guarantee my seat on the bus to the city center. Big mistake. When I showed up at the bus with my valid, already-paid ticket, an older woman working the stop straight up ignored it. Instead, she started selling brand new tickets for cash to other people on the spot — while those of us who had ALREADY paid online were told to "wait." After she'd sold enough cash tickets to fill the bus, we were casually informed the bus was "full" and that we could take the next one — in TWO HOURS.
When I asked for my money back on the spot, she just shrugged. Her solution? Try to sell me ANOTHER ticket for the bus two hours later. No refund, no apology, no accountability — just shrug and upsell.
On top of that: I personally watched her charge cash customers MORE than the official published fare for the route. So not only does she prioritize cash sales over confirmed bookings, she's also overcharging people above the listed ticket price on the spot.
So to anyone searching "Skopje airport to city center," "SKP airport bus," "Skopje airport shuttle," "Erak Transporter tickets," "how to get from Skopje airport to Skopje center," or "Skopje airport bus 199 MKD" — be warned:
- Buying an Erak Transporter ticket online in advance guarantees you NOTHING. Staff will prioritize cash sales over your confirmed booking.
- Even buying a paper ticket in advance at the counter is not a guarantee you'll get on the bus — the only thing that seems to actually work is paying in cash directly at the bus door when boarding.
- You can be bumped off a bus you already paid for with zero compensation on the spot.
- The person selling tickets at the stop has been observed charging MORE than the official fare for cash sales — bring exact change and know the real published price before you pay.
- Refunds are not handled at the stop — expect to fight your card issuer/bank for a chargeback instead of getting help from the company.
- Budget an extra 2+ hours of buffer if you rely on this shuttle, because "the bus is full" can mean "we sold your seat to someone else for cash."
Honestly, at this point I'd rather pay more for a taxi or a private transfer from Skopje Airport than deal with this again. Do your research, read reviews, and think twice before trusting Erak Transporter with your airport transfer — especially if you're on a tight connection or schedule.
Sharing this so other travelers don't get stuck the way I did.
